Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-03-19
A Stirring Letter from q Virginia
,i.44sc L t4l Woman. 49,. ~
JEFFERSON Co. July q


General Hunter " Yesterday your un-
derling, Capt. Martindale, of the First
New York cavalry, executed your in
famous order and burned my house,
You have the satisfaction ere this of re-
ceiving from him the information that
your orders were fulfilled to the letter
the dwelling and every out-building,
seven in number, with their contents.
being burned. I, therefore, a helpless
woman whom you have cruelty. wrong
ed, address you, Major General of the
United States Army, and demand why
this was done? What was my offence?
My husband was absent-an exile. He
had never been q politician or in any
way engaged in the struggle new going
on, his age preventing. This fact your
Chief of staff, David Strother, could
have told you. The house was built by
my father, Revolutionary soldier, who
served the whole seven years for our
Independence. There was I horn there
the sacred dead repose. 1t twas 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
hospitality 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 be-
cause my husband is the grandson of the
Revolutionary patriot and "rebel,n
Richard Henry Lee, and the near kins-
man of thenoblest of Christian warriors,
the greatest of Generals, Robert E. Lee?
Heavens blessing be upon his head for,
ever! You and your Government have
failed to conquer, subdue or match him i;
and, disappointment, rage and malice
lind vent on the helpless and inoffen-
sive.
Hyena like, you have torn my heart to
pieces! for all hallOwed memories clus-
demon like, you have done it without
even the pretext of revenge, for 1 never
saw or harmed you. Your office is not
to lead, like a brave man and soldier,
your men to fight in the ranks of war,
but your work has been to separate your
self from all danger, and with your in
cend1ary band steal unaWares 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,
you are execrated by your own men for
the cruel work you gave them to do.
In the case of Colonel A. r. Boiler,
both father and mother were far away.
Any heart but that of Capt. MartindaIe
land yours) would have been touched
by that little circle, comprising widow
ed daughter just risen from her bed of
illness, her three fatherless babies-the
eldest not five years old-and her heroic
sister. repeat, any man would have
been touched at that sight. But, Cap
tain Martindale, one emight as well hope
to find mercy and feeling in the heart of
a 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 on your malignant mis-
chief. All honor to their names for this
at least! They are men-they have hui
man hearts and blush for such COM
mander! fr
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 Hun
ter OF weak women and innocent chill
dren the Hunter to destroy defenseless
villages, and refined and beautiful homes
Ito 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 a fiend, and the
form Of man. Oh, Earth, behold the
monster! Can l say, "God forgive
you ?" No prayer can be offered 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
upright and the hatred of the true and
honorable, will follow you and yours
through all time, and brand your name
ia.fanay! INFAMY!
Again I demand why you have burn
ed my home? Answer as you must an
swer before the Searcher of all hearts,
why have you added this cruel, wicked
deed to your many crimes?
HENRIETTA A. LEE.