Newspaper Page Text
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER
A T T, A N T A ,
Wednesday. July 26, 1865
NEW
BATES.
* 3 00
5 OJ
. 2 00
laily for 3 months,
t.iily for C months,
. t idy for C mouths, *
Single copies at tiie counter, 5 cents,
vhertising, $1 00 per square of lo lines, an.l 50 cents
.• ii sunsc<|UeQt insertiou.
LEGAL ADTERTI8EMF.N ri».
in' of Laud by Adiulnlstrators, Executeds or
ii.ti.ti^, are required i>y law i 0 he held on the
I m earii month, between the hours of ten in
• l euooii ami three hi the afternoon, at tlie Court
* m tin- oouuty in which the property b situated.
\ of these s ties uiwSt be ^iveu In a public «a
tt • 40 tlays previous.
Notices of tiie sale of personal property must be given
ilk** manner, thr^u^h a public gazette, 1U days previ-
i-, to sale day.
N . ic- to Debtors and Creditors of au estate, must be
uldished 40 days.
Notice that application will be made to the Court of
■bnary for leave to sell land must be publish .dfor two
>• illtliS. •
( • at ions for letters of Administration, Guardianship,
, inu t he published iJO days—for dismission from Atl*
.i• 11 .At monthly six months—for dismission from
.it dianship, 40 days.
: :ul* for ih»! foreclosure of Mortgages must be pub-
I monthly for four months—for establishing lost pa-
»** * 1 ■" foil s Paee of three months—for compelling
ib fnun Y. \**ruloi'*» or Administrators, where bond lias
.Tii riven by the deceased, for the full space of three
lonths.
Publications will a ways be continued according o
*1 ?t'^uiretuenta, unless otherwise ordered,
whenever his property shall be pointed out
tor confiscation and the* work commenced,
GEORGIA, ^it will then be too late to seek pardon
through the channel now open, but he
must abide the result of legal investigation,
and the consequences attendant thereon.
A Citizen
NEETENG IN MER1WETHEB CO.
• For the At’anta Intelligencer.
EMIGRATION—IS IT MANET ¥
It is understood that considerable num
bers of our population contemplate emigra
tion to Brazil. Among this number are
some of our best citizens, especially ingen
uous and high spirited young men. * * *
If carried out to any extent, the results can
but be disastrous to Georgia.
. In cases in which conscience will not al-
Pursuant to previous notice, the citizens ]ow a to take the amQest y oath with
of Meriwether county met this day at the' iQtenlioa t0 keep it honorably, there is, in
•sc, 111
III.- !’(
It ATK3.
yi. in’s .-'iilcs r <*r levy of ten lines or less, $ :} 00
: i, ill’s .Mortgage 11. fa. sa’es, per l-vy, 5 00
Tax Collector’s Sales, per 1 vy..... . 0 00
< iintions for letters of Administration, 8 00
Citation-. for letters of Guardianship 3 00
of a]>pllcation for dismission front Admiuis-
tlon C 00
.tire oi a|>p ication for dismission from Guanli-
;ill-ll 4 00
Appliratioll to Sell littni. C 00
iVoi.ice hi Ifelttors and Creditors 8 00
8a e oi Land, per square, 50
« des ul pei : sl;aide property, 10 days, 2 00
hriray Notices, sixty days, V 4 00
Insure of Mortgage, per Square, 50
For man advertising liis wife, (in advance,) 10 00
.Marriage Notices 1 00
if'' ill pentjns writing to this Office
will (drase addiess (Itctr Letters or
4’oiiiniuulcatioiif* to 44 Intelligencer,
V tlanta, Ga ”
July 1 Jsi65.
IF Persons visiting Atlanta lrom A'pha-
i-cl'u, Canton, Cunitning, Marble Works,
Italia?, .i tr.pcr, Walesca, and Chappcl Hill,
wil' please call for maii packages for the
above named offices. jnly-13 3t
To ocit Former Suuscri naiisoN 'iiiit W
A A. Railroad.— We have the pleasure of
timo.n r ug that the Adams Express Com-
pmy have kit diy proposed to deliver our
impcr at ail the stations on the line of the
Mla'c Koad. We have also i ll’ecied au ar-
rang ineut by which our friends at Rome,
he Tiing to do so, can obtain our paper.—
We hope our old friends oi Cherokee Geor
gia will again send in their names.
July 14.— (it
VGEIYI S FOIt THE 44 INTELLIGENT'
(Ell.”
Messrs. John K Morgan & 3on,LaGrange;
('.J. li. B. Wilkinson, Newnan ; M. T. Walk-
er, West Point ; T. M. Compton & Co.,
Cartersville; T. McGuire, Rome; M. P.
