Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-07-16

"Infammable fluid was poured over the
carpets and furniture and fired while the
house was filed with blue coats, ransack-
ing and appropriating all that they could
conveniently carry off. My fathers per-
sonal belongings we're afterward put up in
camp to the highest bidder. His Odd-Fel-
lows regalia, the gift of the lodges of the
State, was used for the adornment of
horse, which was led through the streets
A silk dress belonging to my sister served
for flag on the point of bayonet, and
many other jests Of like character we're per.
petrated. Among the serious losses were
my fathers fine private and law libraries,
with valuable marginal annotations; al
buns, containing the autographs of promi-
nent men for quarter of century and
longer; portrait, considered the best one
of Gen. Sam. Houston, and many objects Of
value and curiosity collected during an
eventful and successful life; and rare pres
ents from public and private admirers,
family pictures and objects which embody
family history.
zone loss of general interest was cruel
Elk which had belonged to one of the early
Popes, rare curio and of great intrinsic
value also because of the jewels, large
ruby especially, which represented drop
of blood on the Saviour's side. Not
single article was allowed to be removed by
the family, nor were the servants permitted
to save their personal belongings. Not
even the black mamma was shown any
favors. She, like all of those faithful,
valued institutions of the South, had quite
a collection of gifts and requirements,
each with its individual history.
"a short time after the surrender, when
peace had been declared, the house in
which my father and family had found
temporary refuge, through the kindness of
friends was one night surrounded by armed
soldiers and his surrender was demanded
by written order, signed by Gen. Grant.
Without even private farewell of wife
and children, and not entirely dressed, he
was taken away, it might have been to his
death, for any information YOU chsafed him
or his family. A time of narrowing sus-
pense followed, when my mother acct
dentally heard that my father was in soil
tary confinement in the old Capitol prison
at Washington. There his shoes and top
clothing had been taken from him, lest be
should attempt escape. His public and
private papers were confscated, and were
never returned to him, and they now form
a part of "The Record of the Rebellion."-
His tobacco was burned and his property of
all kinds confscated. Valuable Washing
COu ClGy property WAS soiu IOI tdAoS dCCTu-
ing during the war at sacrifice. To give
deed for the same, he was offered and
compelled to accept, by reason of his ne
cessity, small part of its value. After
long imprisonment he was released, with
out trial, nor any definite charge pre-
ferred against him.
''His health broken by confinement and
with the further unlawful restriction upon
his liberty, he was told that he should not
leave Lexington without a written permits.
sion from the President, even in the dis
charge of the duties of bis legal profession
en- separate applications. Although re-
peatedy offered lucrative law cases in
other counties and States, and although ap-
plication was made as directed, the permit
in every case was so delayed by red tape
investigation and formality that the proper
time elapsed, and the consent rendered was
useless.
"But today the war is over except in
song and story. in which it is fought over
by the firesides all over the South. The
queer makeshifts of our mothers and grand
mothers in those sad days only furnish US
food for wonder and amusement now
| Memorial Day calls forth praise and
panegyric, and the soldiers graves studding
the land all over give reality to the marvel
still lives, and many heart now beating
bears its record craven on tits losses are
losses yet to many life among US. But
peace and sympathy and kind feeling reign
to day. The rancor and vindictiveness of
a quarter OF a centuary ago are now IN
known and forgotten We erect statues to
our beloved heroes, and the North joins its
voice right heartily in our songs of praise.
The South swels the funeral PROFESSIONS of
their great men with feeling hearts, and so
the dead past buries its dead.'
| In another part Of her letter Mrs. Showell
says: "When the division Of the Union
army under Gen. Hunter passed through
the Valley of Virginia it left a record like
the proverbial new broom. All the horrors
of warfare were repeated, and heaps of
ashes marked its progress. The cloud OF
smoke and pillar of fire. which went before
the Israe!ites, indicating the favor of God,
followed behind Hunters division, typify-
ing the vengeance of man and the I'M
bri6led animosity of war. The reminis.
cences of the generation now passing are
replete with hair-stirring horrors, romantic
and thrilling incidents, wonders of beroism
and endurance most strange. There was
an exodus from home of the male popula-
ton, embracing almost all of thu seven
ages of man, 'robbing the cradle and the
grave as it was pithily termed, to make
lup the ranks that stood between the in
vading foe and homs and family,
"There was the wall of lonely women
who mourned their dead-for of the many
who went forth few returned. even for a
grave and the quickly decimated ranks
killed hope in mothers and wives and
sisters hearts. The Valley of Virginia
has deep scars to remember. 1t was the
battle-ground of the war Every home
was hospital. 1t gave all the fruits OF its
fertile soil, and the offspring of its far
famed stock for the support of two armies,
and its most venerated Inheritance to
satisfy the vengence and ruthless destruc-
tion Of the one. Down the valley came
Hunters army, and woe, and loss and pitt
full despair followed everywhere in his
| wskeI In stern adherence to war principles