Beschreibung:

Letter signed "John A. Dix Maj. Genl." to Confederate General Henry A. Wise, ordering him to cease the attack on a Union-held insane asylum at Williamsburg.
Fort Monroe, VA: 28 April 1863. 2 pp., "Headquarters Department of Virginia Seventh Army Corps" letterhead (252x202 mm). Condition: tipped at right margin into a plain paper folder, light toning at margins, light creases. an angry dix asks confederate general henry a. wise to stop his attacks on the williamsburg insane asylum: "…these raids under these peculiar circumstances are in violation of every dictate of humanity…" An interesting letter from Dix, commanding the Union Army's 7th Corps, to Confederate General Wise, commanding his brigade in defense of Richmond. Dix was concerned with attacks made against the doctors and staff assigned of the "Insane Asylum" officially known as the Eastern Lunatic Asylum, which was behind Union lines. Dix writes: "The town of Williamsburgh [sic] has been occupied, as you are aware, by the troops under my command as a picket Station or outpost of Yorktown…the Insane Asylum at Williamsburgh has been put under the Superintendence of an Army Surgeon and its three hundred helpless inmates supplied, at the expense of the United States, with everything necessary to their comfort and with the remedial treatment they require. While exercising these offices of humanity, the troops at Williamsburgh have been several times attacked by your forces, not with a view to gain and hold possession of the place and to assume the guardianship which has been extended to the inhabitants and the tenants of the Asylum by us, but for the purpose of harassing those who were performing this generous service … These raids under these peculiar circumstances are in violation of every dictate of humanity. Having no result and apparently no object but annoyance & a useless sacrifice of life, they are also in violation of every principle of honorable warfare. I have directed Maj. Gen'l Keys to re-occupy the town; and that the aggrissions [sic] referred to may cease, I give you notice in case of any repetition of them. 1st. That the inmates of the Asylum will be sent to Richmond, and the United States relieved of the burden of their support. 2nd. 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 3rd. That any citizen of Williamsburgh not belonging to a regularly organized corps, who shall be found co-operating in these attacks and rising in arms against he occupying troops, will be put to death as a violator of the laws of civilized warfare…" A fascinating communication between two opposing generals.