Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1877-12-08


receiving from him the information that
your orders were fulfilled TO the letter;
the dwelling and every outbuilding,
seven in number, with their contents be-
ing burned, /, therefore, a helpless wo-
man whom you have cruelty wronged,
address you, major general OF the
United States Army, and demand why
this was done! What was my offense!
My husband was absent-an exile. tie
had never been a politician or IN any
way engaged in the struggle now going
on, his age preventing. This fact your
chief-of staff, David Strother, could have
told you. The house was built by my
father. a Revolutionary soldier, who
served the whole seven years for your
independence There was / born; there
the sacred dead repose. 1t was my
home, and there has your niece Miss
Griffeth), who has tarried among US all
this horrid war up to the present mo-
ment, met with all kindness aud hospi-
tality at my hands Was it for this that
you turned me, my young daughter and
little son out upon the world without a
shelter? Or was it because my husband
is the grandson of the Revolutionary
patriot and :'rebel," Richard Henry Lee,
and the near kinsman of the noblest OF
Christian warriors, the greatest OF gen
erals, Robert E. Lee? Heavens bless
ings be upon his head forever! You
and your government have failed to con-
quer, subdue or match him; and disap-
pointed rage and malice find vent OH
the helpless and inoffensive.
Hyena-like you have: torn my heart
to pieces! for ali hallowed memories
clustered around that homestead; and
demon-like you have done it without
even the pretext of revenge, for | never
saw or harmed you. Your office is not
10 lead like a 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
incendiary band steal unaware upon
helpless women and children, to insult
and destroy. Two fair homes did you
/ yesterday ruthlessly lay in ashes, giving
not moments warning to the startled
inmates of your wicked purpose; turn
ing mothers and children out OF doors,
your very name execrated by your own
men for the cruel work you gave them
to do. .l-.. .fs
In the case of Colonel A r. Boteler,
both father and mother were far away.
Any heart but that of Captain Martin
dale (and yours) would have been touch
ed by that little circle, comprising a
widowed daughter just risen from her
bed of illness, her three little fatherless
babes-the eldest not five years old
and her heroic sister. | repeat, any
man would have been touched at that
sight. But, Captain Martindale! one
might as we'll hope to find mercy and
feeling in the heart OF wolf bent on
his prey Of young lambs, as TO search
for such qualities in his bosom. You
have chosen we'll your agent for such
deeds, and doubtless will promote him!
A colonel of the Federal army has
stated that you deprived forty of your
officers of their commands because they
refused to carry out your malignant
mischief. All honor to their names for
this at least! They are men--they
have human hearts and blush for such
a commander!
ask who that does not wish infamy and
disgrace attached to him forever would
serve under you? Your name will stand
on history's page as the Hunter Of weak
women and innocent children;the Hunter
to destroy defenseless villages and ref
ned aud beautiful homes-to torture
afresh the agonized hearts of widows
the Hunter of Africa's poor sons and
daughters, to lure them on to ruin and
death of soul and body; the Hunter
with the relentless hear. of wild beast,
the face of fiend, and the form of a
man. Oh, Earth, behold the monster
Can say, "God forgive you!" No pray
er can be offered for you! Were it pos
sibIe for human lips TO raise your name
heavenward, angles would thrust the
foul thing back again and demons claim
their own. The curses Of thousands, the
scorn OF the manly and upright, aud the
hatred of the true and honorable will
follow you and yours through all time,
and brand your name infamy! infamy!
Again | demand why have you burn
ed my house? Answer as you must an
swer before the Searcber ofall hearts (;
why have you added this cruel, wicked
deed to your many crimes 3?
HENRIETTA. T. LEE.
have only recited the more promi-
nent incidents of Hunters brief career
in the Valley OF Virginia. The United
States Government could not stand it,
his army could not stand it, as many Of
his prominent officers yet living tell how
keenly they felt the stigma such acts
beyond their control-brought upon
them. Shortly after the date of Mrs.
Lees letter he was removed, to the hon
or of the service, and General Sheridan
was his successor-of his career, per-
haps, anonl If the people of Chambers
burg will carefully read this record OF
wauton destruction Of private property,
this "o'er true tale" of cruel wrong in
ficted on the helpless, they will under
stand why, when goaded to madness,
remuneration was demanded at their
hands by General Early, and upon its
refusal retaliation was inflicted on the
nearest community that could be reach