American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1855-03-01
Letters OF cIneinnntu,, No. 5.
FArnrA1. "a. Fsb. 13. 1ab5.

county seat Of Culpepper county. When
l left this county for Lancaster in 1917 |
was nearly six weeks in reaching that
place, by the most dilligent travelling;
good illustration Of the advantages Of rail-
roads. Takingt the Central Ohio Railroad
at Newark, went from thence to Wheel.
ing. found that road much inferior 10
the c. w. & Q. Railroad in the solidity
of its construction, indeed our road com
pares very favorably in this respect with
the bes! roads in the Union. At Wheel
ing took the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road. Although this season of the year is
very uufavorable for viewing this scenery
along the road, yet there is much which at
any season of the year is truly grand
Magnificent as the scenery is, must con-
fess that the sight of the great difficulties
overcome by the skill and energy Of man
in the construction of tho Rail road Gil
me with equal wonder.
On arriving at Baltimore took few
hours for looking around the city, which
has vastly changed since l saw it when a
mere youth. From Baltimore l went 10
Washington city, which has improved to a
surprising extent l saw it just af.er it had
been rendered almost heap of ruin by
British Vandals Well do Remember the
indignation which that sad sight excited
in my youthful bosom. / did not have
time to do more than glance at Washing
ton. l passed over the Potomic to Alex
andria, where took the Railroad for Fair
fax, and arrived here safely late on Satur-
day evening.
This is small but very ancient looking
town. It's present population is, as am
Informed, about one thousand. 1t was
nearly as great when l left, so that it has
not been very progressive. The reason OF
this will be obvious when it is known, that
thisis great slavery holding county
There are about thousand more negroes
than whites in Culpepper county. Here
as everywhere slavery is a draw back upon
the prosperity Of the community. There
is, nevertheless, much which admire in
the character Of the people of this county
Like all Virgiuians their hospitality is un-
bounded. Go to what plantation you
will, and you are kindly received and
made 10 feel perfectly at ease, by the kind
ness and generosity of your entertainer
A universal accompaniment Of their hos
pitality is delicious corn bread such as
have seldom tasted except in the Old Do
minons. Corn bread is always found OF
the tables of even the most wealthy, anC
on all important occasions.
am now staying at the Black Horse
inn--which for the last huncred years ha'
bountifully provided entertainment fo
man and beast This is quite an antique
building. A portion of it was erected il
1741, after the quaint style ofarchitectur
then prevailngiu the colony. There hav
been various additions made since then il
which unity Of design has not been yer.
: much regarded. This very irregularit.
has in my judgment fine effect. Their
are many interesting "reminiscences con
: nected with this old town. 1t was th
scene of much patriotic discussion befor
and during the war of the Revolution. =
Here the leading men Of the country a
round met tohold political discussions
; Here was place Of rendezvous for sold
iers during the war, and in this very rocr
did hear when boy many an interest
ing tale connected with the gloriou
war for independence. l have often though
of committing to paper these stories whic
are yet as fresh in my memory as when
first heard them with reverential attento
S from the lips of old Captain Lincoln. O
= the first sound of war he entered the ser
: vice of his country, nor did he lay dow
y his arms until the final glorious victory E
S Yorktown. Many were the perils he er
: countered, many the difficulties lie ovel
$ come. Good patriotic man! When thin
:. ofthee l sigh for the days Of my youth. Be
: fore leave again and forever the land {
f my birth, will visit thy grave in yondc
h church yard and drop tear to thy men
n ory.
J. AS 1 have said, I arrived here on Sa
o urday evening. On Sabbath morning
d heard a sweet sound. 1t was the ol
church bell. l had not heard it for nearl
e forty years. 1t filled my heart with 10
e and gratitude to the kind Being who hi
:, preserved me through SO many danger
l., ard bestowed the blessings of life so boul
e tifully upon me, and has now allowed n
l. to return again to the spots where sper
20 the sunny hours of childhood.
= Obeying the summons of the bell wall
l. ed with light heart to the old churcl
y l entered its sacred portals. The edifc
n was familiar to me, but alas! the congreg
is ton were strangers. This made me sa'
for when last sat there knew near
every one. Such are times changes
III Joinino in the devotions of the nnorninr m