Vanderbilt professor maligns UDC,Confederate Heritage in Editorial

There is some truth in this article, but it is buried amidst so much Barbra Streisand that it's essentially worthless.

What I know is that you don't want to rub the scab off the issue of CSA atrocities vs. USA atrocities.

As always, to you it is all relative to something else. Typical. Make the comparisons if you like, but it is indisputable the greater suffering happened in the invaded region of the south. Just remember, you opened up this box by trying to imply otherwise.

On the CSA side we see 40 loyal Texans hanged in 1862. We see 22 loyal North Carolinians hanged

And on the Union side, we see official war records ordering the execution of dozens upon dozens of confederate civilians in Tennessee, the burning of their farms, and the theft of their property. We see civilians shipped off to labor camps up north by train, women raped, plantations looted, and even slaves robbed of their food and possessions all over the south.

we see 184 men and boys shot down at Lawrence, Kansas

Yeah, though only after and in direct retaliation to yankee generals in Missouri rounding up the wives and children of confederate sympathizers for imprisonment in a structurally unstable building which collapsed in upon them killing and maiming the prisoners inside.

we see 2-300 Union soldiers murdered at Fort Pillow.

It was an act of battle, Walt. We've been over this one before. The fort was overrun after refused requests to surrender and no quarter was shown.

We see over 100 Union POW's murdered at Saltville, VA.

Do you have the names and figures, not to mention a source, on that, Walt? I've seen widely varying stats on it and some suggest that the higher end numbers such as you give are overestimated significantly. I don't dispute the wrong in the murder of POW's after a battle, but for sake of clarity I'm asking. And since you are in the business of comparisons, I'll note for the record that the confederate victims of Cape Lookout alone numbered in the thousands.

We know that @ 50 of Sherman's men were murdered.

No Walt. We don't. You've claimed they were murdered, but in the past we know that you have also claimed that of the shooting of persons engaged in the criminal acts of theft, looting, and arson - all three things done regularly by Sherman's men. Shooting in self defense is not murder, Walt, therefore your figures are drawn into question.

On the US side, we see that your new hero, Ben Butler hanged a man for desecrating Old Glory. That's a big difference.

Yeah. That, and issuing an order permitting his troops to rape civilian women among other things. We also know that more confederate POWs died in yankee prisons than did yankees in confederate prisons. And we know that Milroy under sanction from Sherman sent troops around to farms to murder civilians. We know that Sherman's command executed POWs at random in retaliation to confederates firing on his sanctioned theives and arsonists. We know that he went out of his way to burn entire cities of the south such as Meridian, Atlanta, and Columbia, often against the pleas of civilians there and after the cities were surrendered. And that just barely scratches the surface.

All the neo-reb boo-hoo'ers want to wail about the abuse of CSA prisoners. It was because the CSA abused the exchange cartels that it was decided to end them. Then-- it gets -better-- the CSA tries to pressure the USA into returning to the exchange system (so they could abuse it some more) by abusing US POW's.

Nonsense. The yankees knew and admitted that their manpower vastly exceeded that of the south. Southern POWs were strategically worth more to them than getting their own men back, so they kept it that way. In at least one case the south, which had desparately been trying to exchange prisoners largely on the reason that war shortages made it unable to feed its own let alone prisoners, simply released some of their POWs to the north to get them the food and medicine they needed. The yankees responded by taking pictures of them and circulating the pictures for propaganda purposes in northern newspapers. If anybody abused the POW exchange, Walt, it was The Lincoln, not the south.

It was the CSA that took the lead in every instance of cruelty and atrocity.

Nonsense. The CSA atrocities do not even compare to the wide scale war crimes of the yankees. More southern POWs died up north than the yankees who died in southern prisons, and that was despite their being plenty of food up north and a larger POW population of yankees in southern hands.

Now, what Sherman was doing was humane.

I have no doubt another proponent of your political persuasion named Jack Kevorkian would agree, Walt.

By burning crops and public buildings and wrecking railroads and bridges he was forcing the rebels to stop their resistance.

Yeah Walt. That's real moral. Force them to submit to your bayonet by starving and burning them out then eliminating the ones who still resist.

so why don't you drop the stupid act? Why don't you stop with the lies and misinformation?

You're projecting again, Walt. Really, you should seek help about that.

We see over 100 Union POW's murdered at Saltville, VA.

Do you have the names and figures, not to mention a source, on that, Walt?

