Sunday. Came off
picket. General Hunter is applying the torch to many buildings. I watched them
burn. Among them were the Washington Military Institute, and the home of
Governor Letcher. It was a grand and awful sight to see so many buildings
burning at the same time. A bronze statue of George Washington was removed from
the front entrance and saved. It was put in one of the wagons, and in time was
to be sent to Washington, D. C. After the fires were out I visited the ruins.
The cavalry brought in to our lines many slaves, the owners trying to hide them
in the surrounding mountains. They were a husky lot, and could run as fast as a
horse. I saw them keep up with cavalry. Visited many points of interest in and
around this fine looking town.
SOURCE: Charles H.
Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn.
Vol's, p. 75
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