Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-05-21
Charles James Faulkner.
How Hrs RESIDENCE AT MAR

Charles James Faulkner.
How Hrs RESIDENCE AT MAR
TINsBURG WAS SAVED:
The Confederate forces burned
the house of Gov. A. w. Bradford,
the Union Governor of Maryland,
situated In Baltimore county. In
retaliation for the destruction of
Mr.. Stephens and Gov. Brad
frods property. Secretary Stanton
ordered the destruction of the resi-
dsncss of Alexander r.. Boteler
and Andrew Hunter, both MEM
bers of the Confederate Congress
from Jefferson Cos. Virginia, and
that of Charles James Faulkner,
near Martinsburg, Va. Gen. Hun
ter, then commanding the forces
In the Shenandoah Valley, was
charged with the execution of the
order. Captain Grey Martindale
of the First New York Cavalry,
was detailed for the unpleasant
service, but he was a man who
never shirked duty, pleasant or
disagreeable. 1t was beautiful
day when he started with q hand
fJl of men to obey his orders. NJ.
First the residence Of Andrew
Hunter, near Charlestown, which
stood within rifle shot of where
John Brown was hanged, was left
with nothing but the walls to
mark the place were one of the
strongest lawyers and bitterost se-
cessionisis of Virginia onca lived
in sffluence. 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 by war. Mr.. Bot
eler's property, situated near
Shepherdstown, in the same
county, with all its rare old books,
next crumbled beneath the flames.
1t has, | believe, never been re-
built. Its owner Is man of Gull
ture, who sat In Congress before
the war. He defeated Faulkner
for Congress the time ne served In
a District which he thought he
had in his pocket. Martindale
then road on TO Martinsburg, and
thence to the beautiful estate
where the Faulknsrs lived sur
rounded by l,400 acres of the finest
land In the Valley. The old roof
tree was built by General Boyd,
Mrs. Faulkner's father, during or
Just after the revolution. 1t is
surrounded by a magnificent park,
inclosed with stone fence. When
the officer rode up the graveled
road to the house and aligbted, the
place was bright with flowers.
He stepted upon the porch,
pulled the old fashioned knocker,
and one of the ladies of the family
responded to his summons.
He read the order to her, which
said, that In one hour from that
moment the property would be
destroyed, and that only the per-
sonal effects OF the ladies could be
removed. This was the course
pursued by the Confsderates when
they destroyed Governor Brad
ford's property. The officer with
drew. and In ten minutes a tele-
graphic appeal went over the wires
to Mr.. Lincoln, through Col. Ward
Lamou, who was born and raised
i'm this county, lie had left it In
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 init
mate friend. The people Of his
native county often drew upon
him for favors, and rarely we're
their drafts dishonored. When
the telegram was on its way the
ladies, Mrs. Faulkner aud two
daughters, prepared themselves to
leave their home, and then waited
for the dreaded moment to arrive.
A messenger waited 1t the station
for an answer to the dispatch they
had sent, but the moments flew
and none came. The clock show
ed the hour was within notch of
being up, and the officer to apply
the torch was already at hand.
When the hand OF the clock rested
upon almost the last beat the mes
senger from the station was seen
coming up the gravelcd road at
break neck speed. He had dis
patch, and IL was from Mr.. Lin
coin, and Ii directed that the prop
erty OF NJ. Faulkner should not
be destroyed. philadelphia Press.