Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-10-30
Our Trip to Winchester

On MONDAY evening, the 18th inst, at 9
o'clock P. M, in company with thirty-three
of our fellowFsoldiers and Turner's Brass
Band, we took our departure Tor Winches-
ter to attend the Fair and military enter
tainment, given by the Morgan Continen-
tai Guards" Our ride during the night
was what stage rides generally are at night,
except Probably little more lively from the
race that most Of our men were men Of
spirits. It was frequently enlivened too.
ip cir passage through the little hamlets by
the way, by seeing multitudes of night-caps
elected from the windows, or crowds Of half
naked and half-awake urchins, who crowd
led the doors, and gazed with eyes, mouth
and ears wide open, as if perchance, they
might not be able to see and hear all that
was to be seen and heard. In this way the
night passed off with much hilarity and
mlrth, til. old Sol with his genial rays dis
PEELED. the darkness, and disclosed to our
eyes the little. town of New Market, where
we were to get something to strengthen the
inner man. Having accomplished this ex-
plot with knife and fork, with as much
agility and satisfaction to ourselves, as cir
cumstances would admit, we resumed our
journey. ~ aaa .saa Esassfe 9aa
TO one who has never visited the Valley
of Virginia, objects Of interest present
themselves at every turn. No portion Of
the earth has been more blessed with all of
natures gifts to make it attractive than this
same valley. Bounded on the east by that
beautiful range Of mountains, SO. ,appropri-
ately known as the Blue Ridge, whose sides
and tops covered with forests, which were
just dofing their suits Of dark green, for
the not less beautiful hues with which au-
tumn is wont to clothe the. forest and the
meadow, on the west by the majestic AL
leghanies, which seem to loom up and meet
the horizon in the dim distance, nature
seems to have hemmed in this spot Of earth
to be an empire Of itself, which shall pour
out her mineral and agricultural wealth to
her grateful and appreciative neighbors.
Nor do the inhabitants seem to be blind to
these many advantages, which have been
showered upon them by the prodigal hand
Of nature, if we are to judge by the thrifty
~ e.
farms, the fourishing little villages, and
the general air Of content and plenty which
everywhere prevails. Truly, has it been
said that the Valley farmer is lord and
sovereign within himself. sI'asf.lt1 *at
After twenty -one hours ofstaging through
this delightful valley, we arrived at 6 o'clock
Tuesday evening within mile of Win
chester, where we were met by the Morgan
Continentals, under command Of their ac-
complished and polite captain, Bird Wash
ington, Esq, After kindly greetings be-
tween the officers of the companies, we
marched into town. accompanied by num-
berless herds Of ringers and boys" who
gazed on in silent establishment, wondering
much whether we intended to take the town
or the town to take U.S. After marching to
the barracks and divesting ourselves Of our
arms and accoutremcnts, and taking some
thing to wash, down the dust, we were quar-
tered among the citizens Of. the town. And
now we come to part of our narrative at
which words are incapable Of expressing
our ideas or feelings. The hospitable and
generous people seemed to vie. with each
other in their marks of attention. Our ev-
cry want seemed to be anticipated, before
uttered. We, in company with three other
young gentlemen of this town, were the
guests Of Mr.. James B.. Taylor, a wealthy
merchant Of the place, and long shall we
remember the kindness Of himself and his
interesting and happy family s
Several other companies were in attend
ance, among them were the Alexandra Ri
femen, Hamtramck, Guards, the Hamp-
shire Guards, the Charleston Blues added
to these our own company and that Of our
hosts, the Morgan Guards, all together
made quite an imposing display u9ai
n On the morning after our arrival, we
marched, together with the other compa-
MES, to the fair ground, about half mile
from town. Here we were at leisure to
do as we pleased, andwe improved it to the
best advantage by walking around and see
ing the numerous sights. The stock on
exhibition was very fine, the horses par
ticularly. Every branch Of. useful indus
try and art was well represented. But the
finest exhibition which met our eyes, was
that Of the pretty ladies. Indeed, we have
not met such an array Of beauty since last
we saw our sweetheart. Of the fact that
we had asweetheart, they all seemed to be
perfectly aware, and quill and scissors had
to return with the painful modification Of
not having made a single conquest. But
never MIND, we intend to go again some
Of these days, untramelled then we'll see
what we can do. That's consoling. 5l
On the second morning after our arrival
thereswas target shooting, in which sew
-fI ~