Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-12-22
FREDERICKSEURGH Dec. lG.
FROM THE ENEMY.
COMMUNIC AT Cd.

| WeSsTS. Green and Cddy,
The writer of this communication left
Tappahannock about o'clock on Sunday
at which time the enemy passed, with all
their ships and troops, down the river
This information may tend to quiet the
minds of the people; with which view it is
given In passing thro' the town, he pos.
sessed himself of a great many particulars
which would be Interesting; but they are
too extensive for newspaper communica-
ton The following may suffice. Being
below the town, he determined to pass
through for the purpose of obtaining posi-
tive information, to be communicated to
the officers commanding above, and to his
countrymen above; for as to circulating
reports, he constantly found them false and
contradictory, On entering the town, he
saw no living creature; but soon saw marks
of the destruction committed by the enemy
by fire He saw the walls of the court
house, the ashy covered foundations of two
small jails, and the collectors Office. On
proceeding down the street towards the III
yer, the first OBJ ect which struck him was
the destruction committed in the house of
Col. Banks Every light in the front
windows was broken. Proceeding a little
further, he saw man cross over and go
into the House of Mr. Blake, to which he
also went Mr.. Blake, as he informed him
was the only white inhabtant who re.
maiped in the town, under the hope of
saving his own property, as we'll as those
OF his fellow citizens who had left the
town. Upon the approach of the enemy,
be went down to the river side, with
kind OF white flag on stick After some
conversation, he was told that neither he
nor his property should be injured; a guard
was accordingly put over his house and
property, and he was upon the whole
treated kindly and politely In the gen
eral pursuit of stock, however, they killed
two Of his hogs, for which the officer cffer.
ed to pay, but he refused to receive it.
While this informant was engaged in
this conversation with Blake a gentleman
who accompanied him having gone to the
river, returned, and reported that the enc
my was coming down the river Upon GO
ing to the river side, they were seen about
Majors Hole: the weather being misty,
they were too far dista Mt to count them
distinctly. He determined, however, not
to leave the town, without clearly ascer-
tanning their object, as also their force.
Mr. Henly having stated the shameful
depredations committed upon the property
of the inhabitants, he determined to be an
eyewitness of, them He went to the
house of Doctor Brockenbrough and Mr..
Barnes, where was to be seen wanton
destruction, which he did not believe any
human beings could be brought to com.
nit
The house appeared to have been fur
nished with elegance but they were all
involved in indiscriminate ruin, Mahogany
bedsteads, side, boards, bureaus, chairs,
tables, elegant pier glasses, drinking
glasses and china, in word every thing
which went to furnish a house neatly and
comfortably, were broken in pieces The
beds were ripped up, and the feathers
thrown on the floor, the ticks and furni-
ture carried off for they were not to be
seen.
He turned from this scene with disgust
and exeeration, and went to view one much
more big with horror He went to the
vault of the respectable family of the
Ritehies. The door had been forced !:
and on looking in, five coffins out of nine
had been broken to pieces, and the skelet
ons lay exposed to the gaze of any who
CHANGED to look in He sicIened with hor-
ror, and turned away; but liz returning to