"Sir:

"I have the honor to report that I was with the command of Brevet Major- General Burbridge in the attack on Saltville, Va., October 2, 1864, and that I was left with the wounded and was captured October 3, and paroled by Major-General Breckinridge."

"I would state that on Monday morning, October 3, there came to our field hospital several armed men, as I believe soldiers in the Confederate service, and took 5 men, privates, wounded (negroes), and shot them."

"I would further state that on Friday evening, October 7, at Emory and Henry College Hospital, Washington County, Va., to which place our wounded had been removed, several armed men entered the said hospital about 10 p.m. and went up into the rooms occupied by the Federal wounded prisoners, and shot 2 of them (negroes) dead in their beds."

"I would further state that on Saturday, October 8, at Emory and Henry College Hospital, several armed men wearing the Confederate uniform, and, as I believe, soldiers in the Confederate service, entered the same hospital about 4 p.m., overpowered the guard that had been placed there by the surgeon in charge, and went up into the rooms occupied by the Federal wounded prisoners, and shot Lieut. E. C. Smith, Thirteenth Regiment Kentucky Cavalry, dead in his bed, where he lay severely wounded. They at the same time called out for the other Federal officers confined there, particularly Colonel Hanson, Thirty- Seventh Regiment Kentucky Volunteers, and Captain Degenfeld, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry, swearing that they intended to kill all of them; and I believe that they were only prevented doing so by the exertions of Surgeon Murfree, the surgeon in charge, the steward, Mr. Acres, and the other attendants of the hospital. I would also further state that Surgeon Murfree, the other surgeons, and the hospital attendants did all in their power, even at the risk of their lives, to prevent the perpetration of these outrages; and that they assisted in removing Colonel Hanson and Captain Degenfeld, as well as myself, to a place of safety."

"I would further state that we left about 70 of our wounded prisoners in the said hospital, and that I have been informed that these outrages have been perpetuated on them since we left there."

"Respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. H. GARDNER, Surgeon, Thirtieth Regiment Kentucky Volunteer Infantry"

[Source: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Vol. XXXIX, Part I, pp. 554-555.]

"Upon the capture of Plymouth by the rebel forces all the negroes found in blue uniform, or with any outward signs of a Union soldier upon him, was killed. I saw some taken into the woods and hung. Others I saw stripped of all their clothing and then stood upon the bank of the river with their faces riverward and there they were shot. Still others were killed by having their brains beaten out by the butt end of the muskets in the hands of the rebels. All were not killed the day of the capture. Those that were not were placed in a room with their officers, they (the officers) having previously been dragged through the town with ropes around their necks, where they were kept confined until the following morning, when the remainder of the black soldiers were killed."

"The regiments most conspicuous in these murderous transactions were the Eighth North Carolina and, I think, the Sixth North Carolina."

"SAMUEL (his x mark) JOHNSON. Witnessed by John L. Davenport, lieutenant and acting aide-de-camp. Sworn and subscribed to before me this 11th day of July, 1864. John Cassels, Captain and Provost- Marshal."

[Source: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series II, Vol. VII, pp. 459-460.]

William C. Davis places the number of murdered US POW's at Saltville at over 100 in "An Honorable Defeat."

Walt

Here's a partial list of rape sentences of yankee soldiers from US government records

Bell, John, pvt, Co I, 2nd Ks Cav, hanged 11 july 1862 for the rape of Mrs Elizabeth Haywood

Callaghan, John, Pvt Co.H, 2nd NJ cav. executed 10 june 1864 at Memphis (Tn) for the gang rape of Mrs Margaret J. Brooks

Snover, Jacob F., pvt Co M, 2nd NJ cav. executed 10 june 1864 at Memphis (Tn) for the gang rape of Mrs Margaret J. Brooks

Johnson, Thomas, pvt co.D, 2nd NJ Cav. executed 10 june 1864 at Memphis (Tn) for the gang rape of Mrs Margaret J. Brooks

Carroll, John , pvt, Co D, 20th Ws, shooted 11 november 1864 for attempt of rape on Mrs Mary Gidon, Brownsville, TX

Dawson, Thomas, pvt, Co H, 20th Mass., hanged at Stevensburg (Va) 20 april 1864 for desertion and rape of Mrs Frances West (60) near Morrisville (Va)

Geary, Daniel, pvt, co G, 72nd NY Vol. hanged 15 july 1864 for the rape of Mrs Mary Stiles

Gordon, Ransom S . pvt, Co E, 72nd NY vol. hanged 15 july 1864 for the rape of Mrs Mary Stiles