Boaz, Calhoun ; Smith Lemon, Acworth ;
( : apt. 11. P. Farrow, Kingston; J. II. Lo
ti an, Grilliu ; W. Woodi?, Madison; J. R.
Davia, Covington ; W. Me. K. Walls,Frank-
ini; 11. Asbury, Carrollton; J. G. McAllis-
ter, U"gauvi!le ; John O. Hill, Grantville ;
if. Grillith, Palmetto; Myion Ellis, Green
ville, Qa.; Li. Green, Zcbulon, Qa.; Jas. D.
Spence, Lawreuccville; John T. Meador,
Stone Mountain ; tj. It. Nolan, McDonough;
\V. F. Groves, Marietta; II. II. Swatts,
Raniesville; W. D. Benlly, Cumming, O. P.
Skelton, Alpharetta, and A. II. Sneed, For
syth, are our authorized Agents for the
Daily and Weekly Intelltgknchk. .
jnlyl7-d*wtf
For the Intelligencer.
U iiV STAND YE ALL THE DAY
IDLE f
We feel very much at a loss to account
i d the stoical indifference manifested by
many of our citizens ill defering to avail
themselves of the amnesty and pardon of-
icreil them by the President.
Tiie time has been fixed for the election
vd delegates to a State Convention, at
which time every good citizen ought to be
ready to cast his vote, and aid in sending
able and worthy men to represent them in
a convention second to none, in importance^
which has ever assembled in this State.
ii is to the excepted classes.we appeal.
Ml persons owning twenty thousand dollars
worth ot property, or more, are required
to make application for special pardon, and
i! they fail to uo so, they thereby disqualify
themselves to legislate directly or indirectly
foi tiie security and protection of that pro
perty. •
It seeing strange that men will spend a
ate ot toil and hardship to accumulate pro
perly, and then become so careless about
its preservation. In addition to this the
officers of the Federal Courts, wherever
they have Peon appointed, are proceeding
against the property, real and personal, of
all persons included in the fourteen except-
e>i classes, who are denied the benefits of
general amnesty and pardon by the late
proclamation. These officers are hunting
tp ami identifying the property of all such
persons, and collecting proof of the parti
cipation of the owners in the wav.
The owners'of property will perhaps re-,
main ignorant of the proceedings against it
until the work ot confiscation*shall be com
pleted, as it is the property and not the
person against whom the proceedings are
had.
By virtue of the subjugation and con
quest of the seceded States, all the property
in the same is at the mercy of the captors,
and only such will be excepted among the
e\ Vi,ted classes, as belongs to him who
receives a pardon. These considerations
ought to induce every man to be energetic
m obtaining his pardon, and preparing him-
,-U to exercise the privilege of Voting, and
Vi\ that means putting the- affairs of govern
ment in the hands ot good and tried men.
It should be borne in mind that every
person who refuses to obtain pardon stands
in an attitude of hostility* an# defiance to
the authority of the United States, and
Court House, and organized by calling Rev.
T. F. Montgomery to the chair, and request
ing W. A. Adams to act as secretary.
By request of the chairman, the object of
the meeting ,was explained by Col. H. R.
Harris, and on motion of Hon. James A.
Render a committee of ten. one from each
district in the county, was appointed by the
chair to report business for the action of the
meeting, composed of John L. Dixon, John
A. Simonton, R. T. C. Tucker, James Seay,
James A. Render, John S. Grant, Josiah
Allen, A. L. Anthony, John S. Blalock and
W. A. Moncrief.
Un motion, H. R.^arris and Thomas F.
MfiGeliee were added to The committee.
After a brief absence the committee
through their chairman, Hon. James A.
Render reported the following preamble
and resolutions, which were unanimously
adopted.
Whereas, The unfortunate and wasteful
war, through, which we have so lately
passed, and which for four long years de
vastated our country, having terminated in
the subversion and suspension of all civ’l
rights and authority in our State ; and
Whereas, We fully appreciate the fact
that military lule, however well-tempered
and mildly administered, is inimical to the
fights of the citizen; and
Whereas. It is both the interest and duty
of every citizen, to aid in restoring the State
to her former relations to the American
Union, to return again to the welkknown
paths of our fathers, and thereby hasten
the period when civil law and authority
shall resume their sway. Therefore,
Resolved, by the citizens of Meriwether
county, State of Georgia, in primary assem
bly convened, That we acknowledge and
submit to the Constitution of the United
States as the supreme law of the land, and
will obey and respect the acts of Congress
and proclamations of the President, passed
and issued in pursuance of said Constitution,
unless declared void and of non-effect by
•lie Supreme Court ot the United States.
