Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-08-25

The Retort Courteous and ConeIu-
atVo.
Some two weeks since there was pub
lished in the Richmond Examiner "a we'll
written letter, signed IA Virginian,'
and addressed to the Hon. Edward Ever
EFT, In this letter the destruction by our
troops of the chateau of Lower Brandon
on the James, was dwelt upon at great
length and with much nicely of rhetoric.
1t was truly sad picture of the sad de-
vastations ofwar that,was presented. Es-
pecial stress was laid upon the destruc-
ton of pictures, furniture, glass, books,
&c. A writer in the N. Y. Times assumes
that the letter of IA Virginian" was
written by Mr.. John Esten Cooke, and SO
he addresses reply to that gentleman.
We quote a single passage, by which it
may be seen, if other proof were wanting,
that all the vandalism" is not on our
side. The writer says:
1 presume also that Lower Brandon has
been laid waste during the war. 1t is
not the first or only case of the kind If
l had been asked four years ago to name
the two Virginians who were most likely
to achieve something more than provin-
cial literary reputation, think should
have named John Esten Cooke and Da-
vid Fl. Strother. Strother retained his
loyalty to the Union; you did quite other-
wise. Well, two and half years ago,
he was the possessor of a beautiful
cottage at Berkely Springs, place
not unknown to you, whilst his father,
John Strother, was the the proprietor
of the hotel at the springs. "Porte Cray
on's" cottage was adorned with paintings,
the work ofhis own cunning hand, the
out-growth of his fancy and observation.
Early in January, 1862, a body of Con-
federate troops made sudden dash upon
the Springs. There was, think, no re-
sistance. Unmindful of how "the great
Ernathian conqueror bade spare the house
of Pindarus," these troops cut in pieces
the paintings of "Porte Crayon," and
burned his cottage They took posses
sion of the hotel in which the the elder
Strother lay upon sick bed. They used
his furniture for firewood, although the
town was surrounded by forests, and
finally went off after plundering the place.
The old man, noted for a generation for
his noble character, died a week after in
his wasted and outraged home. l shall
not initiate your example by picking up
from the filthy gutter of the Southern
press vile epithets to designate the CONF
mander of the Confederate forces. They
were led by Thomas j. jackson, for
whom you claim the character of a Chris
tian hero. With him, a volunteer aid,
came CharlesJ. Faulkner, who had few
months before been United States Min-
lister to France. Which doyou think was
the greater outrage, the breaking of the
Window.panes at Lower Brandon, or the
mutilating the pictures at Porte Cray
On's" cottage2 Us
The writer enforces his lessons ofrebel
raids for plunder and devastation BY a
brief review Of Semmes's history and a
recapitulation of other equally notorious
illustrations. Mr.. John Esten Cooke is
answered, if it is possible to counterbal~
ance any one act of unnecessary destruc-
tion, even in war, by another. Yetree-
taliation and violence, cruel as arc their
law must be law in war. The code Is
merciless. The practice will be consists
ent with il,