Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-07-16
A Wartime Incident of Fifty Years
Ago.

ford" two beautiful homes near Shep-
herdstown, by order OF General Hunter,
of the Union Army. The tragedy is well
remembered by number OF persons IN
this community, and is OF course still
vivid in the minds OF those still living
who were directly concerned.
Fountain Rock" was the home OF Hon.
Alexander r. Boteler, at that time MEM
Der OF the Confederate Congress. 1t was
a beautiful mansion OF stone covered with
plaster, and was in the midst OF a grove
the beauty OF which is still apparent 10
the thousands who annually attend the
Morgan's Grove fair-for The fair grounds
embrace what was the park and the gar
dens surrounding the house. The ruined
walls are still standing, though time has
hidden their gauntnesS with The restful
green of Virginia creepers. II was this
beautiful and peaceful spot that on a
summer day just fifty years ago was sud-
denly invaded by squad OF perhaps a
dozen or so Union soldiers under COM
mand OF one Captain Martindale.
Aside from the servants, the only per-
sons in the home were Col. Boteler's
three daughters: Mrs. Davis Shepherd,
whose husband had died while in the
hands OF the enemy who had taken him
prisoner some time before, and her three
little children, the eldest but five years
OF age, and Misses Helen and Lottie
Boteler. COL Boteler was IN Richmond
attending TO his duties and Mrs. Boteler
was visiting her sister in Baltimore.
CAPTAIN Martindale, who seemed to have
been almost entirely void OF feeling,
presented himself at the house and gruff-
" announced that he had orders to des-
troy the mansion. the barn and all other
buildings. with contents. Mrs. Shepherd
claimed number OF articles of furniture
as her own, and in the few moments that
were allowed the occupants to get out OF
the house, the servants and several other
persons who had come TO the scene were
able 10 remove a few things. The Misses
Boteler pleaded that they might be allow
ed to save the piano, which was their
own personal property, but this was re-
fused. Without giving opportunity for
the removal OF the dearest household
possessions, the soldiers. under the
orders OF Captain Martindale, then fired
the building. They got straw from the
barn and placed it in the mansion, scat
tered coaloil about the place, and then
applied the match. Miss Helen Boteler
now Mrs. Pendleton) at this movement
re-entered the house and seated herself
at the piano. She struck a few chords on
the keys, and then her sweet young
voice rose in the hymn, "Thy will be
done" She played and sang as the
smoke rolled about her, with the flames
cracking in the adjoining rooms. twas
only at the last moment that she was
forced from the burning building. II is
said that as the flames reached the piano
and the strings were broken by the heat
they made a concord Of sound as ii in pro-
test against the cruel deed. One by one
the barn and other buildings were ruth
lesSly destroyed. Town people and
neighbors who had gathered at the scene
were helpless to prevent the outrage.
After the work of destruction was COM
pleted the soldiers, callous lot OF raScals,
rode away from the scene. The Distress
ed little family found shelter with SYM
pathizing friends and left forever the
lovely home in which they had spent so
many happy days:
Captain Martindale and his band rode
into Shepherdstown and out the lower
road toward bedford" the fine old COL
onial home of Edmund J. Lee, Esq, a
half mile south of town. While they
made this journey, number OF persons
took short cut from fountain Rock"
to Bedford, and gave notice to the Lee
family that their home, too, was doomed.
Mr.. Lee, who was first cousin OF Cen
eral Robert E. Lee, was in Clarke coun-
ty at the time. Too old to 90 in the ar
my, he had been harassed by Union SYM
pathizers until forced to take refuge in
Clarke. Mrs.iLee was sick in bee, and the
only others OF the family present were
her little son Harry and her daughter,
Miss Nettie NOW Mrs. Goldsborough) +,
a young girl in her teens. BY the time
they had received the shocking news
from their neighbors and Mrs. Lee had
arisen from her bed and dressed, the SOL
diers were at the door. Captain Mar
tindale had gotten hold of some wine at
"Fountain Rock" and was partly intoxi-
Gated. He roughly ordered Mrs. Lee
and her family to vacate, and was deaf
to all protestations. Mrs. Lee told him
that il was her own home, her inherit
ance from her father, and that surely the
Union Army was not warning on women
and children. With cold-blooded brutal
ity he repeatedhis intention to carry out
the orders of General Hunter.
Mrs. Goldsborough, who is now with
her son, Mr.. E. L. Goldsborough, in
Shepherdstown, gives a graphic account
OF the scene, which is still vivid in her
memory. When it was apparent that
nothing would deter Captain Martindale
from accomplishing what he set out to
do, Mrs. Lee and her children availed
themselves of the scant opportunity Civ
en- them to remove few of their person.
al belongings. The colored servants
were loyal and helpful and managed to
carry out some of the parlor furniture and
and other household goods. They had
the piano at the front door when Captain
Martindale ordered them TO carry if back