Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-12-30

the bare walls standing of an equally fine
house. burnt bv the same General III to-
ken Of his affection towards another cous-
in, who lived in it. And there was still
a lhrd house in which the gallant Gener-
ais niece had been often entertained; and
so, out OF graliluule, he bum; that Ike
wise. Iii one of the houses thuS destroy.
ed, the daughter Of the family was play
ing on the piano when The soldiers came
up TO destroy it. Virginian ladies' were
no, then, aud are not now given 10 asking
fayors of Federal soldiers; but this young
girl had all attachment 10 her home, and
al leas, desired TO save her music, narp
and piano, from It's wreck. She lea.
ded for them, but when ,he flames were
winding round the curtains OF the room
in which she stood, with the soldiers BY
l.et side, she sat down and played Ihe
by mn-"Tby Will be DONE" and so left,
knowing that those whom she loved best
were ruined. 1t was one of the "eyils Of
war;" and every family in this valley has
much sadder instances OF lis horrors IN
lis history; but Gen. Hunter, who thus
developed a SPECIAL talent for burning the
houses of his relatives, especially when
there were only delenceless ladies' within
them. has not acquired the reputation
which a soldier likes 10 have in this val
ley.
The town Of Charlestown has an un-
seuled and dsordered appearance. a
few hou'e es in it have been Destroyed, bu!
compared with some spots further on IN
lhe Valley which have since passed, II
shows comparatively slight traces Of the
war 1t was in a field close by this town
lhal John Brown was hanged; negro
who pointed out 10 me The place where
HE galluwS was put up, remarked with
broad grin lhal"he couldn't see yet what
good Massa Brown had done. No, he
guessed lie couldn't see it yel." An IN
cdent occurred while was here which
told its own story. Some officers OF the
Union army were walking down the
street. wheL they met TWO ladies', who
immediately dropped ,heI wells over their
faces and aver,ed their heads. Every la
dv OF Virginia was q true heroine ihro :
out tie war, and they cannot yet accept
The fate " hch has gone against them
without murmuring. There was no hard
snip which these ladies, delIcalely nuriuc.
ed and unuse ed To hardships, were not CAL
led upon 10 undergo. They were turned
90, of their homes, without even being
permitted 10 take a change of garments
with them. They rose every morning TO
see ,hc flames of The destroyer spreading
fer and wide over the country. They
were reduced to poverty, TIL sometimes
they needed bread, and one by one rhey
parted from their children or their friends,
aud saw them return no more. 81 had
five sons III The war said lady TO me,
land nv only regret was that had not a
sixth 10 send" 1t was the same through
out Virginia, and doubtless in other States
also. Ii any one expects the women oI
the South TO smile upon the conqueror he
will be deceived. Fortunately The officers
OF the Federal army now stationed IN The
South are generally gentlemen who res.
pect the sutirrings which they see aroun5
them, and which seem almost too great
for human strength 10 bear. too much TO
feel serieved because no kindly hand is
extended TO them. From Charlestown
went TO Sharpsburg, in Maryland, and
crossed the Potomac q, Shepherdstown in
order to enter the Valley from that point.
In Marlinsburg an election had taken
place two days before, and eleven gentle
men who had protested against the test
oath had beer arrested. One Of these
gentlemen had been faithful supporter
OF The Union throughout The war. which
bad made his arrest more inexcu>abIe.
The test-oa,h is imposed upon every vo.
Ter, and as il obliges him 10 swear that he
never "sympahized with the rebels Ct
gave them any succor. or harbored them
during the war, the besl m EN- of the State
are dis(ranchised. The gentlemen IN
question were liberated Immediately y after
the election, but The circumstances had
created very painful feeling. and The
oath itself is evidently opposed TO MI
Johnson's general policy Of conclllalon
tow ards the South. To force retrospect
tive lest-c alh upon the people would now
be a wan,on and iyrannieal exercise OF
bower. There are some inhabitants OF
Mar,insburg who call themselves UNI
on" and who showed their attachment 10
their country last year by peltlng some
ladies with rotten eggs because they were
holding fair to raise funds for the repair
of the church of the place. The lldles,
however, who are well used 10 dangers
now, went on with their bazaar al! the
same. They have seen too much shot
and shell to pay attention TO shower OF
! rrko -, ,rbo Copoh IN he COn.