Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-12-19

furnished copy with permission to
publish it. This letter will live in his
tory for its eloquence and sublime in
ventive: $40 van 10 5-'a as 81. f7.-.'s-l
1' SHEPHERDsTowN, Va, Z ef.
July 20, 1864. 1s
General Hunter: Yesterday your un-
derling, Captain Martindale, ofthe First
New York Cavalry, executed your in
famous order and burned my. house.
You have the satisfaction ere. this of
receiving from HIM the information that
your orders were fulfilled to the letter;
the dwelling and every outbilding, sew
en- IN number, with their contents being
burned, |, therefore, a helpless woman
whom you have cruelty wronged, adj.
dress you, major general Of the Unit
ed States Army, and demand why this
was done? What was my ofense? Ny
husband was. absent-an exile. He
had never been a politician or in any
way engaged IN the struggle now going
on, his age preventing. This fact your
David Strother, could
have told you. The house was built by
my father, a Revolutionary soldier, who
served the whole seven years for your
There was born; there
the sacred dead repose. 1t was my
home, and there has your niece Miss
Grlfieth), who has tarried among us all
this horrid war up to the present mo-
ment, met with all kindness and hospi-
tality at my hands. Was it for this
that you turned me, my young daughter
aud little son out upon the world with
out shelter? Or was it because my
husband is the grandson ofthe Revolu-
tionary patriot and rebel" Richard
Henry Lee, and the near kinsman OF
the noblest of Christian warriors, the
greatest of generals, Robert E. Lee !?
Heavens blessings be upon his head
forever! You and your government
have failed to conquer, subdue Or match
him; and disappointed rage and malice
find vent on the helpless and molten
sive. .. -s....t...s .-...... In,
Hyena-like you have torn my heart
to pieces! for all hallowed memories
clustered around that homestead and
demon-like you have done it without
even the pretext of revenge, for | never
saw OF harmed you. Your office is not
to lead like brave man and soldier
your men fight in the ranks of war, but
your work has been to separate your
selffrom all danger, and with your in
cendiary 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
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. $ .1 srH1
In the case OF Colonel A.. r. Boteler.
both father and mother were far away.
Any heart but that of Captain Martini
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 farther
less babes-the eldest not five years
old-and her heroic sister. I repeat,
any man would have been touched at
at that sight. but, Captain Martindale!
one might as well hope to find mercy
and feeling in the heart ola wolf bent on
his prey of young iambs,,sas to search
for such qualities IN his bosom. You
have chosen well your agent for such
deeds, and doubtless will promote him!
3 A colonel of the Federal army has
stated thatyou deprived forty of your
officers of their commands because they
refused to carry out Your malignant
Allhonor to their names for
this at least! They are men-they have
human hearts and blush for such COM
mander. so e.og lo7 r-- be-. s..
l ask who that does not wish insamy
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 defense-
less villages and refined aud beautiful
hoines-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 heart Of
a wild beast. the face of q fend, aud
the form of man. Oh, Earth, behold
the monter! Can / say, God forgive
La.
you?" No prayer can be offered for
you! We're it possible for human lips to
raise your name heavenward,, angles
would thrust the foul thiag back again
and demons claim their own. The
curses of thousands. the scorn Of the
manly and upright, and the hatred OF
the true and honorable will follow you
and yours through all time, and brand
your name i,Jamy infamy Ifs
Again | demand why have, you burn
ed my, house? Answer as you must an
swer before the Seareher of all hearts;
why have you added this cruel, wicked
deed to your many crimes : ,s,.,s., -
81 vaAas 7o8 vaa HENRIETTA E, LEE.
l 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,
as many ofhis prominent officers yet
living tell how kecnly they felt the
stigma such acts-beyond their control