Paper: Republican Vindicator, July 8, 1864 The Enemy in the Valley (Column 2) Summary: The editor offers a long account of the recent battles in the Valley, noting the desire of the enemy to occupy this important area of the state and detailing the troop movements, advances, and defeats in the Valley in recent weeks. Full Text of Article: The Enemy in the Valley. The occupation of the Valley of Virginia has long been a much desired object with the Yankee Nation. Many have been their attempts to obtain full possession of it and as often have they been sent back howling to the banks of the Potomac. But a few weeks since they essayed it again and met an invincible host of heroes under Breckinridge, at New Market, whence they fled, whipped and demoralized, to their old retreat. From some, to us, incomprehensible cause, soon thereafter, nearly all the forces who had gained this glorious victory over the army of Siegel, were withdrawn from our midst and as soon began the reorganization of Siegel's routed troops under the renegade Hunter. They advanced, and the handful of men under Imboden, left here to protect one of the richest and most important portions of the State, were compelled to fall back to a point in the rear, selected and fortified for the purpose of giving the invaders battle. The enemy attempted and nearly succeeded in flanking this position when the movement was discovered. Our small forces, then reinforced by Gen. Wm. E. Jones' command and the Reserves of this and adjoining counties, moved to meet them, and an engagement took place near Piedmont, about eleven miles distant from Staunton. The enemy's different charges had been repulsed and in a short time the victory would have been ours, (the enemy having commenced making preparations to retreat,) when, from some unaccountable cause, some of our forces gave way and lost both the day and the temporary possession of the Valley. Staunton was occupied by them the next day, our forces having fallen back towards Fishersville, when they commenced that incendiarism and thieving which has characterized this raid of Hen-roost Hunter and makes him as deservedly odious as Beast Butler. By Hunter's order the fine mill of J & B F. Walker, near Mt Meridian, was burned, also, the Woolen Factory of Crawford and Young, the Steam Mill, Steam Distillery Government Workshops, Stables and Forage-houses, the Stage Stables of J.I.A. Trotter together with twenty-six coaches, and the Railroad Depots, (all in Staunton,) and the large mill of W.F. Smith, in the town of Greenville. They destroyed the track of Railroad west of this place, at intervals, to Goshen, burning the bridges at Swoope's, Craigsville and Goshen, and destroyed a number of culverts and small bridges at different points on the road. East of Staunton, they tore up the track, bending the rails, to Christie's Creek, burning the bridge over the same and the Depot at Fishersville. They broke open the stores here, taking whatever they wanted and leaving the rest a prey to an accompanying rabble, cut to pieces and destroyed the machinery of the Shoe Factory, and broke the presses of the Spectator and Vindicator, throwing the type of the former into the street. By an order from Gen. Hunter to take all the provisions from each family, leaving only three days rations, they robbed the man of means and widow with her mite of whatever their larder contained, leaving but a scanty supply, save where the humanity of some officer, to whom the execution of the order had been entrusted, prevented him from faithfully complying with it, in which few, exceptional cases something more was left. To particularize these robberies would more than fill our columns, hence we deem it sufficient to say that nearly every body in that part of the county occupied by the enemy, as well as the town, suffered in the same way. Some two or three who had been suspected of sympathizing with the enemy and who, report says, claimed protection on this account, suffered as did others, their unionism not being able "to save their bacon." In many instances, after the execution of Hunter's order, the plunderers returned at night and stole the remainder. On their march beyond this county, they acted in the same fiendish way. At Lexington they burned the V.M. Institute and Professors' houses, save that of Gen. Smith, all the mills and manufacturing establishments on the point, near the bridge, the private residence of Ex. Gov. Letcher, and destroyed the office of the Lexington Gazette. They also burned the private residence and iron manufactory of John T. Anderson, Esq., in Botetourt, and as they proceeded towards Lynchburg left a track of desolation in their rear. We rejoice that by the timely arrival of troops in Lynchburg that city was saved the terrible ordeal of Yankee occupation. The enemy learning of the arrival of Earley, left that vicinity in hurried haste, and although our troops were anxious to overtake the invaders and moved with a vim, yet only occasionally could they get a meagre chance at the scared Yanks, many of whom were mounted on fresh horses stolen on their route, who rode and walked in turn with those on foot, and thus made it impossible to overtake them. Hunter is reported in Wheeling and has expressed his satisfaction at what he has accomplished. Nothing else could be expected from him. He has accomplished nothing as regards the overthrow of the Confederacy, having run away from the only point he could have materially damaged it, the immediate front of Earley, and is satisfied since he has robbed the people and burned their mills to starve them out. We consider him as mean, if it were possible, meaner than Beast Butler, having shown a disposition to surpass the latter's infamous course, but was forced to stop ere he had completed half the foul intent of his base and brutal mind. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joanne Halterman" <burner1943@verizon.net> To: <varockin@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, May 23, 2008 11:51 AM Subject: [VAROCKIN] Civil WAR > With the information that Joseph J. Messersmith Jr. sent you I found: > http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/xml_docs/valley_news/html/opening.html > >>From here I found my way to the newspapers. They are very interesting. > Joanne Halterman > > Our Dead > (Column 02) > > Summary: The paper announces that the "remains of our brave soldiers" > will be brought to Staunton from Piedmont next Monday. Major Walker can > also > make arrangements for relocation of bodies buried nearby. "The people of > that neighborhood should see to this matter and show they are worthy of > their ancient reputation. Turn out and do this work." > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > VAROCKIN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >