If the South cannot free herself without the aid of ruffians of this kind, she had better lay down her arms at once." "Bravo, Wingfield! Spoken like a knight of chivalry!" one of the others laughed.

"But many of these bands have done good, nevertheless.

They have kept the enemy busy there, and occupied the attention of a very large force who might otherwise have been in the woods yonder with Pope.
I agree with you, it would be better if the whole thing were fought out with large armies, but there is a good deal to be said for these bands you are so severe upon.

They are composed of men who have been made desperate by seeing their farms harried and their buildings burned by the enemy.

They have been denounced as traitors by their neighbors on the other side, and if they retaliate I don't know that they are to be altogether blamed.