Resolved, So early as may be consistent
with due consideration, that all such ordi
nances should be adopted, and acts passed,
as are needful to place^Georgia in precisely
the same status, as one of the United States,
which she sustained previous to the act of
secession; adopted January 19. 1861, and
for the accomplishment of so desirable an
end, it is the duty of every good and loyal
citizen to sacrifice his individual preferences,
passions and prejudices, to labor earnestly
to allay all strifes, heal *11 dissensions, re
concile all differences, restore relations of
amity and friendship between the people of
different sections, to encourage industry,
develope resources, revive legitimate trade,
and thereby promote the moral, political
and physical well-being of the country.
Itesoksd, That the magnanimity and sa
gacity displayed by President Johnson in
his plain policy, and appointments so far as
developed, in the reconstruction of our State
Government, and especially the firm attach
ment to a fundamental and long recognized
principle, of Republican Government man
ifested in the special reference of the great
questions, which mainly affect our domestic
tranquility, to the decision of the States,
deserves, and hereby receives, our unquali
fled approval, and we are thereby assured
that bis administration of the affairs of the
nation, will be characterized by “ wisdom,
justice and moderation.” That whatever
may be his course in the future, we shall
candidly praise what we deem praiseworthy,
reserving the freeman’s prerogative of pass
ing impartial judgment upon every act in
that spirit of independence, and yet of for
bearance, which all should exercise, and
when we cannot agree in the unfettered ex
pression of “ freedom of thought,” to ex
press our dissent and the reasons therefor.
Resolved, That we deem the appointment
of Hon. James Johnson, Provisional Gov
ernor of Georgia, peculiarly and unexcep-
tionably just. Just lo Governor Johnson
who merits the honor, and just to Georgia,
who well deserves to have one of her most
enlightened jurists, able, faithful and hon
est statesmen, to direct her helm at this
critical period ot Tier history. Thanking
the' President for the appointment, congrat
niaiing Governor Johnson upon his acces
sion to so hoaorble a position, and one in
Which he may accomplish so much good for
the people, hoping that ha may be enabled
to assemble the wisdom, virtue and intelli
gence of the State, in convention at the ear
liest possible day, we hereby pledge him our
zealous co-operation in the discharge of the
arduous and delicate duties of his office.
Resolved, That being fully satisfied of the
desire of the great majority, say nine-tenths,
if not ninety nine hundredths, qf our people
to return to their allegiance to the Federal
Government, we hereby ask of his Excel-
cy, President Johnson, a general amnesty
to all offenders, both civil and military, and
especially to those who arc now in confine
ment.
Resolved, That a copy of the proceedings
of this meeting be forwarded to ‘.he Sditor
of the ‘%laily lntoi‘.‘genccr,” and that he be
requested to publish the aattlO.
On motion llin Meeting then adjourned.
T. F. MONTGOMERY, ClTn.
W. A. Adams, Stcrelary.
July 18,1865
Beverdy Johnson has gone to RicLin mil,
having been employed as counsel for a num
ber of citizens whose property has been
libeled for confiscation;
deed, no alternative but expatriation. We
cannot act against conscience; but con
science is not always well informed. There
is scraelimes sp^pial pleading at the bar.—
Pride, revenge, false notions of honor, and
a thousand other influences, often operate
to warp the judgment of this inward moni-*
tor. We must be sure that conscience is
well informed, and affkcted by no improper
bias, before we can obey her with entire
safety.
Before proceeding further, lest the writer
should be suspected of an improper bias
himself, it is proper to say that at an ad
vanced age he entered the Confederate ser
vice; was severely wounded ; was among
the last w ho surrendered on this side of the
Mississippi; waa stripped of everything,
and his family left houseless. It is not
likely, therefore, that there should be an
improper bias on his part in favor of those
who were the instruments of this suffering.
Let us look coolly at the facts in the case.
We had a quarrel with the North. We
threw down the glove by firing on Fort
Sumter. We submitted our cause to the
arbitrament of the sword. We were con
quered, and with what results ? As honor
able men, we must do our former adversa
ries the justice to say that History cmtains
no record of terms so magnanimous and so
liberal as those accorded to our armies upon
their surrender. If we had been successful,
our struggle would have been a revolution
—unsuccessful, -it became a rebellion, and
we were rebels. We were at the mercy of
the victors. Iq anticipation of such a prob
able event, did any of us dream that we
should be allowed to go to our homes, even
with our horses and side arms, and other
private property, remain undisturbed, and
be restored to all our rights arid immuuities
as before the war, saving those classes ex
cepted iu the President’s proclamation, with
out any punishment whatever? If they had
dealt with ua as our fathers dealt with those
in Georgia who took up anna against the
colonies, our condition would have been a
terrible one.
