Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-08-10
The Horrors of War in Virginia

We have before us history, sad and
heart-rending, which we are sure will serve
10 convince any humane spirit that the
desolation caused by the war should not
be permitted by an enlightened and Chris.
tlan people longer TO 20 on with all its de-
stIuctveness and injustice. The facts
before US are these, as reCted in the state
mient accompanying the letter which fol-
lows it:
The annexed letter was written by the
youngest daughter of the Hon. Alexander
IL. Boteler, Of Jefferson county, Virginia.
detailing TO her sisters the burning of
their home by order Of Gen. Hunter, and
also the residence of L. j. Lee, whose
place adjoins Mr.. Boleers. Fountain
Rock alluded to below belonged TO Mrs.
Boteler, who, with her daughter and grand
children, has been thus ruthlessiy de.
prived of their only home. Mr. A. r.
Boteler will be remembered as q member
OF the Federal House of Representatives
in lo6O-Gl. aud was actively engaged with
Mr.. Crittenden and others in resisting Sc.
cession; but after the call for seventy-fve
thousand men by the President of the
United States, acted with his State
Captain Martindale was informed by
one of Mr.. Boteler's daughters that the
property was not her fathers but that of
her mother-having been conveyed to her
many years since. She afterwards sent
word to Gen. Hunter, tina, he had not
succeeded in destroying one dollars worth
OF her fathers property. All he destroyed
belonged TO Mrs. Boteler, who was absent
at the time. No one was there ex-
cept Mr.. Boteler's two daughters and three
little grand children. This is the letter
OF Miss BOteler:
SnEPPARDsTowN, JrrF'N Co, Va,
July 20, 1861 w ednesday Night.
My Dearest Sister: | suppose you will
have heard before this reaches YOU that
our dear, beautiful home is in ashes. Yes
terday, just after dinner, Lizzie, her three
little children, and |, being at home. ff-
teen of the First New York Cavalry, under
Captain Martindale, come with orders from
General Hunter to burn everything under
roof on the places of A. r. Boteler and
Edmund J. Lee. They came to us FIRST,
and in twenty minutes after their arrival
it would have been dangerous 10 enter tho
house. OF the furniture we saved two
little rocking chairs and three other chairs
from The porch. This is literally all. The
barn, in which was stored all the hay lust
cut; the servants house; ard library.
with tie books, cabinet of minerals, yall-
able historical papers aud documents
are gone. The meat house and dairy arc
still standing, as the wind blew from them.
Writing this is harder work than thought
it would lie, after all have gone through
with.
They piled up the furniture, and with
camphene, etc, built the fire that has
brrned deep into our hearts. Meta aud
are ot Aunt Nannie's tonight: Lizzie
and children at the Grove. Mrs. Lee has
jo.ned her husband, and Fountain Rock
and Bedford are 10th desolated Ny
heart aches to have such terrible tidings
Of the dearest spot in all the world to you.
fear loved it too much, but my great
est grief is for cur darling parents. Wo
are young and can bear such changes bet
ter. but their life ties were formed and
riyited there. III write more in tho
morning, when filter fUT it. How many
viii be sorry 10 hear all this read Hun
tet's order myself--had it IN my hands
and tiled 10 keep il to send Papa, but il
was taken out OF my hands. t
Your devoted sister, TlrrE.
- NJ " / Ne,rs, July 80.