Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-04-30
TUESDAY EVENING. APRIL 30. 1907.

lives after them" and this Is brought 10
mind by reading in the Charlottesville
Progress letter from Mrs. Fl. B. Lee,
Of Shepherdstown, written on July 20,
1864, to Gen. David Hunter, of the federal
army, by whose command her home,
together With many others, was ruth
lessly burned during his raid through
The Valley of Virginia in that year.
The following is the letter:
General Hunter Yesterday, the 10Th
of July, your uDderling, Capt. Martin.
dale, of the New York cavalry, executed
your infamous order and burned my
house. You have had the satisfaction,
ere this, Of receiving from him the in
formation that your orders were full
filed 10 the letter, burning the dwelling
and every out building, seven in num-
Der, with their contents. | therefore, q
helpless woman, whom you have cruelty
wronged, address you, Major General of
the United States army, and demand,
Why was this done? What was my o1enst?
Nv husband was absent He has never
been a politician, or in any way en-
gagged in the struggle now going on; his
age, 67, preventing. This TACT David
StrOther, your chief Of staff, could have
told you. The house was built by my
father. Revolutionary soldier, who
served the whole seven year for your
independence. There was born; there
the sacred dead repose; it Was my
house and my home, and there your
niece, who has lived amongst us
during all this horrid war, has
received her support from us and has
met with all kindness and hospital
ily at my hands. For this, was it that
you have turned me, my young daugh-
Ter and little son out upon the world
without q shelter? Or was it because
my husband was the grandson of the re-
evolutionary patriot and rebel, Richard
Henry Lee, and the near kinsman Of the
noblest of Christian warriors, the great
est Ofgenerals, Robert +. Lee ? Heavens
blessings be on bis head forever You
and your government have failed to con-
quer, subdue or match him, and disap
pointed rage and malice find vent upon
the helpless and inofensiVe. Hyena-
like you have torn my heart to pieces,
foi all hallOwed memories clustered
around that homestead, and demon-like
you have done it without even the pre-
text of revenge, for never saw or harm
ed you. Your Office is not to lead like
brave man and soldier your men to
fight in the ranks of war, but your work
has 0een to separate yourself from all
danger, and with your incendiary band,
steal unawares upon helpless women and
children to insult and to destroy. Two
fair homes did you yesterday ruthlessly
lay in ashes; giving not a moments
warming to the startled inmates of your
wicked purpose; turning mothers and
children out of doors; your very name
execrated by your own men, for the cruel
work you gave them to do. In the case OF
Hon. A. L. Boteler-both father and
mother were far away-any heart but
that of Captain Martindsle would have
been touched by that little circle, COM
prising widowed daughter just risen
from a bed of illness, her three little
tatherless children, the eldest not five
years old, and her young heroic sister
| repeat, any man would have been
touched at that sight but Captain Martin
dale; one might as soon hope to find mercy
and feeling in the heart OF wolf bent
on its prey of young lambs, as to search
for such qualities in his bosom. You
have chosen well your man for such
deeds; doubtless you will promote him.
A colonel of the federal army has
stated that you have deprived forty of
your officers of their command because
they refused to carry out your mslig-
nant mischief. All honor to their names;
they were men; they at least had human
hearts, aud blushed for such command.
| ask, Who that does not wish infamy
and disgrace attached 10 him forever
would serve under you? Your name
will stand on hislory's page as the
Hunter of weak women and innocent
unofending children; the Hunter to
destroy defenceless villages and re.
fined and beautiful homes; TO torture
affesh the agonized hearts of suffering
widows; the Hunter of Africa's poor
sons and daughters, to lure them on to
ruin and death of soul and body; the
Hunter with the relentless heart of the
wild beast, the face of fend and the
form of q man o Earth, behold the
monster Can say, "God forgive
you " No prayer can be offered for
you. Were it possible for human lips |
TO raise your name heavenward, angels |
would thrust the foul thing back again,
and demons claim their own. The curses !
of thousands, the scorn of the manly
and upright, and the hatred of the true |
and honorable will follow you and yours
through all time, and brand upon your
name, Infamy, Infamy Again / de-
mand, why have you burned my house |
Answer as you must one day answer be- |
fore the Searcher of all hearts, Why have |
you added this cruel wicked deed to |
many crimes?
General Hunter was one of the great
rst Williams that the war produced. He was
by birth a gentleman, but he fell so |
low that he took fendish delight in
aacking ard burning the homes of the
people in the Valley, many of whom
were his kinsmen, with whom he had
been reared and whose lavish hospitality
up TO the time Of the breaking out of