The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-11-17


in all q 1885,
ArFAIRs IN rns LOWER VALLEY Outrageous Cr.
duct cf TIE Hdnkees.-We have once or twice alluded
briefly to the outrageous conduct of the Yankees
In Jefferson COUNTY, after their forces had been
captured at Chariesiown by the command Of Gen
Imboden, on the 18th Of October. We have before
us a letter from Charlestown, dated October 24lh
in which the writer says:
owe are alive and weli-,aiyaLile dictu !-if yoa
have heard anything worse, can v0uch for II; II
anytlIing bette, It Is false. will not try 10 tell
you anything prior 10 Gen. iMboden's brilliant
raid, as had just wfittcH long letter to - b.
forwarded IN y0n, cOatalning stgict and fnlI mc-
coapt of nlirhat had uAnsplved up 10 that tim.
will now Try and give you feint idea Of occur
rencas sinee.o
In referring to the raid of Gen. Inboden, and
the subsequent operations of the Yankees, the
writer says:
:sYou cannot conceive o: the ,larin. bravery and
brilliant execution of the affair. We had a per
fectly grand time, hut it was very fleet. by 9k
O'Clock prisoners, wagons, and COnfederates wer.
am their way back. The Yankees came on imnc
diaieiy with force three times our number In in
faniry and cavalry and six pieces of artilIerv.--
They were SD repulsed and kept Ia check that, al
tef pursuit of ten mil 3. they returned, bringin.
many wounded and dead-amOng the latter three
Captains. But in such ragc-brutes In fury-they
avenged themselves on the citizens, making the
night hideous and fearful. Byr0n's Darkness and
shakspeare's Dream of Clarence had they been
real, would not have been n shade compared with
it. The town was fired I'm eleven places, and
naught hut the secret watchfulness and vigilance
Of the nen, women, and ehildren-the strong,
mercful will Of our Heavenly Father. who camet!
the night into stiffness, and about day dawn gave
US relief in heavy raln-saved the town from
entire conf agrati0n About IL O'Clock three men
brutps-came banging against our kitchrn-doar,
and would have broken in had mother not opened
Enyfnn1tGlV
knows what he saved us from, for the men were
drunk, anil such cs,.AS! They at last said they
would go away If VIC would give them something
TO eat and, do not laugh, though could not help
smiling at the time, to that other feet besides
those in the old Key Stone could be swift to ex
change bread and spreadings for burnt houses
Though, on honor, they did not get spreatngs, but
bread aud mi:diEg However, Will not say, had
spreading been demanded, II would not have been
forthcoming"
After referring to the different houses that were
fired, the writer proceeds:
sThey broke into every store except Riddle's.-
When they got to the tin shop they supplied them
selves with horns, and rending the air with the
most hid'Dus noises, and with flaming torches
they rushed on, terrifying and making wrctchrd
every human being In the town. You think have
tried to exaggerate the sce+c; but, indeed, arr ut
feE1T unable To give anything like an idea of the
reality, much less attempt cxaggeratiOn. We
were not allowed to have a light, but determined
tn have one on the slightest warning. We each
CROPPED and smeaked about the house with an utl
lighted candle in one hand and match in the 9th
er. Frequently we went back and forward to the
stable. Sometimes we would run against each
other in the darkness, and Ii was amusing to hear
whispered, 'Wet,, we saw and Gen. lmboden,
any how - and the invariable answer would be-
slut the devils to play to night One member of
the famiy-not said 'lf they don't burm US out
TO night, WON'T say jeff Davis till after the war
This was said in whisper. Day brought no
atn'emebt; the officers did not try to control the
men until three In the afternoon. We then had peace
until Wednesday. when they began fresh break
ing in stores and houses, though there was no burn
ing. They went to search Major II. for Mr.. N.
Some men, who We're hid in the ice house during
the raid, heard him exuting. saw Mrs. II to day
and, shame be to the army ut the Unite. States,
she, a gentle and eyer lady like lady, bears upon
her face the marks of II villains kio!y. The ruf-
fan struck her as she attempted To take tiom him
n pair of Mr.. MS boots, which be had stolen. She
got the beOts, but the blow was severe to fell
her to the ground. We are now living in tolerab e
security.
"The LIST New York and Cd Penn. cavalry are
the men who behaved so badly. They escaped
with Milrny; so If any of them are captured re-
member they are justly under a ban. Col. Boyd
commands the whOle.'