Preble, James, pvt, co K, 12 NY cav., shooted at Goldsboro (NC) 31 march 1865 for attempted rape on Mrs Rebecca Drake, Miss Louise Jane Bedard, and rape of Miss Letitia Craft

Sperry, Charles, sgt, co E, 13th NY cav., executed in Old Capitol prison, Washington DC, 3 march 1865 for attempted rape of Miss Annie Nelson, age 15

Catlett, Alfred, pvt, co E, 1st heavy Art. USCT, executed at Asheville (NC) 6 may 1865 for the gang rape of an unnamed woman

Colwell, Alexander, pvt, co E, 1st heavy Art. USCT,executed at Asheville (NC) 6 may 1865 for the gang rape of an unnamed woman

Turner, Charles, pvt co E, 1st heavy Art. USCT, executed at Asheville (NC) 6 may 1865 for the gang rape of an unnamed woman

Washington, Jackson, pvt co K 1st heavy Art. USCT, executed at Asheville (NC) 6 may 1865 for the gang rape of an unnamed woman

Brooks, Dandridge, sgt, Co G, 38th USCT, hanged 30 july 1865 for the gang rape of Miss Eliza Harriet Woodson (14) and Mrs Fannie Crawford

Jackson, William, cpl co G, 38th USCT, hanged 30 july 1865 for the gang rape of Miss Eliza Harriet Woodson (14) and Mrs Fannie Crawford

Sheppard, John ,cpl co I, 38th USCT, hanged 30 july 1865 for the gang rape of Miss Eliza Harriet Woodson (14) and Mrs Fannie Crawford

Cook, John Wesley, pvt co B 55th Mass. inf. colored, hanged 18 february 1864 at Camp Shaw near Jacksonville (Fa) for the gang rape of Mrs Sarah Hammonds

Llyod Spencer, pvt co B 55th Mass. inf. colored, hanged 18 february 1864 at Camp Shaw near Jacksonville (Fa) for the gang rape of Mrs Sarah Hammonds

Smith John M . pvt co A 55th Mass. inf. colored, hanged 18 february 1864 at Camp Shaw near Jacksonville (Fa) for the gang rape of Mrs Sarah Hammonds

Baker Wallace, co I 55th Mass. inf. colored, executed at Folly island (SC) on 18 june 1864 for mutiny. Participant in the rape of Mrs. Sarah Hammonds

Gripen, James, 20, pvt co F 104rd USCT, hanged at Hilton Head (SC) 20 or 21 november 1864 for the rapes of Miss Eusebia Heape, Miss Florence Mew and Mrs Mary E.McTier, other accomplices escaped

Redding, Ben, pvt co D 104rd USCT, hanged at Hilton Head (SC) 20 or 21 november 1864 for the rapes of Miss Eusebia Heape, Miss Florence Mew and Mrs Mary E.McTier, other accomplices escaped

Jay, Henry, pvt co I 57th USCT, executed 21 june 1865 for the rape of a white woman from Dardanelles (Ark.).

Kemp, Lawson, pvt 1st Al inf of African descent (co A 55th USCT). Executed 19 november 1863 for the rape of a young white woman near Pocahantas (Tn).

Billingsley, Charles, 7th Indiana battery vol. executed 22 November 1864 for desertion during trial for the rape of Mrs Louise Smith with an accomplice

Cox, William T , pvt co I, 8th Mo cav., shooted for the rape of Mrs Nancy Rose from Green county (Mo)

Jones, William, pvt, 3rd Wisconsin cav. shooted for the rape of Mrs William Martin in the night of 25 february 1864 near Drywood, Ks.

Bass, John , pvt, 48th Illinois. attempted rape on a Georgia woman during the mach to the sea. head shaved and recieved a dishonorable discharge

Callan, Samuel , pvt 15th Ohio vol. , attempted rape on "Mary" a colored girl in her cabin at Victoria (TX). Later found not guilty in court martial

Cole, William H . pvt 109th NY vol. May 1863 rape of Mrs Alvisa Brown, received 10 years in the Albany state penitenciary

Eagan John , pvt, 4th US regulars, attempted rape on Mrs Bridget Kilkenny, received dishonorable discharge and 5 years of jail.

Eliott, William , pvt Co G 8th US infantry, attempted rape on Kate Brooks, a colored woman, on 7 november 1862, life prison sentence.

Forrest John , pvt Co M, 3rd Mass. Heavy art. attempted rape on Mrs Francis Parker, 4 february 1865. Dishonorable discharge and 6 years of hard labour.

