NP, CW 6/29/1861

From the Cecil Whig (Elkton, Md.)
 
June 29, 1861
 
The Confederate Army at Martinsburg
   We learn from the Agent of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at Martinsburg, that on Sunday the work of vandalism on the part of the Confederate army, in the wanton destruction of the property of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and of the State of Maryland, was resumed on Sunday. All the cars and locomotives that they could not carry away from Harper's Ferry were destroyed, and now we have tidings of the destruction of the locomotives and cars at Martinsburg.
   Our informant states that the work of destruction was accomplished in the most effectual manner by piling immense quantities of cord wood over and around the locomotives and firing it. A number of gondola cars and coal hoppers were also similarly destroyed. The entire value of the property thus given to the flames cannot be less than $400,000.
   The Hotel, occupied by B. H. Carpenter, Esq., opposite the shops of the company, was with great difficulty saved, the intense heat several times setting fire to it. The shops were not fired, though they would have caught from the intense heat had it not been for the efforts of some of the employees of the company, who were present and extinguished the flames. Our informant, with the Master Mechanic, Mr. Edwards, was arrested and taken before General Johnson, who is in charge of the Confederate troops at this point, charged with endeavoring to put out the fire over the locomotives. They proved, however, that they were merely preventing the flames from extending to the shops, and were dismissed.

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