Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-08-13
A Letter from Ex-Governor
Letcher of Virginia.
[From the Richmond Wing, July 2l.l
LEXINGTON, VA, July 3, 1864,

LEXINGTON, Va, July 8, 1864,
n Il Finding that the Yam.
KEGS would take the town on Saturday,
Qlth,) | left home near midnight, Friday
night, and went to Big Island, in Bedford,
where l remained to Wednesday morning
following, whom hearing tho Vandals had
left, l returned. had previously heard
that my house had been burned, with all
lis contents. The threats made by the
Yankees against me for the last two years,
satisfied me that they would destroy my
house when they came to Lexington but
L always supposed they would allow the
furniture and my familie clothing to be
removed. In this, however, l was dis
appointed.
When the Yankees took possession Of
the town, DR.. Patton, Medical Director for
Hunter S army, and who halls from Mar
ion county, Virginia, went to my house
told my wife he was unwell, and said he
must have room in the house. He took
the room, supped and breaklasted, and
when breakfast was nearly over, remark
ed in manner hall-jocular, half earnest,
to Lizzie, that it was the last meal she
would take in the house. Shortly after
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 promptly said, that I, being private
citizen and the house being private prop
erty, burning it would be an inexcusable
outrage, and proposed at once to 60 to
Hunters headquarters and ascertain. lie
went, and was directed by Hunter to as
sure my vile that the house would not be
disturbed. The sequal shows that the sole
object Of this assurance was to quiet her
apprehensions, and thus prevent anything
from being removed.
About half-past s 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 ordered by Hunter to fire
the House. She replied there must be
some mistake, and asked fer the order
lie said it was verbal order. She then
said to him "Can it not be delayed until
| see Gen. Hunter ~ The order is per-
emptory, he replied, and you have FIVE
minutes to leave tho house. She then ask
ed leave to move her mothers, sisters her
own and her children's clothing, which was
insolentIy refused.
immediately thereafter campheuo was
poured on the parlor floor and ignited with
match. Ia the meantime my daughter had
gathered up an armful OF clothing, and was
going out when he discovered her, ran for
ward and fred the clothing in her arms.
lie then poured campheno in her wardrobe
bureau drawers, and ignited the clothing
taking out my clothing, which he said
he intended 10 take to the North.
Every house on my lot was burned save
a small granary over my ice.houso. Not
particle Of -four, neat,or anything edible
was leis, all having been carried of on Sat
urday.
My mother, now in her 18th year, lives
on the LOT adjoining my own, having with
her one Of her grandchildren and SER
want. After my property had been fired,
the Gonds fired her stable located about
forty feet from her house, with no other
view than 10 burn her out also. The
house caught twice, and would have been
consumed but Tor the untiring efforts Of
Captain Towns, who made his men carry
water and extingaish the flames. The
Captain behaved like Il gentleman toward
my own and mothers family.
Generals Averill, Crook, Sullivan, and
Duifee, denounced the whole proceedings
as an outrage III violationof all the prin--
ciples Of civilized warfare, and stated that
Hunter alone was responsible for these
atrocities.
am truly, and in haste, your friend.
JouN LETCHER.
Joseph Mayo, Richmond, Va.