Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1911-12-07
The Burning of Fountain Rock"

A few weeks ago the Baltimore Sun
contained an interesting but somewhat
inaccurate account OF the burning OF
Fountain Rock" the home OF the late
Col. A. r. Boteler, near Shephesdstown,
during the Civil War, by order OF General
Hunter. We refrained from repubishlng
this article at the time because OF the III
accuracies, although it made excellent
reading. In the Sun of Tuesday last We
find this letter, which gives truthful &C
count of that unhappy episode:
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr: In
your issue of November there appeared
an interesting account of the burning OF
Col. Alexander R. Boteler'S house, near
Shepherdstown, w. Va, in July, 1864.
The article is headed "Sang Dixie as Her
Home Burned Over Her Head" and the
story is evidently considered very effect
i've because of the singing OF this famous
song.
Nav be allowed to make several cor
rections which will in no way detract from
the dramatic interest OF the story, but will
add TO its value as bit OF authentic his
tory?
Colonel Boteler's daughter. Helen Bote-
Ter, now Mrs. Dudley D. Pendleton, did
not sing "Dixie" as her home was burn
ing. Fascinating and thrilling as the tune
of Dixie" is to all Southern hearts, there
is little in the words or music that could
appeal to young girl OF deep feeling at
such tragic moment.
No warning was received at Fountain
Rock of the intended destruction OF the
house. Miss Boteler and her widowed
sister were alone, with one negro woman
and three little children, when Captain
Martindale presented General Hunters
order to burn the place.
After recovering from the first shock OF
the announcement, the two sisters went
to work to save what they could in the
short time before them. Several soldiers
gave them kindly assistance in this pitlful
task. II was impossible for sympathetic
neighbors to come TO their aid in time,
and no "crowd of awed spectators" was
present. In less than 30 minutes the
soldiers work was done, and soon after
ward they were on their way to Bedford,
the next home on General Hunters list.
No patriotic bravado or melodramatlc
sentimentality marked Helen Boteler'S &C
ton that day. Up to the last moment she
was absorbed in the practical business OF
saving a little store of necessities and
few cherished treasures, and when finally
everyone was forced to leave the burning
building, in a sudden uncomfortable i'm
pulse of passionate grief, she rushed back
into the parlor and, touching the keys OF
her beloved piano for last farewell to
her home, the young girl sang these STAN
zas of Charlotte Elliott's beautiful hymn:
"My God, my Father, while stray
Far from my home in Lies rough way,
Oh, teach me from my heart to say,
Thy will be DONE
If thou shouldst call me TO resign,
What most prize, il ne'er was mine;
only yield Thee what is Thine;
Thy will be done"
Surely the truth about this touching in
cident of that far-away time is more NOV
ing than any fiction. II illustrates, | think,
the essential spirit of numberleSs Southern
women of that wonderful generation
not fierce defiance and not mere reSigna-
ton, but spirit of brave endeavor till all
that love and labor could do had been
done, and through even the bitterest ex-
perience simple steadfast trust in One
who judges neither victory nor defeat "oy
the outer issue" E. 5. +.
Pittsburg, Pa, Nov. 30.
q