The Daily Dispatch: August 10, 1863., [Electronic resource]

Proceedings of the Federals in North Alabama.

‘ We have advices from an authentic source from North Alabama up to the 22d July. The Yankees captured Huntsville on the 12th, and left on the 20th at 3 o'clock, returning towards Fayetteville and and one brigade going through Johnson county. The force with which they captured Huntsville was from 6000 to 8000 strong, all cavalry, finely mounted, splendidly armed, and admirably disciplined. Maj. Gen. D. S. Stanley commanded in chief, Brig. Gens. Mitchell and Turchin commanded brigades. They advanced as far as Athens. They left after staying eight days, promising to return in ten or twelve days and institute the rules in force in Nashville! Personally, the citizens were not molested — all was quiet, orderly and according to scientific arrangements. Privates were not allowed the luxury of stealing from or abusing the citizens, nor insulting them in language. But corn, oats, wheat, bacon, horses, cattle, mules, tobacco, sugar, State salt, leather, sheep, &c., &c., were taken most lavishly by military science, and receipts given "payable hereafter as the Government may direct," at their own prices; and negro men were taken from 18 to 45, to work on fortifications, as they said — in some instances giving receipts for them as taken for the use of the United States. About 500 negro men were carried off and many women and children followed. Many of the negroes escaped and are still escaping from them. It was a sad night to see such a vast amount of property carried off from the country before the eyes of the people and to know that they would probably soon return to finish the work. The Provost Marshal remarked that they swept clean, and they did in some cases. They promised to leave each farmer two mules or horses as a team to do his hauling and all his work with! They were expected to cross the river and get into Georgia, South Alabama and Mississippi when they returned.

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