The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-12
Correspondence Of the Daily Exchange.

ALEXANDRIA, August 10, 1861.
No one who has not seen it, can have any idea of
the destructive and savage atrocities committed
here and in the vicinity by "our protectors" the
"brave defenders of the "Flag." The Marshall
House was taken by New York regiment day
two after the battle of July 2lst The basement
and some of the upper rooms used for the
most filthy purposes, and in a few days it was
finally abandoned to the proprietor. The house
itself has been partially Quilted, the stairs and
baustrades torn away for relics, to be sold as me-
mentoes of Ellsworth. Jonathan never forgets the
main chance, and for many days we'll dressed people
were seen carrying away bausters and pieces of rail-
ing and steps of the house. The Marshall House was
few days since abandoned, it is rumored on account
of new-no, not new-enemy-but the United
States uermin. Harris drug store, next door below,
is in shocking state; it repeatedly broken
into, and the floor is covered with broken glass
medicines, drugs, papers, &C., mingled in one con-
fused mass. On Sunday, the I'd of June, a proca-
nation was published, promising protection to the
citizens in their persons and property but the very
proclamation printed paper and with type
and ink forcibly taken from the Gazette office,
which was seized by the dragged Pennsylvania
Filth" as they called themselves in paper or two
published out of the spos of the same office. The
County Court clerks Office also broken into
and ravaged, and the office of the clerk of the Cir
cult Court was also entered, and the papers torn
ana thrown over the moor, Where they now lie.
The Alexandria Library, founded in 1894, con-
tanning several thousand books, manv of
them valuable, is kept in the Lyceum build
ing. The house was used, library room and
all, for Pennsylvania labor the forts and en-
trenchments, and then given up by COL Heintzel.
man. who said it should not have been taken at ALL
On the 22d July part of New Jersey regiment en-
tered it again, and began hunt for books. One of
the directors went in and found number of them
ransacking the shelves, among them a man in
blue overroat, who was said, by corporal of the
regiment, to be captain. The valiant captain, in
reply to request that the books should not be ia
ken away, said "the men could not carry them off
in their knapsscks; but he would read a book if he
had mind to-" He asked the director if he was
secessionist, and threatened to arrest him as Sc
cessionst and spy. When requested to show his
authority he threatened to assassinate him. These
valiant Jersey blues seemed to have been piloted
| to the library room by a boy found in the room
| with them, son Of one of the few Union men
| here.
| While our protectors held the library room they
were to lightther fires for cooking in the ward
with books; cover was found day or two since,
the leaves all torn out. NeighbGrs repeatedly saw
quantities of books taken out of the house while
guard was present; and last Sunday box of books
was taken out of window and some loose books
| dropped about. Two of them have been recovered.
These books are supposed to have been sent
presents to friends of the valiant army North The
library is in a shocking state; great many books
have been stolen, the floor is covered with books and
papers, torn and dis6gured. 1t is, perhaps, lucky
TOT US tnaG the taste OF tneSe gentlemen is all Tor
works of fiction and sensation, and we hope that
| the stolen books not the most valuable ones.
| Your paper of 10th inst. contained a puff of
office-hoder who had resigned at the last moment
This does not seem very patriotic and selfsacri6
cling act, when remember the act of theVirgnia
Convention of 9th June, making it treason for
citizen of Virginia to hold office under the Govern
ment of the United States after the 1st day of Au
gust. The intensely bitter and hostile feeling to
the South of some of those Union o1ice-holders is
we'll known. Some have moved off and expatriated
| themselves; some hold on, in hopes Virginia may
| yet be conquered. The battle of 2lst July has
made some afraid to join the enemies of their
| try, while their hearts really against her,
| But it is shame to praise such "patriots," when
| honest, faithful, suffering men turned out
| of office account of being true to their State,
and others resigned as soon she had seeded. 1t
| is not intended to designate individuals, but
must be mentioned. Edward Sangster, late Sheriff
of this county resigned the 22d April his place
| in the Interior Department before the oath
rendered, and he has since lost gallant in the
battle of 18th July. Such men worth scores of
eleventh-hour men. VIRGINIA