Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 29.djvu/119

 Report of History Committee of Grand Carn/> C. V. 103

GENERAL POPE'S ORDERS.

(i) "The people of the Valley of the Shenandoah and throughout the region of the operations of this army, living along the lines of railroad and telegraph and along the routes of travel in rear of the United States forces, are notified that they will be held responsible for any injury done to the track, line or road, or for any attack upon trains or straggling soldiers by bands of guerrillas in their neighbor- hood. * * * * Safety of life and property of all persons living in the rear of our advancing armies depends upon the main- tenance of peace and quiet among themselves, and of the unmo- lested movement through their midst of all pertaining to the military service. They are to understand distinctly that this security of travel is their only warrant of safety. It is therefore ordered, that whenever a railroad, wagon road, or telegraph is injured by parties of guerrillas, the citizens living within five miles of the spot shall be turned out in mass to repair the damage, and shall, besides, pay to the United States, in money or in property, to be levied by military force, the full amount of the pay and subsistence of the whole force necessary to coerce the performance of the work during the time occupied in completing it. If a soldier or legitimate follower of the army, be fired upon from any house, the house shall be razed to the ground, and the inhabitants sent prisoners to the headquarters of the army. If an outrage occurs at any place distant from settlements, the people within five miles around shall be held accountable, and made to pay an indemnity sufficient for the case."

We defy investigation in the history of modern warfare to find anything emanating from a general commanding an army as cowardly and as cruel as this order. Just think of it: The women, children and non-combatants, living within five miles of the rear of an invad- ing army, ordered to protect it from the incursions of the opposing army, or upon failure to do this, whether from inability or any other cause, to forfeit their lives or their property.

Again, this same commander, on July 23, 1862, issued the follow- ing order:

"Commanders of army corps, divisions, brigades and detached commands, will proceed immediately to arrest all disloyal male citi- zens within their lines, or within their reach, in rear of their respec- tive stations. Such as are willing to take the oath of allegiance to