Jamison, J W. Dr , asst surgeon, US navy, during the spring 1863 in NC, he made indecent proposal and attempted rape on Miss Margaret Harrell. sentencing not recorded

Hakes George , Cpl, co F 6th Michigan cav. dishonorable discharge and 2 years of hard labour for the rape of Cornelius Robinson's wife, 19 november 1864.

Harvey, John , Lt, 49th Ohio vol. two years in state penitenciary for the rape of Mrs Catherine Farmer on a public road of Tennessee near Tullahoma.

Hays, Edward, pvt, co L 4th Kentucky cav, two years of hard labour in february 1865 for attempted rape on Miss Nancy Short, age 12.

Hunter, Charles C . pvt, Co I, 7th Kentucky cav. 18 years in Nashville penitenciary for the rape of Mrs Mary Melissa Kirkesey, 18 may 1864.

Killgore, Thomas, pvt 38th Ohio, 10 years of hard labor for the rape of a colored woman in a cabin near Catawba river (SC), on 27 february 1865

Kunkle, Daniel , pvt , co C, 38th Ohio vol., 4 years of hard labor for the rape of a colored woman in a cabin near Catawba river (SC), on 27 february 1865. Other accomplices escaped

Leonhart Jacob , 26th Independant Pa Battery, jail for the war duration in a penitenciary for attempted rape on "Sally" colored servant Warren county (Tennessee).

McCarthy, Arthur , sgt, Ohio, 2 years in a state jail and dishonorable discharge for the rape of a young girl near Bennetsville (SC) according three eyewitness from 11th Illinois.

Manning, Patrick , pvt, co B, 8th New Hampshire. accused of attempted rape of Miss Clara Grier, sentenced to 3 years of hard labour for other offenses.

Merrill, Robert L . pvt, 1st DC cav. rape of Virginia Quarles, a colored woman, at Manchester, fled before trial

O'Malley George W . 1st Lt, co E, 115th Pa, in may 1863 attempted rape of Mrs Mercy M. Whippey from Camden. 6 years of hard labor

Robinson, James, pvt, co G, 6th cav Mo state militia, 5 years of prison for attempted rape on Mrs Letta Vernon

Stewart, Samuel B, pvt co G, 6th cav Mo state militia, 3 years of prison for attempted rape on Mrs Letta Vernon

Rogers, Charles R., pvt co E, 3rd Vt vol, head shaved, dishonorable discharge and 5 years of hard labour for rape of Miss Pricey McCoy near Warrentown (Va).

Stillwell, Stephen , pvt, 37th Kentucky Vol. 15 years of hard labor in state penitenciary for the rape of Mrs Sallie McKune 29 july 1863 near Lebanon (Ky) -

Van Buren, William, pvt co B, 212th Illinois, one month in jail for "indecent proposals" to Mrs Ellie Farnan and daughter .

Wallenus, François , 2nd Lt, NY ind. by dishonorable discharge for attempted rape on a comrade's wife.

Walsh, Charles , 2nd Lt, 1st NY dragoons, drunken at Port Tobacco, (Md) indecent proposal of attempted rape to Miss Eliza Quinn. Dishonorable discharge.

Waxey, Alfred , sgt, 8th Pa cav. , summer 1865, violence and proposition to Mr William Johnson

Wells, Frederick D. pvt, co D, 90th batallion NY veteran vol. , 3 years of hard labor for attempted rape on Mary Harvey from Winchester (Va).

Cornish, John, co G , 30th USCT, attempted rape on Sarah Potter. Sentenced to death but commuted to life prison by Lincoln

Troest, Louis P . pvt, by I, 1st NY light Artillery. Two years of hard labor for the rape of Polly Walker, slave

Jerry Spades, black servant of 1st NY light Artillery the unit captain, 5 years of hard labor, for the rape of Polly Walker, slave

NOTHING is worse than being a scalawag!

free dixie,sw

Oh, and Walt. That's about 60 rapists in the union army so far, including several from Sherman's divisions and many elsewhere. You may also notice that the oh-so-egalitarian yankees tended to execute blacks for rape, but discharge whites or give prison sentences to whites for the same offense.

And yes, Walt, there are many more cases that went unpunished. They are found listed in eyewitness accounts and diaries, and some even in correspondence between military officials

Don't play that faux southern gentleman crap with me.

You really don't like Southerners, do you? What happened? Did you have a bad experience with grits? Did someone put sugar in your tea?

Rank had some privileges I see.

