Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-03-31
AScathing Letter.

A
The following letter to General Hunter,
whilst that officer was in command OF the Fede-
ra forces in the Valley of Virginia during the
late war, was written by venerable lady, whose
honse and furniture and outbuildings were, by his
order, consigned to the flames. The indignant
Sennnciation of the outrage by this noble Vir-
oinia matron we'll deserves to be put on record.
Il is couched in scathing language Every sen
tepce scorches:
SHEpHERDsTowN, July 20, 1864.
General Hunter-Y esterday your underllng,
Can't Martindale, Of the New York Veteran
Calvary, executed your Infamous ORDER. and
burned my house. You have had the satistac-
tiop ere this of receiving from him the intorma-
tion that your order was fulfilled to the letter.
The dwelling house, with nearlyall the furniture
and every out building, seven in number, with
their contents. | therefore, a helpless woman,
whom you have cruelty wrongcd, address you,
Major General of the United States
army, and demand why this was done!
What was my offence? My husband was absent,
an exile he had never been politician, or en-
gagged in any way in the struggle now going on,
his age preventing. This fact David Strother,
yourchief ofstaff, could have told you. The house
was built by my father,a Revolutionary soldier
who served the whole seven years for your indie
pendence. There was | born, there the sacred
dead repose. It was my house and my home;
and there has your neice, who has lived
amongst us ever since this horrid war began
I'D to the present moment, net with all kind
ness and hospitality at my hands: Was 1t tor
this that you turned my young daughter and
little son out upon the world without shelter!
Or was it because my husband is grandson OF
the Revolutionary patriot and Rebel, Richard
Henry Lee, and the near kinsman of the no
best Christian warrior, the grea test of generals,
Robert E. Lee? Heavens blessings be upon
his head for ever! You and your Government
have failed to conquer, subdue, or match him
and disappointed rage and malice hEd vent
upon the helpless and inoffensive. Hyena--.
ike, you have torn my heart to pieces, and
demon.ike you have done it without even the
pretext of revenge, tor never saw or harmed
YOU. Your office is not to lead like brave
man and soldier your men to fight in the ranks
Of war, but your work has been to separate
yourself from all danger, and with your incen-
diary band steal unawares upon helpless wo.
men and children to insult and destroy. Two
fair homes did you yesterday ruthlessly lay IN
ashes, giving DOT a moments warning to the
startled inmates OF your wicked purpose, turn
Ing mothers and children out Of doors. In the
case of the Hon. A. r. Boteler, both father
and mother were far away, and any heart but
that Of Capt. Martindale's and yows would
have been touched by that little circle, COM
prisioe widowed daugh just risen from a
bed of illness, her three little fatherless babes,
the eldest not five years old, and her young,
heroic sister Irepeat any man would have
been touched by that sight.
But one might as we'll hope to find mercy
and feeling in the heart of hungry wolf bent
upon it's prey OF young lambs, as to search for;
such qualities in the bosom OF Captain Martin
dale. You have chosen we'll your man tor
such deeds; doubtless, you will promote him.
4 Colonel of the Federal army has stated that
you deprived several of your officers of their com
mand because they refused to carry out your
malignant mischief All honor to their names,
for this at least. They were men; they had
human hearts, and blush for such a comman-
der [ ask, who that does not wish lntamy
and disgrace attached to him forever would
serve under you?
Your name will stand on historys page as
the hunter of weak women and helpless chill
dren. q hunter to destroy defenceless villages
and refined and beautiful homes, to torture
afresh the agonized hearts of suffering widows.
The hunter of Africa poor sons and daughters,
to lure them on to ruin and death of soul and
body. The hunter with the relentless heart of
wild beast, the face of fend and the form
Of man. Oh earth, behold the monster
Can [ say "God forgive you?' No prayer
can be offered for you. Were it possible for
human lips to raise your name HeaVenWard,
angels would thrust the foul thing back agaln,
and demons claim their own. The curses and
the scorn of the upright aud manly, the hatred
ofthe true and honorable will follow you and
yours through all time and brand your name,
lnfamy Infamy Again | demand, why
have you burned my house? Answer me-, as
you must one day answer before the Searcher
dal Hearts, why have you added this atrocl-
Gus deed to your many other crimes!
D1sRELI. 1t may be worth while to correct
avery common impression that Mr. Disreell
Struggled up to his present distinction from o
condition of mean obscurity and poverty. His
father was man of fair fortune, who enjoyed
agood position in society, and although OF shy
character and book recluse, was sought tor by
eminent men, and was able to give his son
good connections, good education, and res:
pectable means with which to begin lite. In
his youth, he spent good deal Of time on the
continent, and was able to devote himself to
political life as a man of leisure, at the age OF
% He was, therefore, not an obscure OF
needy adventurer as is rather hastily assumed
10 some of the press commentaries on the won.
ders Of his rise.
1t was undoubtedly disadvantage to belong
to race against which popular prejudices ran
falgh, although he was not personally OF the
lalth which made them unpopular. 1t is an
honorable trait in him, that although not be.
nneVng in the faith of his kindred, or rather be-
ns'lng the Old Dispensaton to be fully accom-
plshed in the New, he is proud OF his genealo
Yasa Hebrew, and always defends with ardol
me historic honor and natural character OF the
news The Disraelis were from the Venetian
Territory, and have been in England centur!
and q quarter. .. aaas
ELOTTR-i,,n;co h,.n5s rf F.,,;l, "a Ey