Reads much differently than the standard history of this event. Another reason why newspapers, especially period newspapers, are a highly valuable resouce.

Standard history -
http://lifeofthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2011/01/other-athens.html

Here's the article that Hoyt posted. Note that older posts about the Coleman brothers of Limestone County may be found on the message board.

Atrocities of the enemy in North Alabama.

The darkest chapter in the history of this cruel war, if not in any other war, will record the atrocities of the Yankees wherever in the Confederate States they have been permitted to march their thieving, brutal hordes. Their deeds, so in violations of all the rules of civilized or humane warfare, entitle them to a place in history with the Goths and Vandals who overrun und laid waste Southern Europe. Intent upon their barbarous errand, they have shown themselves entirely wanting in the instincts of common humanity, much less possessing any of the traits of a civilized or humane people. They have not been satisfied to take possession of a portion of Confederate territory; they must needs make it a waste howling wilderness, by destroying the provisions, buildings, fences, agricultural implements, stock, &c, and driving defenseless old men, women and children into the woods, in many instances setting fire to their houses over their heads. We take from the Montgomery Mail the following account, of their atrocities in North Alabama:

In no portion of the Confederate States have they acted more barbarous and cruel than in the Northern portion of Alabama. A journey through parts of Jackson, Madison, Limestone and Lauderdale counties would recall to mind the descriptions of Greece through which the Turkish fire and sword had gone, or the utter destruction of whole sections of Poland by the Russian hordes. We have lately been put in possession of the facts in detail of certain Yankee atrocities in Limestone and Lauderdale Counties, which it is well to put on record for the information of the world. In the former county, the outrages were committed by the 9th Illinois Regiment, commanded by Lieut. Col. Jesse J. Phillips of Bellville, Illinois.

On January 25th, Gen. Roddy, with a small portion of his command, attacked the forces of Lieut. Col. Phillips, who were encamped near and in the grove of Mrs. Coleman, the widow of Judge Daniel Coleman, deceased. The enemy’s pickets were driven into the encampment, when they, with those of the forces who were in camp, took shelter behind the dwelling house of Mrs. Coleman. They fired a few rounds and fled in perfect consternation.

One of our secret scouts who was in the enemy’s lines a day or two after the raid says that the treatment of Col. Phillip’s men to Mrs. Coleman and family was unparalleled in the history of the war. Our men having accomplished their purpose were scarcely out of sight, when the Yankees rushed back to their encampment perfectly infuriated because of their defeat. To avenge themselves, they rushed into the house of Mrs. Coleman, with fire brands, and built up a large fire in one of the handsomest parlors. The mother and daughter implored them not to burn the house, but they heeded not their entreaties. They pushed them violently out of the house, drawing pistols on them both. In a few hours that portion of the command which was on a scout at the time of the attack by Gen Roddy, which was commanded by Major Kuhne, returned to camps. They rushed into the house of Mrs. Coleman and commenced plundering. Mrs. Coleman appealed to Major Kuhne to control his men and to give her his protection as a defenseless female. He ordered her from his presence, saying: "Woman, go away, I have no protection for you. Men, pitch into her house, and sack it from bottom to top."

The vandals needed no encouragement from their officer, but immediately obeyed his order to do their work of destruction. Mrs. Coleman had with her two little boys, her only protection, she having lost in this cruel war two as noble and brave sons as any mother ever had, and her oldest boy absent in the service of his country. Her little boys were torn from her in the night, put under guard, and carried to the Jail. Their mother plead with the Colonel for their release, when he added to her already unutterable anguish that he would have to send the older one of the boys to Northern prisons. He, however, relented in a few days, after torturing their mother sufficiently, as he thought, and released the boys from their imprisonment. Mrs. Coleman and her daughter were driven from their home in the night to seek refuge in the town of Athens, which was about one mile distant. The furniture, which was of the finest rosewood, was split up. The marble slabs to the bureaus and washstands were broken into pieces, mirrors were shattered, handsome Brussels carpets cut up into saddle blankets, beds dragged out into camp with all the bed clothing, including the finest blankets and Marseilles quilts.

The portrait of Judge Coleman, also, that of Mrs. Coleman, were so pierced by their bayonets that they could not be recognized. All of the table ware and several pieces of silver were taken out into camp. Several handsome silk dresses and other articles of clothing belonging to the family were taken. A little trunk which Mrs. Coleman prized more than anything else, because it contained the mementoes and letters of her noble sons, who had given their precious lives to the country, was broken up, and their precious contents destroyed by their infamous hands. The books of a large and select library were scattered through the camp and destroyed. All of Mrs. Coleman's music was taken. After the completion of their work of destruction, the officers, Major Kuhne and others took possession of the house, and are now quartered in it. Mrs. Coleman, daughter, and two sons, were ordered out of the Yankee lines. Mrs. Coleman's health would not admit of her coming out, hence her order was rescinded. Miss Coleman and her two little brothers are now exiles in our lines.

Col. Phillips took Mr. Crenshaw, a respectable citizen of Limestone, into his tent and demanded his money. Crenshaw handed his pocket-book and some loose change he had in his vest pocket. Col. Phillips asked if that was all. Mr. Crenshaw replied no, and Phillips demanded the balance, and took from his person five thousand dollars belted around his person. This man is trying to equal Butler, the Beast, and is the representative of the Lincoln Government.

In Lauderdale County the conduct of the enemy has been as bad as in Limestone. This county is continually ravaged by bands of tories, who have been armed by the enemy. They are stealing all the horses, mules and cotton. On the 2d February, John Wesson, a tory, shot and killed Lewis C. Moore, an aged and highly respectable citizen, a member of the Commissioners' Court. Wesson is a young man, and has been reared in Moore's neighborhood, and Moore was in the act of shaking hands with him when Wesson shot him.