The Placer herald., 1864-12-17
From the Richmond Examiner.
Letter from southern Lady 30 General
EEupter. -. q.

! oHEFHEkDSTOWN, virginia, July ~, IoOt.
General Hunter:-Yesterday your under
ling, Capt. Martndale, of the lst New York
! Veteran Cavalry, executed your infamous
order, and burned my house. You have had
the satisfaction ere this of receiving from
him the Information that your orders were
fulfilled to the letter; the dwelling and every
outbuildng, seven in number, with their
contents being burned. |, therefore, help
less woman whom You have cruelty wronged
address you Major General of the United
States Army, and demand why this was done
! What was my otfense?
My husband was absent, an exile. lie has
never been politician, or in any way en-
gagged in the struggle now going on--his
age preventing. This fact David Srother,
your chief of staff could have told YOU -
The house has built by my father, Reyolu-
/ tionary soldier, who served the whole seven
years for your independence. There WAS
| born; there the sacred dead repose: il was
my house and my home and there has your
niece, who has lived among us all through
this horrid war, up TO the present moment,
met with all kindness and hospitality at my
! bands.
Was it for this that you turned me, my
young daughter and little son out upon the
world without shelter! Or was it because
my husband is the grandson of the Revolu
tionary patriot aud REBEL Richard Henry
Lee, and the near kiusman of the nobest OF
Robert &. Lee? Heavens blessings be upon
his head forever. You an your Government
have failed to conquer, subdue or match him;
and disappointed rage and malice find vent
upon the helpless and uotfeusivo.
Hyena like, you have torn my heart to
pieces; for all haowed memories clustered
around that homestead; and, demon like ' ou
have done it without even the preteXt Of
revenge; for | never saw or harmed you.-
our office is not to lead like a brave man
and soldier your men to fight in the ranks
OF war, but vour work has been to separate
yourself from all danger, and with your
incendiary band steal uuawares upon helpless
women and children, to insult and destroy.
Two fair homes did You yesterday Iulhiessly
lay in ashes, giving not moments warning
to the star!e inmates Of your wicked pur,
pose; turning mothers and children ont of
doors; your very name eyecra'ed by your
own men for the cruel work you gave them
to do.
la the case Of Mr. A. r. Boteler, both
father and mother We're far away. Any
heart but that of Captain Martindale (and
yours) would have been touched by the little
circle, comprising widowed daughter, just
risen from her bed OF illness, her three little
fatheIless hahes-the eldest not five years
old-and her heroic sister. repeat, any
man would have been touched at that sight
But Captain Martiudae- might us well
hope to find mercy aud feeling in The heart
of wolf bent on its prey Of young lambs,
as to such qualities in bis bosom. You have
chosen well your men for such deeds; doubt
less you will promote him.
A colonel of the Federal army has stated
that you deprived forty Of your officers of
their commands because they refused TO carry
ont your malignant mischief. All honor to
their names for this, at least They are men;
they have human hearts, and blush for such
a commander
ask, who that does not wish inamy and
disgrace attached to him forever, would
serve under you? Your name will stand on
bistory's page as the Hunter of weak women
and innocent children; the Hunter to de
stroy defenseless villages and refined and
beautiful homes; to torture afresh the agoniz
ed hearts Of suffering widows; the Hunter
Of Africa's poor sons and daughters, to lure
them on to ruin and death of soul and body;
the Hunter with the relentless heart Of
wild beast the face Of tiend, and the form
of man. Oh, Earth, behold the monster.
Can say, "God forgive you?" No prayer
can be offered for you. Were it possible for
human lips to raise your name heavenward
angels would thrust the foul thing back again,
and demons claim their own. The curses Of
thousands, the scorn of the manly and up
right, and the hatred of the true and honor,
able, will follow you and yours through all
time, and brand your name-intamy! infamyl
Again | demand why you have burned
my house? Answer, as you must answer be-
fore the Searcher of hearts; why have you
added this cruel wicked deed to your many
crimes?
The HARDsuIps OF THE DRAFr-An Incl
dent occurred recently illustrating the ter
rible severity with which the present enforc
ed conscrpion of poor men for the military
service occasionally strikes its victim. A
poor German residing in this city who was
among the number drafted from his ward,
reported himself for examination, and was
pronounced fit for duty. From some cause
which we are unable to ascertain, he was de-
tanned at the provost-marshaPs office and
not allowed to 90 home In the course of
the ensuing night one of the children died,
and word also came to him Of the death of
his wife during the morning. He was, of
course, Immediately allowed time to visit his
afflicted home, and attend to the last sad
preparations for the burial of bis wife and
child, and to make the best provisions pos
sble for the remaining three little CHI dren,
who by the like remorseless operation OF
death and the draft, bad been orphaned and
deprived of their natural support and pre-"
lection. Quincy (HH) Herald.