What is now required of us ? To swear
that we will obey the laws and constitution
of the United States, and certain proclama
tions of the President. Can we not do it V
The two questions which divide the North
and South are finally at rest,. To enquire
how this was done, is not pertinent. It is
the present and future we are to consider.
Is there anything in those laws and consti
tution against our consciences ? There can
be nothing in the proclamations as they re
fer to a matter now settled.
If conscience does not stand in our way,
shall we allow Pride, Revenge, Humiliation
or any kindred sentiments to cause us to de
sert our State, in this her extremity ? Shall
we leave those noble women who suffered
aud dared so much, to eke out a wretched
existence among strangers ? Is our beloved
State to be peopled by foreigners? Will
our young men, who are our only hope, for
sake us ? In rebuilding the waste places;
in the reconstruction of our State Govern
ment; in the reorganization of our social
fabric; in quelling disorders which must in
evitably occur from the abolition of slavery,
are we to lose their aid ? Is it manly ? la
it j aat ? May it not be cowardly ?
Mere physical courage is a quality so com
mon among gentlemen, that it is the ex
ceptional absence of it, rather than its exhi
bition, which attracts attention. There is a
higher and nobler courage Which is not so
general. It is that courage which faces dis
aster and rises above it; which encounters
difficulties and overcomes them ; which, in
the discharge of duty, meets privation, hu
miliation, and obloquy,with calmues3 which,
never whining over the melancholy past,
steadily contemplates whatever may be un
welcome in the future, prepare I to meet it
with fortitude ; which never ilinebea from a
friend iu adversity, but by participation
with him, divides aud then mitigates his sor
rows, and which, above all, catftes its pos
sessor to cling to his native land, shaiing
her sorrows and humiliations, as well as re
joicing in her triumphs, and lead* him to
exclaim: “My Country! God do so to me
and in ire also if aught but death part thee
and me.” ,
This is true courage. Conscience may
induce us to abindoU our native land ; mor
al can or may do the same thing. Let
us be sure that the noble, and not the igno
ble, motive actuates us.
So far from abandoning home, it is now
the duty of every Georgian to stand to his
post. It has been predicted sneeringly by
those opposed to us that many of our influ
ential classes would hide their mortification
in foreign lands occupied ia bewailing the
past and in railing at those who have over
powered uo. Let us falsify the prediction *
We have fought together, we have been
overwhelmed together ; let us, if need be,
suffer together to the end.
But no cause of suffering exists. The pol
icy iudicated by President Johnson, deserves
not only our acquiescence, but our cordial
support. That policy is wise, magnanimous
and clement It imposes no disability. It
ettera no energy. We are hot gsifr fca‘
| freemen-freemen as iU ijy a» £ t .f., r8 the
i ^ ar *.
lasted ot dese* ang our o wn colors, let
us then prepare to battle with the fa lure.—
We are to have a Convention. Lit us see
that it is composed of wise aud good men,
and not mere politicians I That Convention
will materially affect for good or evil the
future fate of Georgia. Our farms are to be
reclaimed, our houses to be rebuilt, our fac
tories to set ia motion, our schools, colleges
and churches to resume their useful duties.
Our means are 'indeed limited, our difficul
ties are great, but nothing is impossible to
determined men. In five years, if her sons
do their duty, oar beloved mother, Georgia,
will show but the scars of the war on her
venerated countenance. Those certainly
will not aid in this pions work, who timid
ly fly to a foreign land. GEORGIA.
Xros Ike Ne* York Herald, 14*h.
CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.
A recent tour through large portions of
every Southern State east of the Mississip
pi has given me ample opportunity to sur
vey the whole field as it looked soon af .er
the smoke and din and dust of battle had
cleared away. It was, indeed, a sad and
sobering sight—everything witnessed during
that j ourney—the aspect of the regions ot
eonfl ct and the condition of the people who
survive amid its ruins.
THE VALLEY AT THE END OF THE WAS.
Shortly before the close of the war I was
up in the county of Frederick, Virginia, and
the all-peivading misery of the once bloom :
ing but now blighted valleys of the valley
State, shocked me most thoroughly. From
Winchester to Richmond, whichever route
you took, there was nothing to note bat the
devastating marks of war. Lines of rifle
pits and intrenchments carefully or huiried-
ly flung up by either army, and ghastly
mounds ot inhumed slain scarred the fair
face of as rich and rarely diversified a tract
of country as graces the earth’s surface.
