, 1864-06-26

From the New York T1ibpne.1

GIAVN10H, JUNG IL. lSb4-
Hunters brilliant victory at Piedmont on
the 5th efcctual1y cleared the road Of all
rebels In his front as far u1 Staunton, and his
march into that place on the following day
was undisputed.
Our advance reached the city about 10
o'clock m., and the first object Of Interest
which presented itself was the State Luaatic
Asylum, a very large and commodious build
ing, constructed with all modern improve
mcnte, and continuing about 800 patients.
Four correspondent was With the advanced
guard, and was hailed BY number Of colored
who had congrcgated outside Of the main en-
trance on the roadside to welcome the IS Yam
keee," and give them some valuable informa-
tiou Us to where the bank funds and cloth
from the Government factories WAS con-
cenled.
IDENTIFY afruid Of the disclosures which his
1oyal servants might make, having in vain
coa1ed and begged of them to return inside
the building, away from "the brutal eyes Of
the Yankees" had proceeded to threaten
them with the cells II they did not immc-
diately comply with bis commands.
It was ut this juncture that your cores
pondent arrived and on the facts being
made known to him, he Immediately inform
ed them that though heretofore slaves they
were now free. aud at liberty to either 60 OF
stay, Just as they please.
4ulE AuuUuuEAIuEut "R5 received Wllu
great joy. "Dey know'd when dc Yankees
com'd deg all be free" was the general ex-
clamatioa as they pressed close up and
around to whisper the Information, giving
exact places in the cellars md garrets Of the
| Asylum where the government cloth and
bank funds were hid away.
After getting guard for their protection,
| your correspondent went to Gen. Hunters
headquarters and informed him of the dis
| coyery.
The Provost Marshal, Major narkins, was
ordered to search -ha place thoroughly,
property to the ynlue Of $500, 600, consisting
principally Of rebel uniforms re4dy-made,
and cloth Of the army pattern, which had
| been sccretcd the evening previous, when
they learned Of their defeat at Piedmont,
and Of our onward march to Staunton.
on the opposite side Of the road and not
far from the Luuauc Asylum is large
building, formerly known as the Blind
Asylum, but latterly pressed into the Con
| fcderate service for use Us government hos
pital. Here VIC found AIT patients and
Surgeons, who were duly paroied By Capt lin
Bier, a. A. 6. The hospital Is kept in cx-
cellent order, and the patients seem to h I'VE
every thing which can either promote tbei1
recovery or alleviate their sute1ings. The
patients were principally from Lees army,
and spoke quite hopefully Of their cause,
notwithstanding their recent defeats.
staanton Was once famous for Its female
seminarieE, but the tide Of war which IL
rolling over the land has even reached the
fountains of educn1 inn =. and TO 1~- --s VI
three or four large fourishing schools, bat
one remains, and shat is but inditferently
patronixed. parents are afraid to aud viii
" re S' faiiroad bnsidinEs a. % ss-aasss.: e ~.-<
very extensive, ami contained . considerable
amount Of stoscr, which, in their hurry X
escape, they lett unfnjured for our use.
We captured large quantity OF butter ant
eggs, together with commissary stores
which were served ont to the men Of th'
commend.
We re.tcd in staunton until tue mornin!
OF tie 7th, when the work of destroying th
railroad and Government factories was com
mt need.
Detachnents were sent out, up and dow
the track, to tear up aud destroy the rail
and tressel work, and blow up the cuivcrts
willie Others set fire to the railroad building
md Government factorits, which containe'
i vaft amount OF valuable machinery.
. The Inhabitants now became tcrribl,
alarmed and expected We were going to bur
!. | up the whole town. About this time you
correspondent was standing close to Gcnera
Hunter witnessing the destruction Of th
railroad property, when lady approache
thr t;eneral, and with tears In her eyes In
, form.d him that her house, With seycra
others, which were constructed Of wood wa
}'.ined close to the Confederate Boot an
: Shoe Factory, aud onr men we're about t
bnrn It, and unless he {Gcn. Htnter) into.
fercd, the property Of slnnocent people
: | wouid be destroyed, and a great many fam
llts rendered homeless. Gen. Hunter CAV
t orders to destroy the machinery. but preveu
the buildings ff,m being burned, If It jeoF
j | ardfzed the private property iu the vicinity
t On arriving at the factory, your corrcspo1
! dent was met By IN excited crowd of Vt
men, who eagerly inquired If the factory va
10 he burned. They were Informed that,
+ all the property In the factory was destroye
t and broken up 60 as to be uselcss, the built
q ing would be eavtd.
r It was q sight never to be forgotten, t
+, see those women, some running for the
j. friends and relatives to assist, while othc,
q Immediately engaged in the task OF breakiu
D the machinery with hammers and axes.
d | |, ss thnu IN hour the factory, with its N
; chinery, was completely broken aad d
stroyed.
= The value Of the property destroyed I
: Staunton has bcen yariously estimated
frcrp three to seven millions, probably i,
! millions would be as correct m estimate
1t is possible to make, but the people
/ Staunton and the rebel government at Ric
9 uocd have suffered sufficiently to rcmembi
= !or eome time TO como, Hunters capture
!. Stnunton. Il. 8, 8.