Cook, John Wesley, pvt co B 55th Mass. inf. colored, hanged 18 february 1864 at Camp Shaw near Jacksonville (Fa) for the gang rape of Mrs Sarah Hammonds

Llyod Spencer, pvt co B 55th Mass. inf. colored, hanged 18 february 1864 at Camp Shaw near Jacksonville (Fa) for the gang rape of Mrs Sarah Hammonds

Smith John M . pvt co A 55th Mass. inf. colored, hanged 18 february 1864 at Camp Shaw near Jacksonville (Fa) for the gang rape of Mrs Sarah Hammonds

Baker Wallace, co I 55th Mass. inf. colored, executed at Folly island (SC) on 18 june 1864 for mutiny. Participant in the rape of Mrs. Sarah Hammonds

Harvey, John , Lt, 49th Ohio vol. two years in state penitenciary for the rape of Mrs Catherine Farmer on a public road of Tennessee near Tullahoma.

Here are some more Union rapists:

H. B. Hopkins, 159th New York Regiment, gang rape of a Louisiana Negro girl, hard labor for life, sentenced March 2, 1864

Jordan M. Lee, 159th New York Regiment, gang rape of a Louisiana Negro girl, hard labor for 10 years, sentenced March 2, 1864

Henry Dennis, 159th New York Regiment, gang rape of a Louisiana Negro girl, hard labor for 3 years, sentenced March 2, 1864

James Lee, 159th New York Regiment, gang rape of a Louisiana Negro girl, hard labor for 3 years, sentenced March 2, 1864

D. Rafften, 159th New York Regiment, gang rape of a Louisiana Negro girl, hard labor for 3 years, sentenced March 2, 1864

John Thorpe, 159th New York Regiment, gang rape of a Louisiana Negro girl, hard labor for 3 years, sentenced March 2, 1864

R. Wheeler, 159th New York Regiment, gang rape of a Louisiana Negro girl, hard labor for 3 years, sentenced March 2, 1864

R. Coons, 159th New York Regiment, gang rape of a Louisiana Negro girl, hard labor for 3 years, sentenced March 2, 1864

J. Horan, 159th New York Regiment, gang rape of a Louisiana Negro girl, hard labor for 3 years, sentenced March 2, 1864

H. C. Nelson, 159th New York Regiment, gang rape of a Louisiana Negro girl, hard labor for 3 years, sentenced March 2, 1864

Source: The Daily Picayune, March 3, 1864

Historical revisionism at its ultimate worst. The South fought for the rights of a state's freedom of choice and self-determination. They peacefully seceded until the war was forced on them by Lincoln's subterfuge and a Yankee invasion. They never tried to overthrow the US government, nor did they consider themselves to be a part of the United States after 1861 ... they were the Confederate States! This professor is so full of sh*t that its a wonder he even holds a teaching certificate. He ought to stick to something he might know about, like basket weaving or pro-creation among cows.

In case you didn't know ... secession means to break away and form one's own government. South were termed "rebels" because in the eyes of the "status quo" damnYankee politicians and Lincoln sycophants they had the nerve to stand up against the Federal Government's taxes and Yankee intimidation tactics.

Here is the picture of Professor Farley from his Vanderbilt web page.

"That's a valid point. There's a passel of 'em on FR, too."

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh yes ... here's good old Walt of the "I'm full of sh*t and don't know squat about history" socialist brigade! He and the other Lincoln sycophants are what keep me laughing all the time ... what a maroon!

First of all, as I have posted to you more than once, a number of Sherman's men (as many as 10) lodged in a jail were taken out and shot.
No Walt. I don't believe you have posted it.

Yes, I have, and I've posted it directly to you. It's from Burke Davis' "Sherman's March". We've done all this before.

Here it is again. You've seen it before.

"Wheeler's command drove the Federal advance from Sandersvile after a brief skirmish and settled in the town for the night. This rare, if temporary, success inspired a Sandersville lynch mob to murder some of Wheeler's captives. A mob appeared near midnight -- probably a band of Confederate troops -- pushed aside the frightened guards, carried the Federal prisoners into a nearby field, and shot them down."

--Sherman's March" p. 75, by Burke Davis

You can't show that many CSA POW's shot out of hand by US forces in the whole war.

Walt

On another occasion, 7 Union soldiers were found murdered. These men were soldiers in uniform in time of war. They did nothing illegal simply by being in Georgia.

Again, without further detail it is not possible to know the circumstances of their deaths.