Despite of the beaming beauties with which
nature, through soil and season, struggled
to adorn these once productive and attrac
tive regions, alt was havoc and horror.—
Neglected aud fenceless fields, trodden
crops, dismantled homesteads, trampled
flower gardens, charred ruins and all the
tokens of territorial desolation were pain-
iully visible cn every side. At distant in
tervals aloiog the road terrified inhabitants,
white and black, peered timidly out from
behind temporary shelter, safely removed
from the ordinary path ot marching friend
or foe. The roads themselves were but
gored and guttered remnants ot creditable
highways. You often found them with
unsightly extensions or multiplications of
jagged paths, making many roads, all run
ning together or zigzag, as may be needed
by the ruthless claims of moving masses of
warrior?, with their terrible and cumbrous
ariiliery appuitenances.
RAFIDITV OF WAll's RAVAGES.
Though it shocked it did not surprise me
to discover such universal and dismal havoc.
Hardly a mile of the country between the
James and the Potomac—hardly an acre
between the James and the Suenandoab,
and the Rappahannock and the York rivers,
was exempt from the trail of carnage.—
Many a little farm have I seen in bloom and
promise and peace this week, which in yet
another week could only be recognized by
some bt>ld points in the landscape beyond
the reach of description. I remember visit
ing Cox’s farm, on the James, a few miles
below Richmond—visiting it one fine day
last fall. It was then just the spot to go to
and forget that the demon of strife was
breathing his pestilential breath all around.
The fences were es good as- of yore; the
mansion in excellent order; the grounds
luxuriant; the farm fields golden, herds of
browsing cattle, broods of pigs and poultry
—the whole picture one of peace and plenty
Presto! a change comes over the scene.
The little oasis in the desert piade by war
was, on a sudden, absorbed, and became a
part of the black, barren waste.
That was the fortune of all north oi the
James ; but there it did not astonish, as the
contending armies made that for years a
battle ground. In the more southern por -
tions of the State, however, happier and
more halcyon things were looked upon as
not only likely but certain. To what extent
this expectation came to be realized, the
observations of my tour will disclose.
DEVASTATION EVERYWHERE.
Beginning my journey near Lynchburg,
in Campbell county, Virginia, after the sur
render of Lee’s army, I tracked the self
same ravagts of war at every step, and
traced gloom and dismay in every face.
The rugged but luxuriant district I started
through" lay midway .between the James
and the Roanokt rivers—one of the most
“ south central” localities in the State. The
scenes around were but a repetition of what
I had noticed in the vailejs not lorg be
fore.
There was near me a hillock—it wop’ j
be a considerable hill anywhere else -nut
the vicinage of the Blue Mountain c" ^rfed
its dimensions. I ascended it, leaef Jg the
party I was with to traverse the r way to
the James around its base.
SUGGESTIVE ASCRIPTION.
Almost on the summit of this hill was a
lordly oak, whose noblest branches had felt
the shock of war and fallen, lopped, to its
side. Some tourist had been there lately;
for the bark on the trunk was freshly cut
off and an inscription carefully engraved
within, in the form of a carved shield —
There was a singular apposUeoe33 in-this
inscription. The tree, on one side, oyer
looked the James, as that river strayed
down from the opening in the Blue Ridge,
and, on the other side, it stood in sight of a
distant and towering peak of the South
Mountains. Whether the stencil which cut
the characters was held by loyal or rebel
band?, I do not think the text decides.—
Either side may force on it a construction
to suit itself, while both could agree as to
its appropriateness in other respects. If I
am not much mistaken it is a quotation,
somewhat altered, from Coleridge’s Ode to
Liberty, or “France,” as he called it him
self. Here is a copy of it from the giant
old oak on the crest of that Virginia hill;
Fivreire me, Freedom ! O, forgive those dreams !
I hear thy voice, I hear thy loud lament,
Kiom yon bleak mountain’s coolest cavern sent—
I hear thy groans upon our blood-staided streams I
Heroes, that for our peaceful country perished,
And ye that fleeing, spot yon mountain’s snows
With bleeding wounds, forgive me that I cherished
One thought that ever blessed our cruel foes.
To scatter rage and traitorous guilt
Where Peace her jealous home had built
A patriot race to disinherit
Of all that made those pleasant plains so dear
Anl with inexpiable spirit
To taint the bloodless freedom we'd have here.
Both the Roanoke and James, at eiiher
side of this tree, are indeed “ blood-stained
streams,” and ia the rugged defiles around
the forces of Hunter and Breckinridge had
many a sanguinary skirmish.
