Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-08-03

the two cases seems 10 DO that the rebels
permitted Mrs. Bradford, and her female
companions, 10 remove their clothing, pi.
ano, &c, &c., while, if ex Governor Letch-
er is to be believed, Gen. Hunter peremp-
torily refused all overtures Of The kind
AIetter from Ex Governor Letcher Of
Virginia.
[Frem the Richmond Whig July ?ll.
Lexington, Va, July 5, 1861
Finding that the Yam
KEGS would take the town on Satur-
day (lltb), l left home near midnight,
Friday night, and went to Big Island,
in Bedford, where ! remained to
Wednesday morning following, when,
hearing the Vandals had left, ! return
ed. l had previously heard that my
house had been burned, with all its
contents. The e'threats made by the
Yankees against me for the last two
years, satisfied me that they would do
stroy my house when they came to Lex
ington; but always supposed they
would allow the furniture and my
family's clothing to be removed. In
this, however, | was disappointed.
When the Yankees took possession
Of the town, DR.. Patton, Medical Di-
rector for Hunters army, and who
halls from Marion county, Virginia,
went to my house, told my wife ho
was unwell, and said he must have
room in the house. He took the room,
supped and breakfasted, and, when
breakfast was nearly over, remarked
in manner halfjocular, half.earncst,
to Lizzie, that it was the last meal she
would take in the house Shortly af.
ter he left, without taking, leave of
any Of the family, nor was he again
seen by any Of them.
The threats made by soldiers on Sat
urday evening induced my wife to
fear the house would be burned, and
she expressed her fears in the hearing
of DR.. Patton and Captain Towns, of
N. York. Capt. Towns very prompt.
ly said, that l, being private citi-
zen and the house being private prop.
erty, burning it would be an incxcus.
able outrage, and proposed at once to
20 to Hunters headquarters and ascer.
tain. He went and was directed by
Hunter to assure my wife that the
house would not be disturbed. The
sequel shows that the sole object of
this assurance was to quiet her appre-
tensions, and thus prevent anything
from being removed.
About halfpast o'clock, A. NJ. (Sun.
day. Capt. Berry and Provost Guard
rode up, and the officer called for my
wife. She came to the door, when
Berry informed her that he was ord.
cred by Hunter to fire the House.
She replied there must be some mis-
take, and asked for the order. Ho
said it was q verbal order. She then
said to him: "Can it not bo delayed
until see Gen. Hunter?" The order
is peremptory, he replied, and you
have five minutes to leave the house
She then asked leave to move her
mothers, sisters, her own and her
children's clothing, which was inso.
lently refused.
Immediately thereafter camphene
was poured upon the parlor floor and
ignited with a match. In the mean.
time my daughter had gathered up an
armfnl of clothing, and was going out
when he discovered her, ran forward
and fired the clothing in her arms
He then poured camphene in her
wardrobe bureau drawers, and ignited
the olothing-taking out my clothing,
which he said he intended to take to to
the North.
Every house on my lot was burned
save o small gransry over my ice.
house. Not q particle of -four, meat.
or anything edible was left, all having
been carried off on Saturday
My mother, now in her 18th wear.
lives on the lot adjoining my own,
having with her one of her grand.
children and q servant. After my
property had been fired, tho fiends fir.
ed her stable located about fortv feet
from her house, with no other view
than to burn her out also. The house
caught twice, and would have been
consumed but for the untiring efforts
Of Captain Towns, who made his
men carry water and extinguish the
flames. The Captain behaved like
gentleman toward my own and moth.
ers family.
Generals Averill, Crook, Sullivan,
and Duftee, denounced the whole pro-
eeedings as an outrage in violation of
all the principles of civilized warfare,
ana stated That Hunter alone was re.
sponsible for these atrocities.
l am truly, and in haste, your friend
JOHN LErcnkR.
Joseph Mayo, Richmond, Va.
BaE> The man who refused q one dol.