Affairs in the lower Valley
--Outrageous Conduct of the Yankees.--We have once or twice alluded briefly to the outrageous conduct of the Yankees in Jefferson county, after their forces had been captured at Charlestown by the command of Gen. Imboden, on the 18th of October. We have before us a letter from Charlestown, dated October 24th, in which the writer says:‘ "We are alive and well--miralile diclu!--If you have heard anything worse, I can vouch for it; if anything better, it is false. I will not try to tell you anything prior to Gen. Imboden's brilliant raid, as I had just written a long letter to — to be forwarded to you, containing a strict and fall account of all that had transpired up to that time. I will now try and give you a feint idea of occurrences since."
’ In referring to the raid of Gen. Imboden, and the subsequent operations of the Yankees, the writer says:
‘ "You cannot conceive of the daring bravery and brilliant execution of the affair. We had a perfectly grand time, but it was very fleet. By 9½ o'clock prisoners, wagons, and Confederates were on their way back. The Yankees came on immediately with a force three times our number in infantry and cavalry and six pieces of artillery.--They were so repulsed and kept in check that, after a pursuit of ten miles, they returned, bringing many wounded and dead — among the latter three Captains. But in such a rage — brutes in fury — they avenged themselves on the citizens, making the night hideous and fearful. Byron's Darkness' and Shakespeare's 'Dream of Clarence,' had they been real, would not have been a shade compared with it. The town was fired in eleven places, and naught but the secret watchfulness and vigilance of the men, women, and children — the strong, merciful will of our Heavenly Father, who calmed the night into stillness, and about day-dawn gave us relief in a heavy rain — saved the town from entire conflagration. About 12 o'clock three men — brutes — came banging against our kitchen-door, and would have broken in had mother not opened it. Fortunately — was here, and God only knows what he saved us from, for the men were drunk, and such oaths! They at last said they would go away if we would give them something to eat; and, do not laugh, though I could not help smiling at the time, to see that other feet besides those in the old Key Stone could be swift to exchange bread and spreading for burnt houses.--Though, on honor, they did not get spreading, but bread and middling. However, I will not say, had spreading been demanded, it would not have been forthcoming."
’ After referring to the different houses that were fired, the writer proceeds:
‘ "They broke into every store except Riddle's.--When they got to the tin shop they supplied themselves with horns, and rending the air with the most hideous noises, and with flaming torches they rushed on, terrifying and making wreathed every human being in the town. You think I have tried to exaggerate the scene; but, indeed, I am utterly unable to give anything like an idea of the reality, much less attempt exaggeration. We were not allowed to have a light, but determined to have one on the slightest warning. We each groped and sneaked about the house with an unlighted candle in one hand and a match in the other. Frequently we went back and forward to the stable. Sometimes we would run against each other in the darkness, and it was amusing to hear whispered, 'Well, we saw — and Gen. Imboden, any how! ' and the invariable answer would be. 'But the devil's to play to-night.' One member of the family — not I — said: ‘'If they don't burn us out to-night, I won't say Jeff Davis till after the war.'’ This was said in a whisper. Day brought no abatement; the officers did not try to control the men until three in the afternoon. We then had peace until Wednesday, when they began a fresh breaking in stores and houses, though there was no burning. They went to search Major H.'s for Mr. N — Some men, who were hid in the ice house during the raid, heard him exulting. I saw Mrs. H. to day and, shame be it to the army of the United States, she, a gentle and ever lady-like lady, bears upon her face the marks of a villain's blow. The ruffian struck her as she attempted to take from him a pair of Mr. N.'s boots, which he had stolen. She got the boots, but the blow was so severe as to fell her to the ground. We are now living in tolerable security.
’ "The 1st New York and 2d Penn. cavalry are the men who behaved so badly. They escaped with Milroy; so if any of them are captured remember they are justly under a ban. Col. Boyd commands the whole."