This has been posted --to-you-- before:

"As they had in the previous case-of the unknown girl raped by Federal soldiers near Aiken, Wheeler's troopers took immediate and impulsive revenge. Galloping along a country road in the tracks of the bluecoat raiders, the rebel troopers overtook the supposed rapists, killed them at once, cut their throats and left the bodies at the roadside bearing a sign: THESE ARE THE SEVEN.

This incident opened a new phase of grim retribution between the armies. Almost daily, other Federal soldiers were found at the roadside, within plain view of the blue columns, lying with slashed throats. General Slocum reported finding twenty-one bodies of his slain soldiers tumbled into a ravine.

On February 22, eighteen of Kilpatrick's men were killed in this way, and some of the bodies bore crudely lettered messages: DEATH TO ALL FORAGERS. In an effort to halt the murders, Sherman ordered his commanders to kill a Confederate prisoner for each such Federal corpse they found, and the impulse to revenge became official army policy. Sherman realized that his bummers and foragers had prompted the executions by the Confederates, and told his generals; "If our foragers commit excesses, punish them yourself, but never let an enemy judge between our men and the law."

Kilpatrick sent a message to Wheeler describing the murder of his eighteen soldiers, all of whom, he said, had been slain after their surrender: "Unless some satisfactory explanation is made to me I before sundown, February 23, I will cause 18 of your men, now my I prisoners, to be shot at that hour, and if this cowardly act is repeated .. . I will not only retaliate . . . but there shall not be a house left within reach of my scouting parties on my line of march . . . I know of no other way to intimidate cowards."

--"Sherman's March", p. 187, by Burke Davis

None of Wheeler's men appear to have been executed. Davis says nothing else about it.

The So-called CSA always took the lead in atocity.

Walt

Here are some more Union rapists:

Sherman's men were very well behaved.

"Civil War historians have long known that stories of widespread rape and murder by Union soldiers lack much historical foundation. There is simply very little evidence to support them. But until quite recently historians did tend to dwell heavily on the destructive aspects of Sherman's marches, and the dominant portrayal was one of hardened veterans no longer animated by moral considerations.

That assessment is one that I too shared for a number of years. But eventually I became troubled, for official Union policy plainly did not contemplate such indiscriminate destruction. And although wanton depredations certainly occurred, I discovered almost no instances in which white Southerners were killed, assaulted, or raped. Indeed, my reading of the evidence did not sustain a portrayal of unrestrained destruction even of property. After a while it seemed to me that the dominant theme of the Union hard war operations was as less an erosion of values than an on-going tension between competing sets of values. Union soldiers clearly came to understand the need to destroy Southern war resources and they also embraced the conviction that some Southern civilians deserved punishment for their role in starting or sustaining the war. But the same sense of justice that created this desire for retribution also insisted that punishment should fall upon the guilty. The result was indeed severity, but it was a directed severity aimed--and for the most part, aimed effectively--at certain portions of the Confederate population and economic infrastructure.

In my research I was surprised by how frequently Federal commanders called for this directed severity and also by how readily rank-and-file soldiers accepted and obeyed it. The unauthorized destruction that attended Sherman's marches was mainly, in the phrase of corps commander Major General Alpheus S. Williams, the work of "the few (ever found in large bodies of men) who were disorderly and vicious." The chief exception was South Carolina. From the moment the Federals crossed the Savannah River, incidents of pillaging and arson accelerated dramatically. The perpetrators were no longer the marginal soldiers alone, but included many of the best, most motivated troops. What happened to South Carolina forcefully underscored the substantially directed nature of the severity that had preceded it. It showed what a Federal army could do when it wanted to wreak indiscriminate havoc." ...

Let me give you an example of this private myth-making at work. It comes from the unpublished reminiscences of a woman, Grace Pierson Beard, who lived about eight miles from Winnsboro, South Carolina. Her postwar account, now preserved in the Southern Historical Collection at UNC, consumes fifteen typescript, single-spaced pages. In it she describes how, returning to her home in February 1865, she encountered soldiers in her house, seated on benches taken from her piazza. They were roasting potatoes taken from her potato bank in a fire they had built in her fireplace. "I shall never forget that sight!" she writes dramatically--but then goes on to say that these men turned out to be members of Wheeler's Confederate cavalry, and nothing in her narrative suggests that she was in the least disturbed by their trespassing into her home.

Instead, the purpose of the men in her narrative is to convey a message about the danger she is in. Sherman's men were coming, they told her, and when she informed them of her plan to leave before their arrival, they responded that leaving would only guarantee the destruction of her house. "Sherman's orders are to burn all vacant houses and all provisions." Thus Grace decided to remain.

