Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-04

W
g 80 >.. ssfss1lz..22---.- q.
grappled. but he saved his life by taking
that of the rufiian with an axe that was
handed him by "Old Aunt Sally a
family servant. The hostility between
the southern people and the Federal sol
diery being bitter at the time 1t was
deemed best to hide the deed. 1t Is SAID
that white man, who had learned the
fact communicated 1t to negro, VINO
some time afterwards ran away 10 the
Federal army, and disclosed the secret.
when the army passed through Green
brjer the next time Mr.. Creigh was ar
rested and brought along 10 RockbridSe
county. He was given no opportunity
IJ. defence but WAS hanged simply by
Hunters order That Creigh had slain
the invader of his home and the assail-
ant of his own life was not a sufficient
plea. Thus was this good man made the
victim of unmilitary brutality by this
Weyler Of the Federal army. His body
was taken TO Lewisburg and Inferred in
the Presbyterian burying-ground, and at
the head of his grave stands a tomb
stone on which are inscribed these words:
Sacred to the memory Of David ).
Creigh, who died as a martyr in defence
of his rights and in the performance of
his duty as husband and father. Born
May l. 1909 and yielded TO his unjust fate
June II, 1854, near Brownsburg, Va"
have often seen the tree upon which this
good man was hanged in the meadow OF
the Rev. James Morrison, and an uncon-
trollable desire seiZes me to see his judge
dangling at the end of a rope from one
of its limbs. But Hunter has gone TO
his reward, having died in March 1856.
1t is said as the Federal army under
Hunter. shattered and starving, was pass
ing through Lewisburg on its disastrous
retreat from Lynchburg, the Rev. Mr..
Osborne. a Federal chaplain. called at
the residence Of Rev. DR.. McElhenny,
pastor of the Presbyterian church in that
place. and related the circumstances at
tending the murder of Mr.. Creigh. Din
ner coming on he was pressed by the
Doctor TO join in a family meal. The
chaplain declined, declaring that since
that atrocious murder he could not "con-
sent to break bread under southern
roof"
TOLD IN VERSE.
This incident has been so beautifully
and fully told in verse by the wife of
General w. II. Smith that this story
would be incomplete without its repro
duction:
He lived the life of an upright man.
And the people loved him well;
Many a wayfarer came to his door,
His sorrow or need to tell.
A plying heart and an open hand.
Gave succor ready and free;
For kind and true to his fellow-man
And a Christian was David Creigh.
But Ger his threshold a shadow passed
With the step of ruftian foe;
While in silent words and brutal threats
purpose Of darkness show;
And a daughters wild, implOring cry
Called the father 10 her side
His hand was nerved by the burning
wrong,
And there the offender died.
1.-THE glory of autumn had gone from
The winter had passed away.
And the glad spring-time was merging
Into summers ardent ray.
When a COCO man from his home was
torn
Days of toilsome travel to see
And far from his loved crown was
And the martyr was David Creigh.
1.-THE tramp Of your men is at our door.
On an cNl errahG come; -, -
But for love Of them whose garb you
wear,
So spoke the SouthrOn! the Chaplain thus
'Though sick and weary | be,
| can't break bread meath a southern
roof.
Since the murder of David Creigh!
Here where he lived. let the end be told
OF tale Of bitter wrong;
Here let our furnishing thousands learn,
TO whom vengeance doth belong
| Short grace was given the dying man,
Ere led TO the fatal tree,
And short the grace TO our starving hosts
Since the murder of David Creigh!'
Our hosts were stayed in their onward
Exulting in power and pride
| BY an unseen hand-defeat ana unrest
Our banners march beside;
| AND a heavier burden no heart hath borne
Than the one that came 10 me,
! With the dying words and the latest sigh
OF the martyr Of David Creigh.
The beast Of the desert shields its young
| With an instinct fierce and wild,
! And lives there a man with the heart Of
man
Who would not defend his child?
| So woe TO those who call evil good
| That woe shall not come to me
| War hath no record of fouler deed
| Than the murder OF David Creigh.
CAPTURE OF LEXINGTON.
On the approach of the Yankees e
Lexington General McCausland had tn,
bridge which spans North river burned
in order to cause delay. While tn,
Yankees were making pontoons, a sec
ton of their artillery amused themselve
by Smelling the Virginia Military Insti
tute. Washington College, and other por
lions of the town. The residence OF tn
Misses Baxter, Professor John L. Camp
bell and others were struck, and tw,
shells pierced the walls of the county jail
but, fortunately, there was no loss of life
On the 18th the enemy entered Lexing
ton. and their whole force camped i'm
mediately around the town. The hOusi
occupied by Superintendent-Gener +
H. Smith OF the Virginia Militar,
Institute. was used as General Hunter
headquarters. while the Presbyterian
parsonage was put TO a similar purpos
by General Ayerill.
II was sad 20 me to leave Lexington
the scene OF my boyhood. and have /
turned over to pillage and plumber. II
its confines were the most hospitable an
cultured people the sun ever shone on
ard now | had 10 turn my back upoi
them when they were in degDair In