Southern intelligence.
an unprovoked murder.
A correspondent of the Petersburg Express, writing from Camp Pemherton, (Col. Pryor's regiment,) Jan. 4th, communicates to that paper the following particulars of a fatal difficulty which recently occurred at that place. Yesterday morning, about 9 o'clock, our camp was thrown into great excitement by the report that Wm. M. Crowder a member of the Dinwiddie Grays, (Capt. H. E. Orgain,) had fatally stabbed a fellow-soldier named E. F. Sturdirant, also a member of the same company. On repairing to the scene of the unfortunate difficulty, I gathered the following particulars from a messmate of the latter, who was present and witnessed the beginning and finals of the fatal tragedy:
Crowder and a young man named Vaughan were playing cards in the tent of Sturdivant. The latter being near the fire at the time, desired Vaughan to stop playing with Crowder. Mr. L. L. Meredith also desired the same thing, and remarked to Vaughan that if he did not look out Crowder would cheat him.--After these requests had been made, Sturdivant then said to Vaughan, ‘"Yes, he tried to cheat me in a game last night."’ Crowder then jurned around to Sturdivant, and asked what he (S.) had to do with it, calling him at the time a ‘"d — d, long slab-sided son of a b — h."’ On the uttering of this oath, Meredith remonstrated with Crowder, saying, You ought not to say that, Crowder, for I have heard you say repeatedly that if any man used such an cath to you, you would cut his gate out." After Meredith made use of chese remarks, Sturdivant said to Crowder, ‘"As you have called me a d — d son of a b — h, I now call you one."’
After the using of this expression, Crowder dared him (S.) to repeat it, and without waiting form repetition of the remark, jumped towards Sturdivant and stabbed him in the femoral artery, about three inches below ponport's ligament, with a penknife he had in his hand. After Sturdivant found he was stabbed, he stood firm on the floor and said to Crowder, ‘"Why in the world did you want to stick that knife in me?"’--to which Crowder made no reply, and seemed apparently unconcerned about the matter. After this, Mr. G. H. Williamson, a relative of Sturdivant, who was also present and witnessed the whole scene, said, "If I were you, (to Sturdivant,) if he stabbed you, I would go and report him to the commanding officer. He (S.) then walked out of his quarters to the Captain's marquee, and instead of reporting Crowder, as he was requested to do, asked Lieut. Lewis (Capt. Orgain being absent) to send for the regimental Surgeon, bleeding profusely all the time from the effects of the wound. Before the Surgeon could come to his assistance he fell, not being able to regain his feet on account of weakness. He was then taken to his quarters, where he lingered intense agony for five hours, only making a request for water during the time, and now lies in our hospital amurnered man. Our Surgeon, Dr. Thomas, was at the side of the wounded man as soon as possible, rendering all the assistance in his power, but his great medicals I proved unavailing.
Testimony of another Confederate prisoner.
A lady of Dallas, Texas, has received a fetter from her brother, who was taken prisoner by the Yankees at Manassas, and who afterwards made his escape, from which we make the following extract:‘ They came very near killing me on the spot, but they carried me to the refer about one mile, and then the rout commenced.--They took me on to Arlington Heights, a distance of about 30 or 40 miles, made me go at at a trot all the way. I arrived at Arlington about 10 o'clock Monday, and there was placed in an old stable, and tied hands and feet; kept me there two days, and only gave me one piece of bread and some water.
"From there we went over to Washington, where we were mobbed by the drunken soldiers and little boys. Brickbata came as thick around me as the balls at Bull Run. Several of those who were with me were hurt very badly. We lived on bread, water, and salt pork for three weeks after we arrived in Washington. After that we lived first rate; the secession ladies and gentlemen of Washington and Baltimore made up a purse of $1,900 for our comfort, which they put into a gentleman's hands in Washington, who provided us with sugar and coffee, beef and clothing, cots, mattresses, blankets, and also hired a negro to help us cook."
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