Next day, a group of Union soldiers arrived, killed a dog, and ate everything at her table, but left without assailing anyone. The day after a major force passed through--they ransacked her house for provisions and allegedly told her slaves not only that they were free, but also entitled to their mistress's possessions. (No one acted on this, however.) Her barn and outbuildings were burned. Some soldiers said threatening things, but another soldier deterred them with, "The first man who attempts to enter that house will have his brains blown out." Subsequently a second, self-appointed guard appeared, followed by a soldier who looked so much like her husband that her toddler son ran up to him, leaped into his arms, and called him Pa. The soldier "seemed to be much affected" by this. So was she: "I felt as if my baby was everlastingly polluted."

That was the extent of Mrs. Beard's experience with the coming of Lucifer's legions: vigorous foraging, the destruction of outbuildings, the liberation of slaves, and repeated efforts to extort possessions from her--which were never pursued to the point of assault and were, in any case, countered by soldiers who actively protected her family and herself. All this information is in her reminiscences, but the tone is one of fear and outrage, and the tone governs what an uncritical reader takes away from her reminiscences. In effect, Mrs. Beard--like thousands of other white Southerners--has constructed a mythical reading of her experience that emphasizes the harshness and injustice of that experience."

From this website:

http://www.cohums.ohio-state.edu/history/people/grimsley.1/myth/myth.htm

GOPCap is speading disinformation as surely as any Nazi or Soviet propagandist.

Walt

That's about 60 rapists in the union army so far, including several from Sherman's divisions and many elsewhere.

I think that you three are overlooking something here. Reread the posts. You have detailed several dozen cases of assault and all seem to have one thing in common. In amost every single case the perpetrator was charged, tried, convicted, and punished by the Union army. So I'm not really sure what your point is. Did members of the Union army commit criminal assaults? Yes. But what you are showing it that the Union army went after the men committing these crimes and punished them. It didn't seem to matter if the victim was white or black, Northern or southern. If caught he was punished, quite frequently with the ultimate punishment, death.

Contrast that with the attitude of the confederate government. Here is a letter from the confederate secretary of war to the governor of Virginia in 1861:

WAR DEPARTMENT,
C.S.A,
Richmond, November 22, 1861.
John Letcher,
Governor of Virginia:
SIR:
Will not your convention do something to protect your own people against atrocious crimes committed on their persons and property? There are in the Army, unfortunately, some desperate characters - men gathered from the outskirts and purlieus of large cities - who take advantage of the absence of the civil authorities to commit crimes, even murder, rape, and highway robbery, on the peaceful citizens in the neighborhood of the armies. For these offenses the punishment should be inflicted by the civil authorities (...) There are murderers now in insecure custody at Manassas who cannot be tried for want of a court there, and who will escape the just penalty of their crimes. The crimes committed by these men are not military offenses. If a soldier, rambling through the country, murders a farmer or violates the honor of his wife or daughter, courts-martial cannot properly take cogniance of the offense, nor is it allowable to establish military commissions or tribunals in our own country. I appeal to Virginia legislators for protection to Virginians, and this appeal will, I know, be responded to by prompt and efficient action.
I am, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,
J.P. Bemjamin,
Secretary of War

Note the differnce between the Union army and the confederate army. While the Union army went after and punished criminals, the confederate army did not consider these crimes a military offense. While the Union army was trying men convicted raping southerners, the confederate government wouldn't be bothered to go after men who raped and robbed and murdered southerners. If they wouldn't protect their own people then one can only assume that they were encouraged to run riot over Northern civilians. And, in fact, that is what they did in 1862 and 1863.

How about some quotes from men who were actually there, Walt?

"...the rank and file of the American army is the most orderly I have ever seen, a circumstance which is due, probably, to the fact of the privates being mostly married, and all men of some kind of education. There is less brutality about the federal troops, and most respect for women, than amongst any soldiery we are acquainted with in the old world. ..." - Edward Dicey, British author and journalist in "Six months in the Federal states" a report on a visit to America in 1862

"The men have behaved themselves the best I saw them either home or abroad. Every man has seemed to be on his good behavior since we entered Atlanta. The women have been dressed up waiting for our men to commence raping but they have waited in vain. There has not been a single outrage commited in this city , a circumstance that the people say they cannot say for the rebel army." - " write William Dunn, surgeon, 46th Pennsylvania

"(...) yankee raiding parties are going everywhere & no one feel safe. Mother writes that so far they have behaved much better than was anticipated from their threats; no house that were occupied have been burned , nor those where ladies where , molested, through out houses are pillaged. (...)" The diary of Miss Emma Holmes, April 18, 1865

