The Washington herald., 1914-06-13

Fifty years ago today a Federal ex-
psditionary force Of 1900 men under
Gen. David Hunter, which was marching
on Lynchburg, was at Lexington. in the
valley sof Virginia, the home and last
resting place of "Stonewail Jackson.
As a result of its presence there the
buildings of the Virginia Military In
stitute, the institution that had sent out
that great soldier as an obscure pro-
fessor to astonish the world with his
brilliant tactics, had been destroyed by
fire. ...
The flowers of a year had bloomed and
faded on the grave of jackson when the
Federais under Hunter. marching to
carry out plans laid down by Gen. Grant,
disturbed the quiet of beautiful little
town among the hills. the first time that
its peace had been thus broken in the
war.
Lying in a deep valley between the
Alleghanies and the Blue Ridge, with
the lovely mountain region of the Peaks
of Otter looming blue in the distance
southwark, across its ripening wheat
fields and the clear waters OF the North
River, an affiuent of the James, flowing
brightly past its neat homes and flower
gardens. Lexington presented picture
OF rural charm to the dusty Federal
soldiers VINO, on June IL, hdu entereu IL
for the first time.
Gen. Hunters column had marched
more than 100 miles before reaching Lex
ington, coming from the vicinity Of VIM
chester. 1t had won a battle at Pied
mont on June from a small Confederate
force under Gen. W. Z. Jones. who was
killed, and had occupied Staunton, an
important valley town, on June s. Four
days had been spent there destroying
property, gathering supplies and dis
tributing clothing and shoes.
At Staunton, Gen. Hunter was Joined
by a cavalry column of 1000 men under
Gen. w. W. Averell, and an infantry
column of 10000 men under Gen. George
Crook that had been operating against
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad
south of Lynchburg. These accessions
gave him a total of 1900 men, about
Il, 900 being infantry. With these he had
taken up the march to Lexington on
June 10.
This march, thrty-six miles. was one
the men would long remember. 1t was
through a charming country, made
lovelier by the brown wheat fields that
lined the road, the grain being so tall
1t came to the mems shoulders as they
tramped through 1t, the highway being
left clear for the guns and wagons. So
luxuriant and far-reaching were those
fields that a regiment moving through
one of them was distinguishable at a dis
tance only by the massed brightness Of
its gun barrels.
the men under Hunter noticed that the
on either side of them
seemed TO grow higher and to draw
nearer. On their left was the vast
region of superimposed peaks of the
main chain of the Alleghanies: on their
right the Blue Ridge.
These mountains played a determin-
ing part in the movements of the ex-
pedition. Gen. Hunters orders had
that he advance on Char
lottesville or Lynchburg to break Gen.
Lees rail connection with Richmond.
To reach Charlottesville he would have
turned east from Staunton to pass
Rockfish Gap; to reach Lynch
burg he must now cross the Blue
Ridge much farther south. He had
chosen the route through the pass at
the peaks of otter. thirty miles be-
yond Lexington.
College Buildings burned.
The householders of Lexington were
warned of the approach of the Fed /
erals, whose numbers had been repre- !
sented as $4,000 at least. They had
heard that these bluecoats had no re-
spect for property; that they lived
off the country, taking of whatever
they wished; that they trampled down I
the ripe grain ruthlessly and put the
torch to all public buildings that could
be used for military purposes.
LexingtoR>~feared for its crops and !
its mills. Its canal and the boats on
il, its tanneries and workshops-for
everything that served the Confeder-
ate army. 1t feared, too, for its col
ege buildings. though more than one
citizen comforted his family by saying,
They will never dare burn them"
A martial spirit breathed in the COL
ege Its cadets, though beardless
Boys. had taken up arms. Some of the
troops then marching under Hunter
lad witnessed their bravery at the bat
lie of New Market on May Is. when
hey charged the guns of a Federal
,attery and helped break the left of
he Federal line. They had fought like
'eterans and had won the admiration
If their enemies.
The cadets were still under arms.
When the Federals approached the
own theiy seized their guns and Joined
he cavalry under Gen. John McCaus-
and that was preparing to make a
tand against the Federals.
As the Federal advance approached
he village sharpshooters opened on il
rom buildings and from high points
cross the river. Artillery was posted
o open on the Federals also. 4
AS firing on the towns defenders
would endanger the lives OF noncom- !
atants, Gen. Hunter ordered his cav
Try to get in its rear. This was done.
md Gen. McCausland retreated. the
adets going, with him. Their cannon,
i've in number, were left behind.