Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1902-09-10
CAPT. CARTER NJ. LOUThAN
Talks About the War Times in
Old Clarke.


Clarke county man, who lived very
near the homes that were burned by
the Federal troops during the war,
has prepared the following paper in
response to certain of the accusations
of " hitakei, against Col John :.
Mosby, which have recently caused
such widespread censure from all
parts of the State:
Editor Progress Much has re-.
Gently been written about the Mosbv
badge alleged to have been in evil
dence at the LeesOurg lyuching.
From authentic sources it seems to
have been determined that not a
single Mosby man had anything to
ITO with tine lynching. Reference
Ia the correspondence seems 20 have
been unWiSelv made to the killing. bv
Coufederates under Mosbv's com.
mand. Of the Federal soldiers who
burned the dwelling houses OF aged
men named William Sewers. Benia-
min Morgan, aud Province McCor-
mick, IN the county of Clarke. The
gentlemen named were leading citi-
zens of that county. bat were non
combatants. At all the homes prior
TO the war. princely hospitality WAS
dispensed. All the families were
representative in all that charact,r
lied wealth aud refinement All were
widely connected IN county that was
" "a gem of purest ray serene upon
the proud land Of dear old Virginia.
Why the homes of these typical Nir-
ginians of the old school should have
been selected to emphasize the cruel
ties of war. has always been an
unexplained page in the history of
Clarke's experience while war was
fragrant.
Later her barns were burned. her
fencing and crops destroyed, aud
desolation marked her borders from
Loudoun on the east to Frederick on
the west, and from Warren on the
south to Jefferson on the north.
Clarke was the camping ground Of
both armies. When the Southern
army left, the Northern army came
In. What one left, the other took. on
the principle that nothing should be
left to give aid to the other. Thus
1t will be seen that my native county
was the very centre of occupation.
The destroying of crops, the burning
of barns and fences, may have been
a measure calculated to shorten the
war, thus bringing more speedy
dehverance from its horrors.
When it is known to the world. as
1t was known to every citizen Of
Clarke, what her people endured,
then 1t may not be regarded stran ye
that Mosby's men determined that
the cup of sorrow for Clarke should
not be made more bitter by burning
homes over the heads of those who
were too old to bear arms. DO not
understand me to justify all of the
cruelty that occurred during 1861
1865. The Lord knows that atrocities
were committed on both sides. But
why Mosby's men should be selected
as marks for vituperation, when they
were actuated by desire to save the
homes of as devoted a people as ever
breathed the air of Virginia, cannot
divine.
During the entire war, belonging
to the Army of Northern Virginia, /
was but little IN Clarke. | did not
belong to that Spartan band of whom
1t has been said, a hundred men
could cause thousands to be drawn
from Lees front to protect wagon
trains from Mosby's men" War is
no pastime. War is war. Retalistory
measures are required. a soldier
selected to be unjustly shot from the
ranks of one army causes another to
be selected to be shot from the ranks
Of another. Burning the homes of
defenseless men and women and
children caused retaliation IN the
way of killing the men who did it.
The retaliation was awful, but no
more homes were burned.
For one, | believe the war is over.
Nearly forty years have elapsed since
ITS horrors were experienced, but IN
the language of one of it's heroes.
" Let us have peace" General Grant.
the hero of the Federal side, honored
Mosby with his confidence and
esteem. General Lee, name dear to
every Southern heart, was Colonel
Mosby's friend aud admirer. In
Mosby's command were as gallant
men as ever "drew blade" The
Southern army was full of such
spirits. We were conquered. Yes,
we were ''snbdued by overwhelming
numbers and resources" But wc
should not indulge IN cr:miuatlon
and rec'inIinat."n. Let us ;.dmirr
the pluck of those Who ovrrcamr ms.
Let uS speak and WRIT of the virtues
OF the brave hOvs who wnr. the or,v