HDQRS. DEP'T
NORTHEASTERN VIRGINIA,
Fairfax Court-House,
July 18, 1861.
It is with the deepest mortification the general commanding
finds it necessary to reiterate his orders for the preservation of the property
of the inhabitants of the district occupied by the troops under his command.
Hardly had we arrived at this place when, to the horror of
every right-minded person, several houses were broken open and others were in
flames by the act of some of those who, it has been the boast of the loyal,
came here to protect the oppressed and free the country from the domination of
a hated party.
The property of this people is at the mercy of troops who we
rightfully say are the most intelligent, best-educated, and most law-abiding of
any that were ever under arms. But do not, therefore, the acts of yesterday
cast the deeper stain upon them?
It has been claimed by some that their particular corps were
not engaged in these acts. This is of but little moment; since the individuals
are not found out, we are all alike disgraced.
Commanders of regiments will select a commissioned officer
as regimental provost-marshal, and ten men as a permanent police force under
him, whose special and sole duty it shall be to preserve the property from
depredation, and arrest all wrong-doers, of whatever regiment or corps they may
be. Any one found committing the slightest depredations, killing pigs or
poultry, or trespassing on the property of the inhabitants, will be reported to
headquarters, and the least that will be done to them will be to send them to
the Alexandria jail.
It is again ordered that no one shall arrest or attempt to
arrest any citizen not in arms at this time, or search or attempt to search any
house, or even to enter the same, without permission.
The troops must behave themselves with as much forbearance
and propriety as if they were at their own homes. They are here to fight the
enemies of the country, not to judge and punish the unarmed and helpless,
however guilty they may be. When necessary, that will be done by the proper persons.
By command of Brigadier-General McDowell:
JAMES B. FRY,
Assistant
Adjutant-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
2 (Serial No. 2), p. 743-4
