The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-08-16

the same vicinity. No reasons that
| have ever heard have been given
for the burning of their houses
Governor LetQher's property was in
Lexington, Virginia; the Military
Institute was near Lexington, also
/ do not think that any better reas.
ons can be given for the destruction
of these properties than could have
been given if General Hunter had
destroyed every house, barn or other
building, that was standing and in
good order, upon his line of march
from Staunton to Lynchburg. The
property Of J, r. Anderson was in
the county of Boutetort, and located
near the banks of james River, al
Buchanan. Mrs. Anderson and a la
dy relative were the only occupants
at the time. l destroyed the bridge
across James river to retard Hunter
in his march upon Lynchburg, and
it detained him with his army fol
two days, during which time he oc
cupicd this house as his headQuart
crs. He promised the ladies protect
ion, and after his departure an oili'
Ger and some soldiers returned with
Il written order from. him to destroy
everything about the premises. a
few days afterward, as General Hun
ter was passing another Virginia
mansion, n lady asked him why he
destroyed the magnificent home oi
Colonel Anderson. He replied "that
Virginia wemenMere. worse traitors
than their husbands and he would
burn the houses over their heads tt
make them personally and immedi'
atcly experience some punishment
for their treason" and on another oc-
casion said to a lady that he would
"humble the Virginia women before
he left the State" | could enumer
ate many other acts of actual destruc
ton, and threats, and acts of wantor
violence on the part Of Hunter, al
Of which went to make up public
sentiment that prevailed ut the timt
in Virginia, and which required tho
military authorities to take somc
Steps to prevent their recurrence in
future, besides stopping the useless
destruction that was then going on
But what have given is considered
sufficient to explain the reason why
the city of Chambersburg, in Penn
sylvunia, was destroyed.
RELATIVE LOCATION OF THE FORCES.
1t may be considered as indispen
sable to give the location of the for
ces composing the Union and Con
fcderate armies during the latter par
Of the month of July, 1864, in orde'
to properly understand the raid tha
was made into the State Of Pcnnsyl
vania, and which resulted in the de
struction of Chambersburg. Hunt
or'sarmy (Unlon) was scattered along
the northern bank of the Potomac
river, in Maryland, from near Han
cock to Harpor's Ferry, the mair
body being near the latter place
Early's army (Confcdorate) was 10
Gated on the opposite side of the sam'
river with its main body near Mar
tinsburg. Each army had its. caval
ry on the llanks. My command wa
on the left of Early's army, and
think that Averill's cavalry was 10
Gated opposite to meat least u por
ton of it was there. When | speal
of cavalry in the course of this sketcl
l. am aware that the term is no
properly applied; and as far as tn,
Confederate troops which ] command
cd are concerned, they were badl!
armed, badly mounted and wors,
equippod-in fact they were mostly
mounted militia. The men woulC
have made good soldiers if there haC
been time TO discipline them ant
arms and equipments to have fur
nished them, The horses were near
lily all worn out, and there was n,
supply to draw others from. We at
tempted TO get horses in Ponnsylyo
mia, but found them removed from
the line of march, and we had l.,
time to look for them elsewhere.
In July, 1864, II cavalry brigod
which | commanded was oncampeC