May 16, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
It is possible, says the Augusta Chronicle, that one may sometimes entertain an angel unawares, though he is far more apt to get hold of the Cloven Foot in the disguise of a gentlemen; but we believe there is not the slightest doubt as to the identity of the uniformed gentry who perambulated our streets on Tuesday. They were no angels, unless […..] angels,’ and as to disguise, neither by garb or speech, was their true character concealed. There were circumstances, too, connected with their presence in this city, which made them known to us as the murderers and plunderers of Southern citizens. Yet with all these convincing proofs before us, one could hardly determine whether they were friends or foes, judging from the treatment they received.
The […..] of the city’ is one of the highest courtesies that can be extended to distinguished strangers, and this many of our blue-coated guests seemed to enjoy, roaming abut the streets at pleasure, mingling freely with our citizens and servants, arguing trite political questions with some, and indulging in insolent swagger in the presence of others. Some residents bought gold and green-backs of them, a few intrusted them with letters to their friends at the North; others furnished them with cigars and refreshments, and a Confederate officer of some rank dismounted from his horse and shook a Yankee by the hand, with remark that he was […..] to see him!’ Did the pressure of that grip leave no stain of blood upon his fingers – the fresh blood of murdered kinsfolk? And women presented the unfortunate prisoners – guests, we mean – with flowers. Did any of our Confederate soldiers who acted as guards to these men receive such floral testimonials of good will and female favor? Not one. No wonder the captives manifested such exuberance of spirits throughout the day, and bore their term of durance so lightly, or that they left the city at evening with the manner of an excursion party returning from a picnic. A rare jaunt they have had through the ‘land of cotton.’ Pleasant reminiscences will they have of their tour to the South, expenses paid – pleasant recollections of Augusta. Soon again in camp they will tell the jolly story of what rare times they had in Dixie, and long for another gallop through the land of flowers, where green backs are worth three for one, and where females kiss the hand that slew their brother. And the fortunate recipient of a choice bouquet will exhibit its pressed and faded leaves as a tribute of Southern devotion to the Union, and sympathy for those who have battled for the […..] flag.’ Intelligent officers will prate of Union sentiment, and encourage the pristine hope that thousands of victims of rebel tyranny would rally to the stars and stripes, could they once again be unfurled in their midst. And many of these precious vandals were the same who openly avowed in the streets of Rome, their intention to return again in less than three months, burn up the town, and hang every man in it, and who cursed Gen. FORREST as a rascal and a scoundrel. These men, fresh from the scenes of murder, burning, and pillage, with hands scarcely wiped of the blood of our citizens, are received in Augusta with a display of leniency and civility, if not of sympathy, that is absolutely criminal, and women are actually found who bestow their favors upon them. What humiliation!
What shall we say? We would counsel no harsh measures with prisoners who fall into our hands; we would offer them no indignity; but prudence as well as justice require that no communication should be permitted between them and citizens; that they should be kept closely under guard, and not be allowed to wander about our towns, free to poison the minds of negros, to spy out defences, factories and Government works, or even to slip away under the guise of a citizen’s dress, stealthily furnished by some traitor, and lurk among us for future mischief. Shall we permit these attentions and intercourse with Yankees, while there exists orders at the North forbidding all expressions of sympathy with or the tendering of aid and comfort to rebels, even to the communicating with them by letter, under penalty of death? while worthy citizens and their wives and daughters are imprisoned or exiled to the South for such offences? Confederate prisoners are not invariably treated cruelly at the North, but we know how frequent and just are the complaints of severity that is absolutely barbarous. We would not mete out to them the full measure that they mete out to us, but it is a burning shame, it is humiliating, and insulting to the widow and fatherless, that these relentless, blood-thirsty foes should be treated as friends and guests. The act belies our professions of patriotism and devotion to the cause of the South, and stultifies us in the eyes of our enemy and of the world. Let our prisoners feel that they are regarded as enemies. Let them see that we are not inhuman, but that we look upon them with that loathing and bitter hate which the unholy cause in which they are enlisted so naturally inspires. Let no more such attentions be shown to prisoners whom the fate of war may throw into our hands.