Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-02-19
WHO DID THE PLUNDERING :?
From Adams STORY Of a Trooper"

Mcclellan and Franklin for their efforts topro-
tect private property while in the enemys
conni1v. But even their more stringent orders
to prevent plundering failed to save the help
less citizen from the acts Of the mercenary
wretches who had connected themselves with
our army only to disgrace 1t, and to make enc
mics OF men whom kindness and protection
would have turned into true and substantial
friends The private soldier, be 1t SAID to his
credit, had no part in his disgracetul work
Fairfax Seminary was plundered OF Its Valua-
HE library, Of it's works of art, of its scientific
and musical instruments, off furniture and in
deed everything of value found within its walls.
There was nothing sacred to the despolers:
Even the Wardrobes of the professors, VINO mao
left with the expectation OF returning soon, dld
not escape the fingers Of the mercenary wretch
es who thought it no disgrace to turn thieves
in an enemy's country This seminary was
e.rly in the war, turned into an hospital; and
the person most prominent In plunderlng 1t OF
its contents was a woman who affected to per
form the part Of O Florence Nightingale IN tax
ing care of and administering to the wants OF
our sick soldiers, when in reality she was hlliDg
and furnishing her house 10 New Jersey Wild
property plundered from It's halls This how,
ever, was but oue case out of an hundred
that might be cited. Such conduct deserved
the seyerest punishment not so much tor the
effect it had on the discipline of the army, as
the fact that it was cIoaked by the very worst
species Of hypocrisy. When this matter OF
pIuudering the seminary was brought to- the
notice of General Kearney, nothing could have
exceeded bis Indignation; but his efforts to
bring the perpetrators to justice tailed. There
was higher power somewhere Attending, pro
lection to these mlscreants, and the brave
Kearney found himself poWerless to prevent
them from carrying away their plumber IN
safety
Private houses shared the same fate. Some
ofthese had been left in charge OF housekeep-
ers. or perhaps few old servants. This
afforded an excuse to some Of the field officers
of our division for taking military possession
of them, and setting up an elegant Eeadquar-
tiers. 1t was not untrequently SAID that the
object of this military possession was to
protect the property from injury by the soldiers
But [ invariably noticed that the sort OF pro
lection the property received was very similar
to that which Gen Milroy gave to the property
of the people of Winchester. In truth, but
few weeks would pass after these gentlemen
had set up their elegant headquarters, when
the books, pictures, furniture, and even those
little treasures SO dear to trends would mys-
terlously disappear. and there would De notn-
ing Lett but the blank walls. If the truant
owner ever returned, he would have to seek
in some rural village Of Pennsylvania tor the
articles his home was SO comfortably furnished
with before the was.
You must nos think, reader, that these
despoiIers intended their work as punish
ment for the dsIoyal; for even those who had
looked 60 our army as protection against the
folly Of their own politicians found themselves
alike the victims OF this greed for plumber. 10
such an extent cid this mercenary spirit deVel-
Oh itself, that nurses, surgeons, chaplalns, and
processing philanthropists became participants
In theft, to the neg lcc5 of their proper duties.
In fruits, [ have heard more that one Of these
protesting I,hiIauthroplsts assert that there was
no sin ia 'appro,liatIug property found IN an
ene1ny's country. There was time when theft
was publicly honored and rewarded IN Sparta,
under the delu5i0u that thereby the interests
of patriotism we've encouraged and supported,
and some OF our people were copying the
example to al alarmlng extent. But there was
this difference, that when out Spartans found
nothing to plumber from the enemy, they turn
ed their attention. to Our own hospitals, strip
ping them Of The delicacles clothing, and IN
deed oil those supplies furnished SO protusely
by our Government for the sick. And even
piety and charity were called in to furnish
cloak for these acts The Government was
not prompt la bringing these persons TO JUS
tice, although It's attention had been repeatedly
called TO their c1ltuc",
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