Correspondence between Gen. Wise and the Federal General, Joh A. Dix.
A spicy correspondence has recently appeared between Gen. Wise and Gen. John A. Dix, the Federal Commandant at Fortress Monroe, in relation to the Lunatic Asylum at Williamsburg.Dix's letter is dated Fortress Monroe, April 28. In this letter he proceeds to inform Gen. Wise that the town of Williamsburg has been occupied by the troops under his command as a picket-station or outpost to Yorktown, and that a large portion of the inhabitants of the town are known not to be well-disposed to the Government of the United States. Nevertheless, the condescension of his Government has prevented them from being molested while quietly pursuing their domestic avocations, and they have been permitted to procure supplies at Yorktown and Fortress Monroe. He refers to the fact that the Insane Asylum has been placed in charge of an army surgeon, and its three hundred helpless inmates supplied with everything necessary to their comfort, and with the remedial treatment they required, at the expense of the United States. In speaking of the successful attacks of Gen. Wise's troops upon his forces, by which the latter were twice driven out of the town, he characterizes them as "raids," and, under the peculiar circumstances, in violation of every dictate of humanity. He says he has directed Major-General Keves to re-occupy the town, and gives Gen. Wise notice that in case any repetition of what he terms "these aggressions" shall occur, Gen. R. is to execute the annexed threats:
- 1st. That the inmates of the Asylum will be sent to Richmond, and the United States relieved of the burden of their support;
- 2d. That any house which may be taken possession of for the purpose of firing upon the troops stationed there will be razed to the ground; and
- 3d. That any citizen of Williamsburg not belonging to a regularly organized corps, who shall be found co-operating in these attacks, and rising in arms against the occupying troops, will be put to death as a violator of the laws of civilized warfare.
‘ you have declined all response to the question whether your forces would or would not molest the necessary men and means of conducting the operations of the Asylum in case it was held by the State authorities, and the town by the Confederate forces. Why not yield both to humanity and charity, and let the Insane be treated by their own "kith and kin." you are to them aliens and enemies, and they know it. You can practice no pathology upon them; they want no army physic--no physic of yours of any kind. Is it that you want, because you know we are not prepared to get at your forces, except through Williamsburg, and that by holding up the "three hundred helpless ones," there in your front, you hope to be spared from attack?--if such be the use you make of the Insane — if that be the reason why you feed them with army rations and physic them by an army surgeon, and if such be the reason why you put in the plea of feeding them against attack — then your saintly cowardice will surely be cursed, not by attack but by every defence in our might and main, of Williamsburg, and its inhabitants, and its Asylums, and its inmates! you are the invaders, not we; you have made the attack and gained, and now hold possession; and I mean, in any and every way in my power known to civilized warfare, to regain and hold possession if I can, and whenever I can. We are defending an invaded, insulted and outraged country. If we attack you, it is to drive the invader and oppressor away — it is to regain and hold, forever, entire possession of a country which is ours, not yours. And while he has and holds possession, he shall not do so in peace. If I can help it he shall not rest. We will attack him, harass him, annoy him, scout him, fight and destroy and conquer and crush him, by all the means which God has given and permits!
’ in speaking of the threats with which the letter of Gen. Dix concludes, after discussing the distinction between a citizen taking up arms to repel invasion and a soldier belonging to a "regularly organized corps," he thus cautions the Yankee General:
‘ you are "belonging to a regularly organized corps," and you are found rising in arms against the sovereignty of Virginia in her own limits. This distinction, you may think, will save you if captured. But, General, if you dare, against all law, as you threaten, to put to death any citizen of Williamsburg, this distinction shall not save you if you happen ever to fall into my hands. I will have you hung
as certain as the supposed events come to pass, and I will accord less privilege, far, than I did, when Governor of this State, to the fanatic John Brown. I turned him over to the law; but I will turn you over directly to the hangman! take threat, then, against threat; we will see who, you or I, will be most certain and fearful in execution.
’ Gen. Wise concludes his letter, which, from beginning to end, is a most scorching rebuke to the pompous pretensions of Dix, as follows:
‘ you have directed General Keyes to reoccupy the town, and I give you notice that I will retake it whenever I am ordered, and I will go without orders if you will meet me there, outside of Fort Magruder. I wish us both to be present when our threats are to be carried out. You threaten--
- 1st. To send the inmates of the Asylum to Richmond. General, your watchword has been, for some time, "On to Richmond." My reply is, "How will you get there?" Now, just come up General, and try to get to the city of your ambitious aspirations! Come up, General, and let me meet you on the way; I will give you a welcome. You will be like a messenger to the Happy Land; you will never return.
- 2d. You will raze the poor old houses in Williamsburg! Well, war on the old houses; they will crashingly play "hardest fend off" with you. You can't hurt 'em, General, much more than you have done.
- 3d. You will put "any citizen of Williamsburg to death," &c. I have given you my commentary on that.
