The Greensborough Patriot

Aug. 21, 1862

Page 1

            MORE THAN SEPOY CRUELTY.—The Rev. John S. Grasty, formerly Pastor of the church at Yanceyville, in this State, but now of Fincastle, Va., sends the subjoined statement to the Central Presbyterian for publication, “that our people may know the atrocities which the Northern vandals will commit if permitted to domicile in our midst.”  Such atrocities seem incredible, but coming from such a source of information, they cannot well be doubted:

            “Mr. Lewis Jones of Nicholas had been forced to fly from his home simply because his sympathies were with his native State.  He loved Virginia and therefore the Yankees hated him.  Mrs. Jones was left in charge of a little son, Foster, by name, twelve or thirteen years of age.  Failing to secure the father, the wrath of the Northern scoundrels turned against the child.  Marshall Dorsey, a Union traitor, helped them in their bloody work.  Mrs. Jones was poor, and the little boy tried to aid his mother in obtaining an honest living.  A lady who knew little Foster Jones well tells me that he was amiable, gentle and inoffensive.  But the father had escaped, and the traitor Dorsey helped the Yankees to a victim in the person of this child.  They took the little boy away from his mother, and in full hearing of her cries, wrapped a blanket around his head, made it fast to a tree and then shot the child with nine bullets.  They then gathered around the body like devils incarnate and pierced it with bayonets.  The soldiers then came back to the village, and boasted of their infamy in the presence of Yankee officers, and met with not a syllable of reproof.