New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-23

having in vain coaxed 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 If they did not Immediately comply with his COM
mands.
Twas at this juncture that your correspondent ar
rived and Oh the facts being made known to him, he
Immediately informed them that although heretofore
slaves they were now free and at liberty to either 60
or stay, just as they pleased.
This announcement was received with great Joy
"Dey knowd when de Yankees comd dey all be free"
was the general exclamation they pressed close up
and around to whisper the information giving exact
places in the celars and garrets Of the Asylum where
the Government cloth and bank funds were hid away
After getting guard for their protection, your cor
RESPONDENT went TO Gen. Hunters headquarters and
informed him OF the discovery.
The Provost. Marshal Major Harkins was ordered
TO search the place thoroughly which he did, and dis
covered Government property to the value Of $500 Co.,
consisting principally of Rebel uniforms ready made,
and cloth Of the army pattern which had been secreted
the evening previous when they learned OF their defeat
at Piedmont and of our onward march to Stanton.
On the opposite side of the road and not far distant
from the Lunatic Asylum ia large building, formerly
known as the Blind Asylum, but latterly
pressed into the Confederate service for use
as government hospital. Here we found
All patients and surgeons who were duly paroled BY
Capt Bier. A. e. The hospital is kept in excellent
order and the patients seem to have everything which
can either promote their recovery alleviate their ss
ferings The patients were principally from Lees
Army, and spoke quite hopefully OF Their cause not
withstanding their recent defeats.
staunton was once famous for lite female seminaTies'
but the tide Of war which Is rolling over the land has
even reached the fountains Of education; and to-day
out of four large and ourishing schools but one re-
MAINS and that Is but inderenty patronzed Parents
are afraid to and will not send their children away
from home.
The railroad buildings at Stanton were very ex'
ensiye and contained considerable amount Of stores
which, In their hurry to escape, they left unnured for
our use.
We captured large quantity Of butter and eggs
together with commissary stores which were served
out to the men of the command
We rested in Stanton until the morning OF the 7th
when the work of destroying the railroad and Govern
ment factories was commenced.
Detachments we're sent out. up and down the rack
10 tear up and destroy the rails and resse work. and
blow up the cuvers while others set fire to the rail-
road buildings and Government factories which con-
tanned a vast amount of valuable machinery.
| The inhabitants now became terribly alarmed and
expected VIC were going to burn up the whole
town About this time your correspondents was
standing close to Gen Hunter witnessing the destruc-
ton Of the railroad property, when lady approached
the General and with in her eyes informed him
that her house with several others. which were c2--
structed Of wood joined close TO the Confederate
Boot and Shoe Factory, and our men were about to
burn IT, and unless he Gen. Hunter interfered, the
property OF innocent people" would be destroyed ana
great many families rendered homeless Gen. Hunter
gave orders to destroy the machinery but prevent the
buildings from being burned, If It jeopardized the pri
vate property In the vicinity. On arriving ct the
factory, your correspondent was met By an ex.
cited crowd Of women, who eagerly inquired II the
factory was 10 be burned They were informed that If
all the property in the factory destroyed and broken
up so as to be useless the building would be saved.
II was sight never to be forgotten, TO see those
women some running for their freuds and relatives to
assist while others Immediately engaged In the task Of
breaking the machinery with hammers and In less
than hour the factory with its machinery was CON-
pletely broken and destroyed.
The value OF the property destroyed at Stanton has
been varously estimated at from three to seven millions
probably five millions would be correct estimate
as 1t is possible TO make but the people Of Stanton
and the Rebel Government at Richmond have suffered
sufficiently TO remember for some time 70 come, Hunt
ers capture Of Stanton. R.s.s