RECENT OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA: A Cavalry Expedition to Catlet’s Station; The Country Beyond Centreville Swarming with Rebel Cavalry (10/21/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 10/21/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

WASHINGTON, Monday, Oct. 20.

From the TIMES special correspondent at Centreville, we learn that Capt. CONGDON, of the Second Virginia Cavalry, left that place on Saturday at noon with sixty men, spending the night at Bristow Station, and reaching a point near Catlett's on Sunday at noon -- wishing to capture a train the rebels were running on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The party waited till near 4 o'clock, concealed, at which time a small detachment was advanced to the station, driving in the rebel picket guard.

It was soon discovered that the enemy was guarding the train of cars, which was near the station. Capt. CONDON fell back to a piece of woods, to receive the attack he expected the enemy to make: but the latter, after advancing a short distance, retired, and our party returned to Centreville, arriving this morning.

The whole country between Centreville and the Rappahannock is swarming with rebel cavalry and scouts, who instantly note and report the slightest movement on the part of our forces.

TERROR IN VIRGINIA.

A Slave Insurrection Feared in Culpepper-Seventeen Negroes Reported to be Hung, &c.

The Washington Republican, of yesterday, says

"A refugee who came into Gen. SIGEL's head, quarters, from Amissville, Culpepper County, Va. reports that there is the greatest consternation imaginable among the whites in that section in consequence of an apprehended negro revolt.

Seventeen negroes, most of them free, had been hung, copies of late Northern newspapers having been found upon them containing President LINCOLN's proclamation to liberate the slaves.

The terror of the whites is reported to be beyond description.

It is said that the negroes of the different counties around Culpepper are all engaged in a conspiracy for a general insurrection."

The following dispatch from the Washington correspondent of the TIMES is

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4102045/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

1

2

3

4

5

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Recent Operations in Virginia: A Cavalry Expedition to Catlet’s Station – 2
Terror in Virginia: A Slave Insurrection Feared in Culpepper – 2
The Surrender of Harper’s Ferry – What Ought to be Done – 2
Editorial: Sucking the Treasury – Colonization Schemes – 2-3
Negro Hanging in the South – 3
Rebel Great Guns – 3
A Prospect of Rebellion Against the Rebels – 3
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 3-5
Wants of the Sanitary Commission – 5
Amusements – 5
Wadsworth and McClellan – 5
The Same with a Material Difference – 5

[BroJoeK]

"Editorial: Sucking the Treasury – Colonization Schemes – 2-3"

Once again, our editors mock and rail against schemes to recolonize freed blacks in central America, correctly reporting that most or all want to stay here, no doubt with expectations of being treated as if "all men are created equal".

So efforts will be made, on a larger scale than before the war, still using relatively small numbers of volunteers, but with terrible results.

[BroJoeK]

"Negro Hanging in the South – 3"

Another Washington newspaper claimed that "seventeen negroes" in Virginia were hanged for the crime of possessing a copy of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation -- the alleged hangings being blamed on Lincoln!

Our editors argue it's nonsense to blame Lincoln, then say:

"Mr. Lincoln did not issue his Proclamation primarily from sympathy for the slaves, but from antipathy and hostility to rebel masters.
If cruelties are inflicted on the slaves by reason of the President's act, the fact will only establish the injustice and inhumanity of the slaveocrats who commit the deed..."

Those words are noteworthy for the argument itself, but also for that word "slaveocrats" which I had not previously seen used back then -- had just assumed it was a relatively modern neologism.