The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-10-03
The Burning Of Ghambersburg.
Extract from Colonel Harry Gillmore's


After we hat! breakfasted at the hotel,
General McClauslaId ordered me to arrest
fifty or more of the most prominent citi-
zens and pnt them under guard. had a !
rested about forty, when he sent for NE
and said there was no time to be lost--the
town mist be burned; he was sorry forit
on account of the women and children,
but it must be done to check the burning
of private property in Virginia, and they
had none to blame for it, Int General Hun
ter and their own press for extolling such
fendish acts of vandalism. He then or
dered me to fire the town, and showed me
General Early's order to that effect Deep
ly regretting that such disagreeable task
should fall npnn me. Ihad only to obey. /
then directed my men to fire the town, but
be kind to the women and children, and
lend all the assistance in their power
While could remain in the streets, did
nothing bnt assist the people, and see that
no excuses were committed Several
times l received peremptory orders to
make thorough work of it, and was es.
pecially directed to destroy all fine dwell
lings.
When the town was no longer tenable, l
took two men with ME to fire fine brick
dwelling beautifully situated on an emf
nence northeast of the town. Dismonnt-
ing, l went in and told the lady who came
to the door that was there to perform the
unpleasant duty Of burning her house,
which | much regretted; that we were oh.
Gged to resort to sucl, extreme measures in
order to prevent orr check the terrible de-
yastation committed by such men as Gene.
raj Hunter. told her that the people of
that town bad seen us twice before, and all
had spoken in the highest terms of our be-
havior, saving that onr soldiers behaved
better than their own. She was weeping,
evidently much distressed, but she ac-
knowledged the justice of my remarks, and
declared that she blamed none but the nd
ministration for allowing snch horrible
acts of cruelty to go unpublished. She was
in deep distress and shed many bitter
tears; did not beg me to spare her house
only asked time to remove some articles Of
value, or clothing. This was readily
granted. Breakfast was on the table, and
she asked me to eat something while she
was getting her things together. Being
hungry, ] accepted the invitation, and
drank glass of wine before sitting down.
] delayed asmueh as possible, in order to
afford her more time, and when l arose
from the table l had a mind to disobey or.
ders in regard to this house. She then
/ came in and entered into conversation.
asked her the name Of her husbands She
replied:
Colonel Boyd, Of the Union ARMY
"What! Colonel Boyd, Of the LIST New
York cavalry?"
"The same SIR,
'''Then, madam. your house shall not be
destroyed"
now understand why she had NOT
pleaded for lit. The reader will recolleci
that this officer has been already meiition
ed as operating in the valley. He had evei
been kind and lenient to the 6 items, men
women and children, warning only against
men in arms. The fact of her being the
wife of Colonel Boyd decided me at once
told her that / knew her husband, and
had fought against him for two years in
the Valley of Virginia; that he gained a
reputation among the citizens for kindness
and gentlemanly conduct; that while we
were there for the purpose of furnishing
vandalism, we were ready and anxious to
repay acts of kindness done to our people,
who, when unprotected, had been exposed
by the fortunes Of W r, to the mercy and
harsh treatment of our foes. / told her
that her house shollld not be burned,
blame for it who would, and that l would
leave guard former protection until all
were gone. She seemed to be completely
overwhelmed, as though she did not com.
prebend what said; but when assured
her that neither her house nor anything
that belonged to her should be molested,
her gratitude knew no bounds.