| From the Raleigh Standard |
| |
| October 28, 1863 |
| |
| The Raleigh Mob |
| We are indebted to the courtesy of Gov.
Vance for the following correspondence in relation to the outrage
committed on our office by a portion of the Georgia troops, on the
night of the 9th of September last. |
| We think it clear from the facts
presented, that Lt. Col. Shepherd had nothing to do with the mob,
except to aid Gov. Vance in arresting it. But we are obliged to say,
from the evidence before us, that Gen. Benning's letter, with Col.
Whitford's statement as repeated by Gov. Vance, is not satisfactory.
Gen. Benning says, "I had not had a suspicion that such an
outrage was contemplated." And Gov. Vance says, "in my
letter to the President I said that Gen. Benning remarked to Col.
Whitford, transportation agent here, some hours previous to the mob, that
he should not be surprised if his men did tear down the Standard
office, AS HE HAD HEARD IT THREATENED." He will not deny that
he made this remark to Col. Whitford, and this remark cannot be
reconciled with his declaration in his letter that he "had not
had a suspicion that such an outrage was contemplated." We think
it probable also that it can be proved that a soldier reported the
result of the mob to Gen. Benning, at the depot a few moments before
the train left, and that, by his manner, he approved what had been
done. |
| The following letter from Lt. Colonel
Seago, of the 20th Georgia regiment, will show that he approved the mob
and apologized for it. It appears that one of the soldiers of his
regiment had stolen some letter paper we had in our office on which to
do some printing for one of the State departments, and Col. Seago
returned the paper to us, with the following note: |
| Raleigh, Sept. 9m 1863 |
| Mr. Holden |
| Sir, |
| One of the soldiers of this regiment
brought into camp this package of paper, and offered it for sale. I do
not think the object of the party was to make money our of the attack on
your office. Therefore I return it to you. |
| From what I learn, considerable injury has
been done your office. I hope this will be a warning to you and all
others not to pursue a course calculated to encourage the enemy either
by words or acts. The motives of this party were patriotic. They believe
you to be opposed to our cause, and desire to betray us into the hands
of the enemies of our peace, our property, and our independence. |
| I am, very respectfully, |
| E. M. Seago |
| Lt. Col. 20th Geo. Reg. |
| Comment on the foregoing is unnecessary. |
| Lt. Colonel Shepherd says, "it is to be
marked that not one officer was seen by me in the midst of the
outbreak." Gov. Vance says, "there were several company officers in the
crowd, as I judged by their swords," &c. Indeed, an officer called at
our dwelling house and asked us to go to the printing office, where he
said some gentlemen wished to see us. Was the officer Lt. Colonel Seago?
Will he answer? |
| The Editor of the Spirit of the Age,
of this City, says that some three weeks ago four soldiers called at his
office and told him that they belonged to the 48th North-Carolina
regiment -- that they, with some forty men, had been detached to arrest
deserters in this State, and that they, in company with some Georgia
soldiers, concocted the attack, the North-Carolinians having originated
and having made it, and the Georgians standing by to aid them against
any force that might seem likely to overpower them. But the Editor did
not obtain the names of these men, nor did he give information that
would lead to their arrest. |
| This thing was not done in a corner. It
was open and notorious. We believe that Georgians were alone concerned
in the mob, but if North Carolina soldiers had any part in it, let the
fact be shown. |
|
Telegraph |
|
Raleigh, Sept. 10, 1863 |
| President Davis, Richmond. |
| A Georgia regiment of Benning's brigade
entered this City last night, at 10 o'clock, and destroyed the office of
the Standard newspaper. This morning a mob of citizens destroyed
the office of the State Journal, in retaliation. |
| Please order immediately that troops
passing through here shall not enter the city. If this is not done, the
most frightful consequences may ensue. |
| Respectfully, |
| Z. B. Vance |
|
Telegraph |
| Richmond, Sept. 10, 1863 |
| Gov. Z. B. Vance, |
| Your dispatch of this date received. I
deeply regret the occurrence you announce, and have sent by telegraph
the following order to Maj. W. W. Peirce, Q. M.: "You will not allow the
troops in transit to be detained at Raleigh, and will communicate to the
commanding officer of each detachment passing there, that he is
instructed not to permit his men to enter the City, but if
transportation is not furnished to enable the detachment to proceed
immediately by railroad, will march, halting to an encampment at safe
distance from Raleigh." |
| Jefferson Davis |
| ***** |
|