Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-05-14
JAMES FAULKNER.
How HIS RESIDENCE AT MARTlNsBURG
WAS SAVED.

The Confederate forces burned the
house of Gov. a. w. Bradford, the
Union Governor of Maryland, situated
in Baltimore county. Ia retaliation for
the destruction of Mr. Stephens and
Gov. Bradlords property, Secretary
Stanton ordered the destruction OF the
residences of Alexander r. Boteler and
Andrew Hunter, both members OF the
Confederate Congress from Jefferson
Co., Virginia, and that of Charles
James Faulkner, near Martinsburg, Va.
Gen. Hunter, then commanding the
forces in the Shenandoah Valley, was
charged with the execution OF the Or
der. Captain Grey Marlindale OF the
First New York Cavalry, was detailed
for the unpleasant service, but lie was
man who never shirked duty, pleasant
or disagreeable. Ii was beautiful day
when he started with handful OF men
to obey his orders.
First the residence of Andrew Hun
ter, near Charlestowu, which stood
within rifle shot of whore John Brown
was hanged, was left with nothing but
the walls to mark the place where one
Of the strongest lawyers and bitterest
secessionists Of Virginia once lived IN
atilnence. He has rebuilt upon the old
walls since the war, and is spending his
last days within the same walls whose
contents were once destroyed 10y war.
Mr.. Boteler's property, situated near
Shepherdstown, in the same county,
with all its rare old books, next crum-
bled beneath the flames. 1t has, | be
lieve, never been rebuilt. Its owner is
a man OF culture, who sat in Congress
before the war. He and Faulkner were
ever bitter enemies. lie defeated
Faulkner for Congress the time he
served in a District which he thought
he had in his pocket. Martiudale then
road on TO Mar,insburg, and thence 10
the beautiful estate where the Faulkncrs
lived surrounded by l,400 acres OF the
finest land in the Valley. The old root
tree was built by General Boyd, Mrs,
Fauikner's father, during or Just after
the revolution. 1t is surrounded by
magnificent park, inclosed with stone
fence When the officer rode up the
gravclcd road to the house and alighted,
the place was bright with flowers. lie
stepbed upon the porch, pulled the old
fashioned knncker, and one of the ladies
of the family responded to his sum
mons
lie read the order to her, which said,
that in one hour from that moment the
property would be destroyed, and that
only the personal effects of the ladies
could be removed. This was the course
pursued by the Confederates when they
DESTROYED Governor BraGtord's proper
ty. The officer withdrew, and in ten
minutes a telceraphic appeal went over
the wires to Mr.. Lincoln, through Col.
Ward III. Lmon, vino was born and
raised in this county, He had left 1t III
early life and gone to Illinois, where he
had become intimate with Mr.. Lincoln,
and was then in Washington as his
Marshal of the District Of Columbia and
intimate friend. The people OF his ma
tive county often drew upon him for
favors, and rarely were their drafts dis
honored. When the telegram was on
its way the ladies, Mrs. Faulkner and
two daughters, prepared themselves to
leave their home, and then waited tor
the dreaded moment TO arrive. a mes
senger waited at the station for an
answer to the dispatch they had sent,
but the moments flew and none came.
The clock showed the hour was within
notch of beng up, and the officer to
apply the torch was already at hard.
When the hand Of the clock rested up
on almost the last beat the messenger
from the station was seen coming up
the grayeled road at break-ne speed.
lie had dispatch, and il was from Mr..
Lincoln, and it directed that the prop
erty of Mr.. Faulkner should not be de-
stroyed.-PhiIadeIphia Press