Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-12-18
Fire, Sword, and Halter.
GEN. DAVID HUNTERS MARCH THRo'
THE VALLEY OF VIRGINIA.

4HE NAkLEY Or' VIRGINIA.
Front the contribution to the Phila-
deIphia Weekly Times by Gen. John D.
Imboden, giving an account of Hunters
march through this Valley, we extract
the following:
Hunter remained two or three days at
Staunton, and on t,.a ath of June moved
toward Lexington on his route to Lynch
burg. On the Sth, General Breckenridge
arrived at Rockfish Gap with a small
force drawn from Gen. Lees army. and
assumed command and immediately
LynahbuFg: Gen. John McCausland
with his cavalry brigade was ordered to
keep ip front of Hunter and delav and
harass him as much as possible, a task
which he performed with sigma, ability.
skill and bravery. Hunter having sent
Gen. Duffie vita the brigade under his
command into the county of Nelson. I
was ordered in pursuit and to protect
Lynchburg, which was almost defense,
less, from surprise by this cavalry de-
tachment, The people of Nelson and
Amherst counties never having had the
enemy before in their midst were great
ly surprised and alarmed, and brought
to me the widest reports of the enc
my's doings and the most exaggerated
accounts of his strength. Such infor-
nation embarrassed me so much from
its apparent authentic and yet often
contradictory character. that I decided
to reach Lynchburg as soon as possible
and by route that would enable me to
save frorp destruction the bridges on
the Grange and Alexandria Railroad,
accomplished this object, but failed to
encounter Duffie, who recrossed the
mountain and joined Hunter at Ilexine-
ton. On his march from Stanton to
Lexington, when Aear Rrownsburg,
Hunter o1dered thing to be done, SO
aDhorrent to all ideas of war between
Christian and civilized powers, that q
simple recital of the facts, WithNut
further comment will answer all the
purposes of history.
At the breaking out this war. David
s. Creigh, an old man of the highest
social position, the father of eleven sons
and daughters, beloved by all who knew
them for their virtues and intelligence
resided on his estate near Lewisburg in
Green orfer county. His reputation was
OF the highest order. No man in the
large county of Greenbrier was better
known or more esteemed; few, if any,
had more influence. Besides offices o
high public trust in civil life, he was an
elder in the Presbyterian Church O.
Lewlsburg, one of the largest and mos
respectable in the Synod of Virginia
In the early part of November, 1868
there being Federal force near Lewis
burg, Mr.. Creigh, on entering his hous,
one day, found drunken ana dissolut'
soldier there using ,hs most insulting
language to his- wife and daughters, ant
at the same time breaking open truks ant
drawers and helping himself to theil
contents. At the moment Mr.. Creigl
entered, the ruffian w.s attempting t,
force the trunk Of young lady teache
in the family. Mr.. Creigh asked hin
to desist, stating that it was the proper
ty OF lady under his protection. Th
villain, rising from the trunk. immedi
atelv drew pistol, cooked it, pointed
at Mr, Qfeigh, and exclaimed "Go QUITO
this room. What are you doing here
Bring me the keys" Mr.. Creigh at
tempted to defend himself and family
but pistol he tried, to use for the pul
poSe Snapped at the instant the sobbe
fred at him, the ball grazing his fac
and burying itself IN the WALL The
then gre2pied, struggled into the pss
sage and tqmbled down stairs. the fob
Der on top. They rose, and Mr.. Creig
attempted to wrest the pistol from th