"I shall risk it at home. I learne that in Marietta the yankees haven't insulted a lady in no respect." Mrs E.C. Welbourne of Covington to her husband in Virginia

"We are situated three miles from the village, on a by-road, and I flattered myself, our house would not be discovered. But they found us out and paid us two visits pf about half hour each. However, they were not insolent to us...Most everyone suffered some, but no violence was offered to the ladies..." Mrs Allston Pringle from Society Hill, SC march 30, 1865

Saturday, September 13. [1862]—The town was effervescent with joy at the arrival of the Union troops. No business was done. Every one felt jubilant, and congratulated himself and neighbor that the United States troops were once more in possession. General McClellan with his staff rode through, about nine o'clock, and was received on all sides with the most unlimited expressions of delight. Old and young shouted with joy; matrons held their babes towards him as their deliverer from the rule of a foreign army, and fair young ladies rushed to meet him on the streets, some even throwing their arms around his horse's neck.

It was a scene difficult to realize in this matter-of-fact age, but deep-seated feelings of gratitude found expression in every possible form. The reality of the joy constituted the poetry of the reception. Years of obloquy and reproach might have been considered compensated for by such a reception. The army, as well as its loved general, was welcomed with enthusiasm. To Frederick belongs the high honor of having given the first decided, enthusiastic, whole-souled reception which the Army had met since its officers and men had left their families and homes to fight the battles of their country. It is true that companies and regiments on their way to join the Army had been received with shouts of approval in the towns through which they passed, but the Army, as such, had always trudged along its accustomed line of duty without one word from the people in the way of satisfaction or commendation.

But in Frederick it was received as a band of brothers, fighting for the welfare of the whole country and, whether successful or unsuccessful, entitled to the warmest demonstrations of good feeling possible. Amid all this there was exhibited no vindictive feeling towards the secession citizens of the town. No arrests were made of so-called Southern sympathizers. Many of these were disgusted with their friends of the Southern Army..."

One thing may be said with perfect truth of the Rebel army, and that is, but few stragglers are left behind as they march through the country. Depredations on private property in this neighborhood have been comparatively rare. This is understood to be the result of some very stringent rules adopted by General Lee with special reference to the invasion of Maryland. Some of our men have been less scrupulous in their treatment of private property.

Teamsters, who seem to fear neither man nor God, are found committing depredations on all sides. This evil might be suppressed if teamsters were enlisted men and subjected to military punishments. I do not know what the rule is in foreign service, but it is manifest that the management of this class of men would be comparatively easy, were they placed under the same laws that govern the rest of our Army.

The experience of one week with the Rebel Army satisfies me that the men are in a high state of discipline and have learned implicit obedience. When separated from their officers they do not show the same self-reliance that our men possess,—do not seem able to discuss with intelligent ease the political subjects which claim every man's attention at this time. All of them show a lack of energy and spirit, a want of thrift and cleanliness, which are altogether paradoxical to our men. A constant fear of their officers is associated with their prompt obedience of orders.

Many, while they expressed their contempt for "the Yankees," would lament the war and express a desire to throw down their arms and return to their homes, if they could only do this without molestation. Jackson's name was always mentioned with a species of veneration, and his orders were obeyed with a slavish obedience unsurpassed by that of Russian serfs.

The men generally looked sturdy when in ranks, yet a cachectic expression of countenance prevailed, which could not be accounted for entirely by the unwashed faces that were, from necessity or choice, the rule. Those who have fallen into our hands show worn-out constitutions, disordered digestions and a total lack of vital stamina. They do not bear pain with any fortitude, and their constitutions seem to have very little power of resistance to disease. The rate of mortality in the rebel sick and wounded is double or treble that found in the Hospitals containing our men. In point of professional ability, their medical officers vary very much. Some few are men of superior talent, but many are without either professional knowledge or social culture. Constant association with hardship and suffering may have made them callous to the appeals of their patients, but this excuse will hardly justify the neglect which some of them show towards the sick. As to medical supplies they rely largely upon captures, upon confiscating whatever they meet with on their marches, and upon paying for medicines with the worthless rags they call Confederate notes. With such uncertain sources for their supplies, the imperfections of their medical and surgical treatment cannot, be severely censured."

This is from Dr. Steiner's phamplet where he calls the officers and men of the Northern Virginia "filthy and replusive."

But, N-S, you KNOW the neo-rebs detest the historical record. It doesn't suit them very well.

Walt