The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-22
REPORT ON INSTITUTES WAR
CLAIM MADE TO SENATE TO
REPLACE BUILDING.
BURNED BY HUNTER
WHEN FEDERAL ARMY ENTERED
LEXINGTON SCHOOL WAS
PUT TO TORCH BY GEN.
ERALS ORDERS.
BY =. I'll. MCGOWAN

WASHINGTON. May 2t.--Senator
tee on claims, today made his report
to the senate on the claim of
the Virginia Military institute
tute against the United States for loss
by fire during the war. which 1t is
stated that there should be approri-
ated in recompense for this destruc-
ton the sum of 100000. This re-
port brings to mind much war history
which will be read by Nirginians
with interest.
It is stated that on June II. 1864,
General Hunters army arrived In
Lexington. on It's way to Lynchburg.
On it's arrival at Lexington 1t was
discovered that some troops were
gathered at the cadet barracks OF the
Virginia Military institute. They fred
upon General Hunters army. Six
shots were fired in return, when an or
der to cease firing was received be-
cause the barracks had been evacuat-
ed. General Hunters army crossed
over and took possession OF the town
and. on the following day, June 18th.
the library and other college build
ings, including the professors houses,
were burned.
Senator du Pout who was chief
of artillery of General Hunters army.
appeared before the committee and
stated the facts connected with the
burning of this institution in detail
We insert at this point AFFIDAVIT OF
J. NJ. Schoonmaker:
State of Pennsylvania,
County Of Allegheny, ss;
ON this 10th day Of March. A. D.
1914. personally appeared before me.
the subscriber. A notary public. j.
N Sehoonmaker, Of Pittshurg. Pa,
who, being duly sworn according 10
lag. doth depose and say:
I was colonel Of the Fourteenth
Pennsylvania cavalry. in command OF
the First brigade Of AverilFs cavalry
division. and led the advance OF Cen
era1 Hunters army when he moved
South from Staunton on June II.
1854 or what "a known as Hunters
raid or Lynchburg. on arriving at
the outskirts Of Lexington there was
some firing from skirmishers, which
halted us until General Hunter came
10 the front and ordered the Smelling
Of the Virginia Military institute build
ings. but with no response following
same. I moved into Lexington, pick
citing the road south of same, and my
recollection Is that ] was the first
one To enter the institute building,
finding the cadets school books open
on their desks and diagrams partly
finished on blackboard. and no trace
OF the building having been occupied
by Confederate forces. placed II and
the Washington college building under
guard. Some time afterwards General
Hunter advanced his main army into
Lexington and sent for me. taking
ME severely TO task for not having
burned the institute, which he did
the following day. and u was my un-
Outstanding at the time that General
Hunter also intended burning the
Washington college buildings | have
no hesitation in stating that ! con-
sidered at the time Of the burning OF
the institute for military reasons UNI
necessary and unwarranted.
And further the deponent saith not.
not.
J. NJ SCHOONMAKER
The cost of replacing burned build
ings was sl3T 900. The new buildings
were constructed upon the founda-
tons of the old and were of like char
acter. value. and material. but mas
much as they replaced old buildings.
the allowance Is FOR $4,000 less than
the cost OF the buildings replaced
The Virginia Military institute was
established in 1898. The course OF
instruction Is modelled after West
Point During It's existence it has
drawn its student body from the en-
tire country. At the present time
forty Of the forty eight States are
represented at the institution In
the Mexican war 1t had fourteen off,
GERS in the United States service. In
the Civil War there Were officers in
both the Union and Confederate ar
mics Its value as a military insti-
tuition has been attested by President
Mckinley and General Wood. CHIEF
Of staff, and others. IT seems fair
TO assert. from the testimony. that
this institution ranks next to West
Point. The bill carries no appropria-
ton for replacing the barracks. It
is conceded. for the purposes of this
bill, that 1t was entirely proper to de-
stroy the barracks, but the destruc-
ton of other college buildings Is not
thought TO have been fulfilled, either
under the. rules OF civilized warfare
or under the specific instructions for
the government IT the armies OF the
United States in the Civil War.
BY an act OF March 2, 1895, Wash
ington college was reimbursed for
property destroyed at the same time
by General Hunters army. and there
are many other instances in which
congress has made provision for re-
pairing damage done under similar