As for your other question, "these (U.S.C.T.)troops regularly "foraged" among the local population. Was this in revenge, or just general meanness?" My would reply with a question, What is the difference between 'Revenge' and 'general Meanness'?
To me they are both the same thing. But of the two, revenge is the most distasteful form of Meanness. It is either based upon the premice that someone "owes" you something, or that since you have the ability to inflict pain and suffering, you are willing and CAN inflict that pain upon those you dislike.