Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1878-03-05
MISCELLAAE GUS.
A Stirring Letter from a Virginia
Woman.
JErFEnsoN County, July 20, 1874

JEFFERSON COUNTY. July 20, 1874.
General Hunter :-Y Yesterday your under
ling, Captain Martindale, Of the First New
York cavalry, executed your infamous order
and burned my house. You have the salts
faction ere this of receiving from him the
information that your orders were fulfilled
to the letter the dwelling and every OUT
building, seven in number, with their con-
tents, being burned. I, therefore, a help pless
woman whom you have cruelty wronged, ad>
dress you, Major @ eneral OF the United
States Army, and demand why this was
done2 What was my ofencep My hus-
band was absent-an exile. He had never
been = politician or in any way engaged in
the struggle now going on, his age prevent
ing. The fact your Chief of>staif, David
Strother, could have told you. The house
was built by my father, Revolutionary sol>
der, who served the whole seven years for
your independence. There was 1 born ;
there the sacred dead reposo. 1t was my
house and my home, and there has your
niece (Miss Griffith, who has tarried among
US all this horrid war up to the present
moment, met with all kindness and hospital
ity at my hands. Was it for this that you
turned me, my young daughter and little
son out upon the world without n shelter
son of the Revolutionary patriot and "rebel,"
Richard Henry Lee, and tho near kinsman
of the noblest of Christian warriors, the
greatest of Generals, Robert f. Lee
Heavens blessing be upon his head forever !!
You and your Government have failed to
conquer, subdue or match him and, disap-
pontment, rage and malice find vent on the
helpless and inoffensive.
Hyena like. you have torn my heart to
pieces for all hallowed memories clustered
around that homestead, aud, demon>like,
you have done it without even the pretext
of revenge, for | never saw CT 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 in
cendiary band steal unawaTes upon hell pless
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 pur>
pose turning mothers and children out of
doors, you are execratcd by your own men
for the cruol work you gave them to do.
In the case of Colonel A. r. Boteler, both
father and mother wero far away. Any
heart but that of Captain Martindale (and
yours) would have been touched by that lit
tie circle, comprising widowed daughter
just risen from her bed of illness, her three
fatherless babies-the eldest not FIVE years
old-and her heroic sister. L repeat, any
man would have been touched at that sight.
But, Captain Martindae, one might as well
hope to fiud 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 well 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 car.
ry on 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 histo-
ry'a page as the Hunter of weak women and
innocent children the Hunter to destroy
defenseless villages and refined and beauti>
full 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 Hun
ter with the relentless heart of a wild beast,
the face of iend, and the form of a man.
Or, Earth, behold the monster Can l say,
''God forgive you 2" No prayer can be Of
fered for you! Were it possible for human
lips to raise your name heavenward, angels
would thrust the foul thing back again. and
demons claim their own. The curses of
thousands, the scorn of the manly and up
right and the hatred of the true and honor
able, will follow you and yours through all
time, and brand your name infamy! IN
FAMYi
Again 1 demand why you have burned
my home2 Answer as you must answer be-
fore the Sesrcher of all hearts, why have
you added this cruel wicked deed to your
many crimes? HENRIETTA E. LEE.