FALLEN HOSPITALITY.
Turning down the hill J discovered a "lit
tle house nestled in a dell, over a purling
stream, about two hundred yards beyonq
the valley, at the loot of the hel-£t I was
leaving, i went to it, and there is a lesson
iu twhaA iranspir&’t distinctly in keeping
With the UtuAtraiive character 1 proposed
these sketches.
A white lady—her bearing, and features
and manners, (rather than her dress, which
was scant and coarse,) declared her of the
social rank usually implied by the term “la
dy"—a venerable looking lady, then, and
two’negresses, old and pinched, were its.
occupants. As I opened the miserable
wicket admitting to the weed-grown little
yard around the coftag?, the old lady
warned me that they had nothing for me
there.
Apprehending at once that she took me
for one of the army stray lings or wayfarers,
who, when most needing Virginia’s boasted
hospitality, found it least, I replied: “Mad
am, I want but a little information, and am
not unwilling to pay even for that,”
“Indeed ! and in what currency ?”
. The drift of that question I understood
instantly; but, not sure that I ought to show
mj colors until I saw hers, I answered: “ I
am not much burdened with either curren
cy, but I nave a little of both that passes in
this section.”
ou have, have you ? And what may
your haversack contain ? Anything one
can buy she asktd, ppiatiug to my ple
thoric wallet.
“ Provisions for three days, madam, for
self.”
“Ha, and with so much good, too, I pre
sume.' Are you not afeer’d to circulate
around here where you’ll find fewer fed
people than hungry ?'*
“I am not alone, madam, and our partv
is not unwilling to share with those they
meet in want, although we have no com-
Ron stock, each one carrying only sufficient
for himself.”
“And what sort of thiugs have you ?—
Come onto the stoop and take a glass of
good water, which is about all that Virgin
ian hospitality has beeD left to offer.”
I thanked her, and took a seat in the shade
and a glass of delightfully cool water from
A gourd, presented by one of the negresses.
Then opening my wallet—a combination
between a large hunting pouch and a hav
ersack—requested the lady to honor me by
helping herself.
“No,” said she haughtily, “until I know
to what side you belong. I judge from
your having so many good things and mo
ney it is the other.”
There, I had her side at once; yet I dis
trusted it, I am ashamed, to say, lor I took
the flash of her bright array eye as some
thing more sinister than it meant. There
fore I thought fit to answer:
“I am of a profession which has a shield
in its pursuit for neutrality, and would be
glad if you regarded me «t present as an
observer belonging to neither side.”
“An observer is another name for spy.—
Do you wish me to regard you &% one ?”
“I should even loathe the suspicion."
“This side, however, would make a dif
ference with me.”
“I cannot see, madam, how there remains
another side, since the surrender of Lee.”
“You are mistaken. It may get hidden,
but will never cease to exist. At all events,
your answer satisfies me you are not on the
right side. Beware 1 These hills have men
yet, and neither Hunter nor Stoneman is
near enough to protect strolling observers,”
with a stress on the word.
“That remark, madam, seta me free. Be
pleased to read this,” and I handed her a
paper which at once made us friends.
Taking me as a more harmless and less
objectionable person than “a spy" for either
side, she consented to pick out a few bis
cuits, preserved meats and pickles, in return
for which she packed in my wallet some
corn bread and butter. My claims were
now good for information, and I urged
them.
THE DOUBTING LADY KNOWS NOTHING.
But she was not even aware of the exist
ence of the inscription above given, and
therefore could not tell me who or of whose
force he who carved it. Nor did she know
any other name for the place than Oak Top
Hill. Hunter’s force had been latest in that
vicinity, and some of Early’s men a short
time previously/ They were so often to
and fro there of both sides that it might be
one of either.
HER OWN STORY.
That was all with which she could gratify
my curiosity, hut forthwith she plied me
with grievances. She was the daughter ten
derly reared, of an eminent Virginian, and
the widow of a State Senator and rebel ma*
jor, w r ho had been killed in 1861, at Harper’s
Ferry. Her home was formerly in the valley,
near Winchester—the valley alluded to in
the opening of this sketch. It was no long
er a home fit for any one, though it was re-
piitccl oiitj or ttic Guiuiicsii vIti'a
region before the war. The shanty in
which she now lived had been the residence
ot a confidential negro, who had charge of a
tobacco growing tract of off land which be-*
came hers by inheritance. Sne nought shel
ter there from the horrors of tiie valley, but
mended her fallen ard forlorn position to no
great extent. T*, ice was see driven from
her valley home, which sA length was con
verted into a stable on the ground floor and
a fodde’ .oft on the upper. She said she
was aiffy guilty of speaking what they
deemed insolence and disloyalty, and she
admitted that none of the valley inhabitants
fared much better at the hands of either
array when military convenience or necessi*
ty controlled their movements or motives.
r This incident,«and what pertains to it,
gives a fair representation of the greatness
and the nature of the sudden social changes
effected even before the war terminated. I
left the old lady in kindly terms, but weep -
ing bitterly as she contemplated the conse
quences of Lee’s surrender, which she was
most unwilling to credit. “And my poor
husband died in vain !” was the buideu ot
her lamentations.
