The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-22
SHE SAVED HER HOME.
INTERESTING REMIyTScExCE or
SENATOR xULKNER,S Mo1HER.
Her successful Appeal to tho Secretary of
War Whom the Homestead Was to be
Destroyed.

dramatic episode Of the late war. in
which she was the chief participant and
which has been neglected generally by
Che historians Of that stormy epoch. Mrs.
Faulkner was the widow Of the late
Charles j. Faulkner, who was minister TO
France during the administration Of
President Buchanan. and the mother Of
Senator Faulkner. OF West irginia. After
Der marriage she and her husband lived
90 the magnificent homestead Of her fam
ly ia Narlinsburg. then in old Virginia,
Rat now a city OF The new state IT was
"a house such as one seldom sees. even in
flc south. which abOunds so freely In
solid. massive architecture OF most com
Portable style The rooms were largo,
flc ceilings high. and most OF the walls
were three feet In thickness. Tne house
was filled with treasures. curiosties
picked up abroad. bits Of china and virtu
dainty bTic-a-brac. from European rnarts,
costly paintings from continental CALLER
ies and delicate fabrics from oriental
looms. such collection IS not often seen
in private houses In this country. The
house was surrounded. TOO. by a glorious
yark. a lawn of several acres in extent,
covered with soft. thick grass and stud
ded with the remnants Of virgin forest.
IL was almost an earthly paradise Not
alone Was the home valuable as prop
crtv, hlt II was dear for It's memories,
SIS associations as well as It's unreplace-
able contents. Such was the home that
Minister Faulkner left when he went
% his post nj Paris. where he used his
efforts IA aid of the southern cause 50
openly that upon the Inauguration Of
Precedent Lincoln the minister WAS recall
ed and arrested upon his return. lie was
represented at his home by his son. then
a. lad Of fourteen. who had been with
Nm IN Europe, ana who went 10 Maj
tinsburg at once. But the sounds Of war
drew the lad off 10 the front and he
j0i1Cd the cadets Of the Virginia Military
Institute.
Thus the stately mansion was left in
fhe care OF a woman and her daughters,
"a woman Of great courage snd wonder
fll spirit. who has recently been known
% the people Of Washington as a grace
Jul and winning participant in several
sodal functions. For a lime all went
WELL though the tides OF he warfare
swept past the household, back and
forth with varying currents. There was
peace within these massive walls in pc
cuiiar distinction 20 the strife raging
so near at hand.
70 was in the summer Of 1864 that the
serenity Of the Faulkner home was Sc
there had been great indignation aroused
among the people Of the North by the
action Of the Confederate forces I'm burn
ing the house Of Governor Bradford. in
Maryland. and General Davis S. Hunter,
commanding the Federal forces in west
crn Virginia, conceived the idea Of re-
taHatinG for this act of vandalism by
burning the homes OF some prominent
people IN the Shenandoah valley. None
~ the citizens of that beautiful region
vsare more prominent than EX-Minister
faukner. whose arrest upon his return
20 this country had become q topic of
national interest early in the struggle.
Accordingly. one morning. Captain Gray
.fartindale. Of the First New York caval-
-, was dispatched with his company
from headquarters. with orders 10 the
eject that the beautiful home of the
Jaulkners should be in ruins by nightfall
Captain Martindale entered upon his mis-
sion with little relish The burning OF
homes over the heads OF dcfenceless
women did not cOmport with his idea
81 warfare and he made the terms Of
bis mission as easy as he could in con-
science. Arriving at the house shortly
before noon, he left the detachment OF sol
cier in the road. guarding the entrance
a. the park which surrounded the house,
and the remainder galloped up the gray
eled pathway to the mansion. where he
was received by Mrs Faulkner and her
daughters They had heard of the APP
Iroach Of soldiers, and they had heard,
too. the rumors that were abroad that
three OF the houses in the vicinity were
o. De sacrificed Their hearts told them
only too well the errands OF the bluecoats.
Madam" said Captain Martndale,
refining his horse before the porch and
uoifng his cap. "p am under the painful |
necessity Of communicating to you the
orders OF my superior officer that your |
house shall be burned to-day. am |
permitted to give you one hour Tor prep |
arufion You shall be Allowed TO take |
from the house the wearing apparel OF |
yourself and daughters, but nothing else.
All but these articles must be left behind |
70 be burned"
Prepared though she was for the shock, |
the news that her beautiful home and |
its invaluable furnishings and ornaments
We're TO bee sacrificed to the torch came
upon the lady with appalling force. With |
out man OF her own kin 10 advise her
she was at first at a loss 10 know what |
course 90 pursue. She realized that unless
aid could be summoned the orders must |
be carried out and that her home would
the next day lie smoking and ruined. Sol
diers of her own cause were lar away.
oven were they at hand II was doubtful
81 they could succeed against the great
odds opposed 20 them in fight for the
preservation Of this great property
No. the needful assistance must come
from another source. II must come from
q source higher than the general COM
manding the forces in the neighbOrhood
II must come from the Secretary OF War
or. even from the President himself. Mrs
thought over the situation for
only few moments. but they snemed
Ike ages, with the seconds eating into
the hours that stood between her home
and its fate. Then acting upon an in
spifation She sent for trusty servant.
ordered him 10 mount the best horse on
The place and while he was engaged in |
mis- she wrote on a scrap Of paper a
brief but effective appeal 10 Secretary
stanton
She had known Mr.. Stanton in former
years. and felt that perhaps she could
persuade him at least TO stay the execu-
ion Of the order until she might appeal
b person 10 General Hunter. The mes
aee was written, and the rider dashed
u top speed toward the telegraph office
10 Mrtinsburg. The electric current was
% take her appeal TO Washington and 70
ring back the reply. II reply should be
llchsafed I'm less than iifty-lye min
ties. There was not moment 10 be lost.
he soldiers Longing by the roadside at
Doe gate under the shade OF the great
rees looked in wonder al the man dash
ng down the road. and suImising his n
rand. made bets for and against the J
lcccss OF his mission. Then the hoof I
eats died away the dust that he had '
liscd blew on into the fields, the hot | b
lu beat down and all was still again &