Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-08-19

other nations which, until this period, had
only blamed his ambition whilst admiring
himself. now exclaimed against his cruel
~ and even blamed his policy, because if
his enemies should penetrate into his
own States, as he had done into theirs,
thew would reduce his cities 10 ashes"
VArrEL. in his LaO Of Nations. speaks
oil this airoclous cruelty as i! deserves.
He says: "ln the last century the French
ravaged and burnt The Pala,inate. All
Europe resounded with inveclives against
such mode Of waging war. 1t was in
vain that the Court attempted TO pallia'e
their conduc, by alleging that this was
done only with view to cover their own
frontiers. That was an end 10 which the
ravaging of The Palatinale contributed
but Iiule, and the whole proceedings ex-
hibiied nothing 10 the eyes of mankind
bu, the revenge and cruelty of a naughty
and unfeeling minister"
The Kings cOnsciences smote him all
the remaining days Of his life for having
consented to this burning, and the name
of LoUvoIs, who had counselled it, al
though the greatest war minister Of mod
ern times, unless CARNoT may be excep-
ted, has ever since been held in execra-
lion.
ST. Simon relates that some time after
ward. LouyoIs having determined 10
burn the city of TTeyes, but aware Of the
Kings scruples Of conscience, issued the
order without previously consulting him.
the minister thus taking upon himself the
sole responsibility for the deed. When
informed of it, Louis literally drove Lou
vols from his presence, exclaiming as lie
retreated, "DIspaich courier Instantly
with counter order and see that he ar.
rives in time, for know tha. your head
shall answer for ii if sing gle house should
be burnt"
History, it is said, always repeats it.
self; bat It's 10 be deplored that this
should have been done, after nearly TWO
centuries, in free and enlightened Amerl-
ca. Lieut. Gen. Grant from his head
quarters near Richmond, ordered Gen.
SHERIDAN 10 devaslate the rich, beautiful
and extensive Valley of the Shenandoah.
He commands him "Do all the damage
you can 10 the railroad and crops. Car
ry off stock of all descriptions and ne
groes, so as 10 prevent further planting.
If the war is to last another year, let the
Shenandoah Valley remain a barren
waste" 1t does not appear that either
The President or Secretary Of War con-
sen!ed 10 This barbarous order; and we
sincerely hope that they did not, for The
character of the country.
Gen. Sheridan unlike the French Off
GERS who devastated the Paalinate, was
not ashamed of being the instrument Of
these cruelties. The contrary appears TO
be the fact. judging from the tone Of his
Report from Woodstock TO Gen. GRANT,
of the 7ih OF October. 1864. In this he
says: II commenced moving back from
Port Republic, Mount Crawford, Bridge
water and HarrIsonburg yesterday morn
ing. The grain and forage in advance OF
these points had been previously destroy
ed. In moving back 10 this point. the
whole country from the Blue Ridge TO
the North Mountain has been made un-
tenabe for a rebel army. have destroy
ed over two thousand barns filed with
wheat, and hay and farming implements
over seventy mills filed with -four and
wheat; have driven in front Of the army
over four herds of stock, and have killed
and issued TO the troops not less than
three thousand sheep. This destruction
embraces the Luray Valley and Little
Fort Valley. as we'll as the main valley.
Lieut.. John r. Meigs, my Engineer Of.
6cer, was murdered beyond Harrison
burg, near Dayton. For this atrocious
act all the houses within an area of Ave
miles were burnt"
Over two thousand barns filled with
wheat, hay and farming implements. and
over seventy mills filled with -four and
wheat destroyed, and the whole valley
between the Blue Ridge and the North
Moantsin, consisting Of number Of rich
and we'll cultivated counties a barren
woste :" And this under the plea Of
military necessity
Ls, Us imagine. if We can. the destitu.
ton and distress Of many thousands Of
these poor people. suddenly deprived OF
presen subsistence and without hope for
The future. Their farming implements
having been destroyed they can neither
SOW nor plant for the next harvest. Their
homes have been made desolate, and like
the inhabitants of the Pslaiina,e one Por-
ton of them still wsnders among their
own ruined fields, whilst The other has
sough, an asylum in neighboring States