Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1864-12-24
VOLUME 90
Letter from Southern Lady to
Gen. Hunter, u. s.. A.
Eom the richmond Examiner. I

TToH ne hICtn1ond E.CaWanCT.
Sbepherdstown, Va, July 20, 1864.
GENERAL HUNTER Yesterday your
underIing, Captain Martindale, 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 out building, seven
in humber, with their contents, being
burned. / therefore, helpless woman
whom you have cruelty wrouged, address
you, a Major General ofthe United States
Army, and demand why this was done.--
What was my ofense.
Ny husband was absent, an exile. He
has never been a politician or in any way
engaged in the struggle now going on
his age preventing. This fact David
! Strother, your chief of staff, could have
told you, The house was build by my
father, Revolutionary solder, who ser.
we'd the whole seven years for your inde-
| pendenee. There was born there the
sacred dead repose it was my house and
my home; aud there has your niece who
lived among US all this horrid war up to
the present moment, met all kindness and
bo pitality at my hands.
Was it for this that you turned ME, ny
young daughter and little son upon the
world without a shelter Or was it be-
cause my husband is the grandson of the
Revolutionary patriot and rebel, Richard
Henry Lee, and the neer knsman of the
noblest of Christian warriors, the greatest
OF generals, Robert L. Lee! Heavens
) blessings be upon him forever You and
your Government have failed to conquer,
subdue, or match him and disappointed
rage and malice find vent upon the help
less aud inoffensive,
Hyena like, you lave torn my heart 10
pieces; for all hallowed memories cluster
e ed around that homestead and, demon
, like you have done il without even the pre-
text of revenge; for never saw or harm.
ed you. Your Office is not 10 lead like
70 brave man and soldier your men TO fight
!, in the ranks of war but your work has
Y been to separate yourself from all danger,
q and with your incendiary band steal un-
!, awares upon helpless women and children
to insult and destroy. Two fair homes
i did you yesterday ruthlessly lay in ashes,
re giving not moments warning to the
startled inmates OF your wicked purpose /;
turning mothers aud children out of doors
your very name execratod by your own
" men for the cruel work you have given
n them to DO.
s. In the case Of Mr.. A. r. Beteler, both
father and mother were lar away. ANY
heart but that Of Captain Maj itindale (aud
rnnrc\ ,u6ulI ho kouohoI hr ,
little circle. comprising widowed daugh.
ter, just risen from her bed of illhess, her
~ three little fatherless' babes-the eldes,
not five years od--;and her heroic sister
S. repeat, any man would have been touch
d ed al that sight. But in Captain Martin
dale-one might as well hope TO fad
mercy and feeling 10 the heart of wolf
ID bent on his prey of young lambs, IS tC
find such qualities in his bosom Yot
TO have chosen well your man for such deed,
doubtless you will promote him.
A colonel Of the Federal ARMY ha
stated that you deprived forty of youi
1 officers of their commands because they
refused to carry out your malignant mis-
If, chief. All honor to their names for t. is
in at least they ere men. They have hum an
leS! anu bluSI lOl suCh IL COuiIldHueI
| ask, who that does not wish iniam,
'g and disgrace attached to him forever
Or would serve under you! Your nlme vii
ut stand on h;story's page as the Hunter o
weak women and Innocent children th
r. Hunter TO destroy deenseless villages aut
:! refund aud beautiful homes to tortur
afresh the agonized hearts of suferip
mt widows; the Hunter Of Africa poo
ID. sons aud daughters, to lure them to rui
and death of soul aud body; the Huuta
with the relentless heart of wild beast
Nv the face Of a Gend, and the form of ms Z
u Oh, Earth, behold the monster.
Can say, "God forgive your n
r. prayer can be offered for you, Were
possible for human lips to raise your nam
ng hcavepward, angels would thrust the lou
Oh thing back ugaiD, and demons claim thei
own, The curses Of thousands, the sooF
of the manly aud upright, aud hatred G
he the true and honorable, will follow 20
bo and yours through all time, aud bran
g your name-infsmy iufamy
- Again demand why you have burnc
'A' my housel Answer, as you must an
to swer before the Searoher of all hearts
bio why have you added this cruel, wickc
n deed to your many crimesl
~ ----SS>.---
tix nG5- The New York Heralt says thi
NE some persons, who were 10 s,rait' nd Gil
A.