Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1897-02-13

encountered body of the enemy in
Rockfish Gap and captured their
wagon train and some prisoners
Among the wagons was that of Con
iederate paymaster with a large
amount Of paper money. That they
brought back with them and made a
mock payment of the troops with il
as far as it would go. Some of the
men received one hundred dollar bills
i Within few miles of Lexington a
halt was made where road branched
to the left, and force of some 4oc
cavalry was formed to go to the
Natural Bridge. Arrived there they
encountered body of the enemy
under Captain Angus Mcdonald, with
whom they had brisk fight, which
resulted in the capture of the Captain
and number OF his men. They were
dressed in the uniform of Scottish
Highlanders. and excited some in
terest among us when they were
brought in in their picturesque raj
ment.
When our cavalry advance reached
the river at Lexington, it was found
that the cadets of the Virginia Mill
tary Institute were drawn up to OPP
pose us, with few pieces Of artillery.
Some shots were exchanged when our
artillery cameup. but they did not make
much of a stand, but fred the bridge
before they retreated. Our men sub
dued the fire. but the bridge was so
damaged that pontoon had to be
laid for us to cross. The Cadets fed
from the place and the army camped
in and around Lexington.
The next morning / visited, along
with many others, the Military Iusti-
tute building, which was large and
elegant structure, and we'll provided
with books and apparatus. In the
library found the books scattered in
confusion over the floor. In fact the
building was full of men in every
nook and corner. Many OF the books
were very valuable. In one place ]
found large registry book for the
names of visitors to the Institute.
Looking through it saw the names
Of many distinguished men, among
them that of Abraham Lincoln, which
an effort had been made to erase by
plotting, but it was still legible
enough to make out. On fly leaf
of the register I found freshly
written: "You internal Yankees have
the upper hand now, but it will not
always be so, and when we get you
in our power may the Lord have
mercy on your souls" After my
look through the building emerged
from it in the rear into an E-shaped
space, where stood half dozen or so
mounted cannon and few boxes Of
shells. Along the main building
were several cellar-door like openings
that led to the basement. Some
twenty men were in this space with
me. Just as / was about to return to
camp staff officer Of General Hun
ter's rode into the Enclosure, and /
being the only non-commissioned Of
ficer in the party he ordered me to get
the nen present together and dis
mount the cannon and throw them
down the basement doors and run the
carriages up against them. and to
have the shell carried some 200 yards
away, piled together. and brush and
rails builts over them and set on fire
to do it all Immediately, as the build
ing was going to be burned
A shudder ran over me at the
thought of burning this fine building
with its valuable contents, but
soldiers province is to obey without
questioning. and / did what was
ordered, set fire to the shells, and
then left for my camp, about n Of a
mile away in plain sight of the build
ing. Oil was poured over all the
floors, and soon the flames were leap
ing from the windows and doors Of
the structure. With the roar of the
flames and the bursting Of the shells
it seemed like a battle in progress. |
deprecated the burning of this Insti-
tute and felt that more harm than
good would come of it. My feelings
were prophetic, for Chambersburg,
Pa, was afterwards burned in retalia-
ton. The house Of Governor Letcher
in Lexington was also burned.
While encamped at Lexington !
looked about the place. feeling in
.Aa y. 80 naenosoA;1~e xysctfa1