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BLOODY FIGHT AT OCCOQUAN, VIRGINIA.—[SKETCHED BY
MR. A. R. WAUD.]
FIGHT AT OCCOQUAN, VA.
ABOVE we illustrate the recent FIGHT
AT OCCOQUAN,
from a sketch
by our own correspondent.
The Times dispatch said:
Rev. Mr. Weston, of Trinity Church, has brought in
the particulars of a foray upon a gang of rebels on the Occoquan. He says
they were holding a carousal in the house of one Porter, an old man.,
when they were surrounded by the detail of fifty men, and refusing to surrender,
the firing commenced, and was continued until every rebel except two was killed.
These two were Porter, who fought desperately to the last, and a young man who
had been fiddling for the party. This latter was a citizen of Washington, and
claimed to be a Union man, but was doubtless a
spy, who had taken information from Washington to the
rebels. The number killed was ten—nine Texan Rangers and one citizen who was
present.
AN INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE
AMONG SLAVEHOLDERS.
ON
this page we publish an illustration of an
INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE
used among
the
slave-holders
of
Missouri. The
correspondent who
sends
us the sketch writes
MONTGOMERY CITY. MISSOURI,
January 24,
1862.
I send you the sketch of
an instrument used by the secession
slave-masters of Missouri to punish
their negroes.
Not long since one of these wretched victims came within
our lines with an instrument of this description round his neck. It was
securely riveted there, and required an hour's filing before it could be
removed. This
proved to be a very painful operation to the poor "contraband;" for his neck was
so snugly incased by the iron band, and the instrument was of such a peculiar
shape, as to render the operation difficult of accomplishment. The negro stated
that he had worn it two months, and this statement has been corroborated by
reliable Union men at
the same county. The form of the instrument prevented him from lying down and
taking his rest at night; and its weight
and close fit rendered it
very burdensome during the day. It consisted of a heavy iron ring,
fitting closely round the neck, from which extended three prongs, each two feet
in length, with a ring on the end. I suppose the design of the instrument
was that a chain should be attached to it, and thus secure the victim beyond all
possible hope of escape;
but this negro had been running loose, with
the thing round his neck, for two months; and finally,
ascertaining that Federal soldiers were near, speedily repaired to them
for deliverance from his tormentor. Of course
he found the deliverance which he sought, and the instrument
of torment is preserved by us as a mournful example of the deep
degradation to which the soul, tainted by secession, may descend. It is needless
to say that we did not send the negro back to his master, but so far as we were
concerned, left him perfectly free to do his own will. The name of the person
who has thus proved himself destitute of all humanity is Dudley Wells, of
Montgomery County, Missouri. He is now a prisoner, held as a traitor to his
country, and awaiting the punishment due his crime; and if he does not receive
it at an earthly tribunal he certainly will at the tribunal of an outraged
conscience.
Sergeant CAHRLES O. DEWEY,
Dodge's
Battery,
4th Regiment Iowa
Volunteers.
WESTON'S CROSS-ROADS, NEAR COLUMBUS, OCCUPIED BY
TAYLOR'S CHICAGO ARTILLERY.
INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE USED BY SLAVEHOLDERS.
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