Mobile Advertiser & Register

June 16, 1861

Page 2

ANOTHER MARTYR- When the Federalists took possession of the village of Hampton, near Fortress Monroe, a squad of men entered the store of Mr. P. Lattimer and demanded possession. He offered his goods at their valuation, upon which the officer said he would have all without paying a cent, and drawing his sword, slapped Mr. Lattimer in the face with it. Showing a heroism equal to that of Jackson, the outraged gentleman drew his pistol and shot his ruffian assailant to death, for which he was taken to Fortress Monroe and hung. The case was clearly one of justifiable homicide, in law, and at worst could only be manslaughter, and the Charleston Currier pertinently remarks:

“We fear the military authorities of the Confederate States do not duly estimate the enemy with whom they have to deal. They call us rebels and pirates, and seem to think that the usual rules of civilized warfare can be dispensed with in their own relations toward us. If we yield at all to these views of our enemies, the existing war will be one of the most bloody the annals of the world will record. Retaliation will fall into the hands of individuals. There will be no surrenders- and no prisoners. The domineering insolence with which the United States officers seem to treat the citizens of the Confederate States, has been met, thus far, only by the resentment of individuals. Jackson and Lattimer vindicate with their own right arms the insults of our invading foe. But it is the duty of the military authorities controlling our military affairs, to make the rules of civilized warfare to be respected.”