Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-11-23
Letter from Southern Lady to Gen.
Hunter, U. s. A.
| From the Richmond Examiner !

Letter from Southern Lady to Gen.
Hunter, q. S. A.
From the Richmond Examiner
SHErHERDsTowN, Va, July 20-Gms,al
Hunter: Yesterday your underling, Can
tain 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 ord
ers were fulfilled 10 the letter, the dwell
ing and every out building, seven in mum.
Der. with their contents, icing burned. |,
therefore, helpless woman whom YOU
have cruelty wrong address you, Major
General Of the United States Army, and
demand why this was done. Wha, was
my otfelse?
My husband was absent, an exile. lie
has never been politician, or 10 any way
engaged in the struggle now gon on
his age preventing. This fact David Stroth
er, yonr chief ofsaff, could have told you
The house was puilt by my father, Revo-
lutionary soldier, who served the whole
seven years for your independence. There
was ! born there the sacred dead repos e.;
it was my house aud my home and there
has your neice. who lived among us all
this horrid war. up the present moment,
met all kindness and hospitality at my
hands,
Was il for this that you turned me, my
young daughter and little con upon the
world Without shelter Or was il because
my husband is the grand son of the Rev
olutionary patriot and rebel, Richard
Henry Lee, and the near kinsman of the
noblest of Christian warriors, the greatest
of generals, Robert K, Lee? Heavens's
blessings be upon him forever You an d
your Government have failed to conquer,
subdue, or match him i and disappointed
rage and malice find vent upon the help
less and inoiiensve
Hyena like, you have torn my heart TO
pieces for all hallowed memories clust-
cred around that homestead and, demon
like you have done it without even the
pretext of revenge for never saw or
harmed you. Your Office is not 10 lead like
brave man aud q soldier your men to
fight in the ranks Of war, but your work
has been to seperate yourself from all
danger, and with your incendiary band
steal unawares upon helpless women and
W uut utsblOy. W. ItlT
homes dto you yesterday ruthlessly lay in
ashes, giving not moments warning to
pose turing moisfs aRF TdGPkSd RpJ
doors; your very name eyecrated by your
own men for the cruel work you have Civ
en- them TO do.
la the case OF Mr. A. r. Boteler, both
father and mother were far away. Any
b,n L,,l tln. ~ Cn,ta;,, Mort;nIa1n Il, nd
yours would have been touched by that
little circle, comprising widowed daugh-
ter, Just risen from her bed OF illness, her
three little fatherless babes-t5e eldest
not five year old--and her heroic sister.
| repeat, any man would have been
touched at that sight. But Captain Mar
tidale-one might us we'll hope to find
mercy and feeling in the heart OF a woif
bent on his prey Of young lambs, as to
find such qualities in his bosom. You have
chosen well your man fer such deeds (;
doubtless you will promote him.
A colonel Of the Federal army has stat
eG that you deprived forty ofyour officers
of their commands because they refused
to carry out your malignant mischief All
honor TO their names for this, at least
Luey NI6 ulGl' Jutg laNo IuuIiu HSo1 toj
aud blush for such commander.
ask, wto that does notwish iufamy and
disgrace attached 10 him foreYer, would
serve under you Your name will stand
on history's page as the Hunter of weak
women and innocent children; the Hunter
TO destroy defenseless villages and refnd
and beautiful homes; to torture afresh the
agonized hearts Of suffering widows ; the
Hunter of Africa's poor sons and daugh-
ters, to lure them to ruin and death
OF soul and body; the Hunter with the re-
lentless heart of wild beast, the face ofa
fiend, and the form Of man. Oh, Earth,
behold the monster.
Can say, God forgive you ~ No
prayer can be afforded 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 upright, and the hatred
of the true and honorable, will follow you
and yours through all time, aud brand
your name --iniamv infamy
Again ! demand why you have burned
my house Answer, as you must answer
/ before the Searcher of oil hearts; why
have YOU added this cruel, wicked deed
10 your many crimes?