HUNGRY NEGRO HIGHWAYMEN.
Making all haste to rejoin my comrades,
and weary to resume my seat ih the saddle,
which a negro attendant filled for me, I came
to the forks of a road. Which way now ?
The negroes were coming ftp one of the
roads, and I sat patiently to wait for such
instructions as they could give. On asking
them for information they looked at each
other, having first eyed my wallet. Unfor
tunately my pistols' were in the holsters of
the saddle, and I liad»o weapon but a rude
looking stick. That was not enough to
alarm these stalwart blacks, who said they
were hungry. I gave each all I could spare;
but they were not satisfied. In short, my
wallet was captured without ceremony, and
I found the way to my companions in light
marching order, on our way to Lynchburg.
CONDITION OF LVN6HBITRQ.
Lynchburg has not suffered much from
other than ordinary war causes, during the'
contest Its houses are spared it, as the
Union artillery did not go far to try of what
stuff it was made. Jn that respect it is more
fortunate than tattered Fredericksburg and
Winchester, or all but demolished Richmond
and Petersburg. At the surrender of Lee
there was a large quantity of Tobacco and
some cotton stored there. When the local
authorities discovered that ^Grant’s army
was in victorious force near rarmvihe, di
rectly oa the road to Lynchburg, they tried
to dc-stroy both cotton and tobacco, but did
not accomplish their aim as fully as was in
tended. The bank specie was. suddenly
huddled off to Danville, in charge of a rebel
treasury officer, as Stoneman threatened
Lynchburg from the rear, and Grant’s out
posts from the front One of these scares,
so common in the last days of the Confedei *
racy, was the result
A SKEDADDLE.
Aii the officials fle'd towards Danville, and
the immense amount of ccfmmisary supplies
hoarded at that depot were either wantonly
destroyed or wastefulfv scattered among the
crowd or by the crowd. Governor Billy
Smith was of the first to fly, for he had taken
that route—the route to Lynchburg—as his
safest after the fall of Richmond. It did
not prove so.
The feeling in Lynchburg was less intense
or excited than in the other South Virginia
Lynchburg seemed ready to accept it, and
sagacious enough to anticipate it. I have
heard Lynchburg men of warm rebel sym
pathies declare often, months prior to the
fall, that it was folly to hold out further.—
Many of the well to d£ young men or con-
scriptable men of Lynchburg-—many more
than in any other considerable city— shirked
military duty. At-the outset of the war it
gave freely of its beat .blood and treasure,
but when the case looked hopeless, a year
or so ago, it was very sparing of both.
I think there is less positive poverty in
Lynchourg than in any other Virginia city
which remained within the rebel lines during
the whole war. Yet Lynchburg is by no
means free from the blight which has seized
the bouth. In my opinion, however, it will
be the first of the \ irginia cities to recuper-'
ate. I^ss’damage, comparativeiv, was done
by war’s ravages through the surrounding-
country, partly from its hilly nature and
partly because it -was not a point of concen
trated strategy, arid infinitely less damage
has been done to the city itself. The peo
ple there, too, accept the result with more
composure, and are in better heart and
means to go on with so much of the recon
struction as will pertain to themselves.
Thus, while it will take Richmond and
Petersburg and Fredericksburg many along
year before recover from the blows that have
reft them of power*knd prosperity, it will
not cost Lynchburg a quarter of the time.
condition of Danville.
Danville may be regarded as in about as
promising a plight as Lynchburg. It was,
by its position and the claims of “ concen
trated military statagem” elsewhere, pre
served from the devastations which have
ruined its sister cities. Though impovci
ished, it is not helpless; though devoted to
the rebellion, it is not slow iu accepting the
issue as it came out. In Danville, as in
Lynchburg, a great number had opportune -
ties toward the fall of exchanging Contede-
rate money for coin, and this they have
huebanded. In Danville, as in Lynchburg,
a surprising quantity of commissary stores
were squandered, but more to the loss ot
the rebel authorities than of the citizens,
who, however unequally, had them distrib
uted ‘rather than destroyed. This helped
them in the first days of need. The feeling
in Danville, too, is acquiescent, with some
exceptions of disappointed enthusiasts and
of men whose all was sunk in negroes as
property, and who are in consequence now
utterly deMitute.
