Civil War atrocities

[bAcK88]

Re: Civil War atrocities

Tom,

I'd completely forgotten that story! Its been a while since I've read the book, but do you recall what unit that was attributed to? I want to say either the 14th Regiment or Coppen's Battalion, but I'm not sure.

Sean,

I was looking for contemporary accounts of atrocities to try to weed out any post-war reconciliationist memory.

A good amount of literature has been produced since the war about Southern partisans and their actions against local Federals, but does anyone know of accounts involving front line troops against other soldiers?

Bill

[Remember1864]

Re: Civil War atrocities

U.S.C.T.'s are said to have killed surrendering Johnnies near Battery #6, Dimmock Line, (Petersburg, VA). And of course, the racial incidents at the "Crater" merit a mention. More than one account of black soliders being shot after they surrendered.

[Secesh]

Re: Civil War atrocities

Bill,
It was Coppen's men who committed the killing, if memory serves me correctly. Thanks!

[EVOC]

Re: Civil War atrocities

Ever heard of Lt. Colonel Fielding Hurst, 6th TN Union Cavalry? How about Hurst Nation?

Though it seems that General Grierson convened a courtmartial, Hurst was never turned over to the Confederates. On March 22, 1864, Forrest had the following dispatch delivered throughout the surrounding territory:

"Whereas it has come to the knowledge of the Maj. Gen. commanding that Col. Fielding Hurst . . .has been guilty of wanton extortion upon the citizens of Jackson, Tennessee and other places guilty of depridation upon private property, guilty of house burnings, guilty of murders, both of citizens and soldiers of the Confederate States . . . I therefore declare . . . (them) outlaws, and not entitled to be treated as prisoners of war . . . ." Forrest was never to personally capture Hurst, although men of his command still skirmished with the 6th Tennessee. On April 20, Gen. James R. Chalmers wrote that Col Neely had ". . . drove Hurst hatless into Memphis, leaving in our hands all his wagons, ambulances, papers, and his mistresses, both black and white."

The rest of 1864 saw the same pattern as the first. In May, Hurst's men looted and burned Commerce, Mississippi. Again Forrest petitioned Federal Command for the surrender of Hurst, this time, in June to Maj. Gen. CC Washburn in Memphis, that Hurst ". . . deliberately took out and killed seven Confederate soldiers, one of whom they left to die after cutting off his tongue, punching out his eyes, splitting his mouth on each side to his ears and cutting off his privates." Meanwhile, Federal commanders such as Col. Waring at White Station, were worried about unexplained ordnance accounts and Hurst's refusal to discuss them. Col. E. W. Rice (US) was still concerned about the money extorted in Jackson, Tennessee "which he (Hurst) has not turned over to the government, but has it deposited for his own private benefit." In August, one Federal commander wrote headquarters demanding that "if Hurst is under my command that he be arrested and confined."

http://hurstnation.com/hurst-w-clay-crook.htm

[Callan Clark]

Re: Civil War atrocities

I believe the other confederate general that was in the 5th Corps with Fitzhugh Lee and Joseph Wheeler during the Spanish-American War is Matthew Calbraith Butler. He served in the cavalry under JEB Stuart. He was wounded at the battle at Brandy Station and lost his foot as a result. He quickly got back on duty and rushed to South to stop W.T. Sherman march into South Carolina. He served in the U.S. Senate for eighteen years, oversaw the Reconstruction of South Carolina, and was a major general in the Spanish-American War.

[OldKingCrow]

Re: Civil War atrocities

I had both acl replaced yesterday with some other knee surgery.

I have some good stuff to post later re: atrocites when I can get someone to bring some reference materials downstairs for me.