THE WHOLE STATE A WASTE.
All the country parts of Virginia between
the Potomac aud the Dan may be said to be
waste—all the fertility of the soil fallow.—
Here and there you find a h}w wheat and
oat fields and a few corn fields. Here and
there you find many of these, especially
along -the railroad line from Richmond to
Farinville, covering a track seventy miles
lODgJjy thirty broad, trampled out oi prom
ise, and the hoped for products sacrificed to
military necessity—which iu that case means
evolutions.
Tho attempt at cultivation at all was on ly
for subsistence. The staple crop3 of the
State, although laws were passed regulating
a moderate raising *of tobacco, are hardly
visible. Many a noble field, far out of reach
of marching armies, reposing in uuproduc-
iog idleness as it lay two years ago. Either
its active owcer has gone beneath the soil
himself, or has grown indifferent to its care.
If the capital aud labor of the State had all
been drawn and kept off by some unseen
hand, the effect on the lace of the country
could not have been more exhaustive of
fruitfulness.
And, by the way. when I passed through
the State, especially through its midland
and Southern counties, the promise of tho
fruit crop itself was o{ a mo9t encouraging
order. Nature was at work, unaided in
that branch of production, and bid fair to
1 CuGv» Ut- A ijr jACKijaV; i: Jl'l l 4
all other tree fruit equal to'the best she'baa
yielded in more golden times. ”
transportation and labor,
Superadded to her other sources oi im
poYerishmeut, Virginia lias to contend with
a formidable obstacle to progression and
industry in tbe woful condition of her means
of transportation, which are scant at exor
bitant rates on a people who have no means
Another obstacle is-centered in the derange
ments of her labor system. They who arc-
in positions to know say that the govern
ment ia acting wi;h skill and energy aa to
both. Still it ia only right {.j state that many
influential Virginians, who hold the inter
ests of the State paramount to others, de
clare themselves dissatisfied with the steps
taken to the forwarding of either instrumsn t
of industry.
No other Stale iu the Smith lias so great
a number of intelligent and partially educa
ted negroes as Virginia; It is held that this
population is anu wil' continuer an impedi
ment to all equitable adjustments of labor
and employment under the new order ot
things, it is alao claimed that the only aaie
way to remedy the evils thence flowing, and
likely to accrue, is to leave the settlement oi
the matter to the planter?, under such re
strictions as the authorities of the State may
see fit to impose. One r# the mo?t striking
features in the transportation difficulties io*
the fnftrmus sums asked for such wagonage
or horse hire tor ordinary traffic or travel
as can be furnished. This, too in the i’acc
of the fact that transportation *can hardly
be bad at all. Something of the same spirit
is influencing the labor market wherevei-
the terms are cash. The derangements iu
these two essentials—transportation and
labor—threaten to retard the advancement
of prosperity more evtn than the scarcity
of capital, and-the paraly nation of effort
consequent on thq war. The thought of if
pervades the inhabitants with a gloomy de
spondency into which ray of hope Irons
Washington alone can be flung with effecc.
now THE LEADING SECESSIONISTS FEEL.
Oa tho whole,-Virginia—despoiled of her
prosperity, dismantled and dismayed—is"
ready to resume her functions as a dutiful
State. Her Wlaea and Pryors and all her
ardent secessionists, if not satisfied at the
result of their struggle—and; sooth to say,
there is nothing else than what should, hav
ing therein the fruit it has borne—are not
the least eager or earn At to set the disorder
to rights. Whe.h:r ii, will be proper Jr
prudent to suffer thorn io co-operate until
they have gone through an re peui’entiui
evr. r cises than th6y have yet endured, is a
question which the people ihe State dis
cuss without deciding on Us wisdom or pr<>
priety. They seem disposed to wait on
events, and have had enough of jumping*:
rash conclusions even in argument. They
and the State are prostrate, ami it will be
nme lime before recuperation Is comple tot
ctli.
iy The greatest instance of red-tape oi;
record, occurred recently in the British
army in India, where the entire cioUiing
roll of a regiment was returned a distance
of 2,000 miles, because there was a requiai
tion in it for two “sergeant-major’s over
all's” instead of “two overalls, sergeant-
majors.” In the meantime the regiment
was reduced to wearing nigs.
Sy Whoever can act faith* in the precious
promises contained iu the sacred volume,
will find so much sweetness in it that he
will have but little relish left fo; other
books,