Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-11
The Blue Ridge Country, Virginia.

FAuQuIER COUNTY, Va, May l, lo39.--
According to my promise, | send You o
''screed' intended to be descriptive Of Ike
Blue Ridge country, and embracing portions
Of Loudoun. Fauquier. Clarke and " arren
counties. Salem, upperville. and Paris are
the principal points Of attraction III .pper
Fauquer. shall often refer To Salem here
after. Paris is situated in Ashby's Gap, at the
Eastern base Of the Blue Ridge Mountains,
In the Northern and upper portion OF Eau.
quer County. AT distance OF about hall
mile above Paris. upon the summit of Ash
bys Gap, stands II commanding and lofty
poplar. distinguished ~ the commencing
point of Loudoun. Fauquer. and Clark"
counties. A narrow strip of Warren toun-
" runs also to within half mile Of this mo-
ted tree. This gap takes its name from one
of the earliest and most res0ute settlers OF
this region Of country, by the name OF Ash
by. lie was the first with loaded wagon
to pioneer this then rugged aud dangerous
gorge III the mountain. When about {" de-
scend the Eastern slope Of the mountain
with his team. friend in company insisted
upon his locking" his wheels. Iii, reply
was quite characteristic: Its d-n poor
horse that can't outrun wagon cracked
his whip and on he moved. For his temcrl-
~ he had the satisfaction Of seeing two OF
his finest horses killed before he reached the
base of the mountain. During the revolu-
tionary war this same old gentleman was the
bearer Of important dispatches 10 our army.
and actually rode from what is now known
as Clarke County TO Richmond, one hundred
and fifty miles, in Il day and night. Blythe
bye, Tom .Ashby told he red. rendered Illus
trious by the graceful pen Of odd nomln-
iOn." is lineul descendant of this old gen
tleman.
Paris contains a population of about two
hundred, and is surrounded on both sides by
high and rugged mountains. Viewed from
the surrounding hills, it presents TO the eye
quite Il picturesque and ornate appearance.
1t was named Paris in honor Of the French
nation, who were at that time rendering us
such signal service III our revolutionary
struggles, by its founder, Mr.. Peter Glass
cock. Il patriotic old gentleman. This old
gentleman had fine brick house erected
upon a commanding position above the town;
and when General Lafayette revisited this
county and Warienton, the old gentleman
mounted his horse, rode down 10 Wnrrenton,
sought an introduction to the General, ten
derlng to him this house and lot, provided
he would make it his future residence
This patriotic offer Monsieur le Marquis
gracefully declined.
Perhaps there is no mountainous region
of equal elevation and unevenness anywhere
to be found, more valuable for the character
of its timber and the produrtiyeness Of its
soil than the Blue Ridge, and especially that
portion of it lying along the line dividing
the counties of Fauquer and LoudOun from
Warren and Clarke The Western slopes
of the mountain, which extend to the Shen-
andoah River, abound mostly in yellow and
white pine, with, in many places, thick
underground of laurel. These pines grow
to fine size, tall and erect, ard when
"Fretted with the gusts of heaven,
Wag their high tops"
seemingly in defiance Of the blast. The
saw, however, has made considerable havoc
amongst the choice specimens, and with the
help Of the axe, in many places. has cx-
changed the forest for the field. The howl
of the wolf has long since given way to the
bleating Of the lamb. The music Of the old
fox-dog has infused some shyness in the
movements Of Reynard. The wild turkey,
duck, pheasant, quail. woodcOck. and snipe,
are among the luxuries Of the table. With
the hardy and Industrious people who have
cast their lot among these hills, Il Christmas
dinner is deemed incomplete without a roas
ted turkey, or broled pheasant Here.
too, is the abode of the American Eagle;
and the stately Condor doss not leap from
r. A. l., Il. dc
with more dignity and pride than does oar
noble Eagle here from the top Of his native
Blue Gall. The SOIL although of fair quail
" in this piney region, improves ~ we IL
cend To the top Of the ridge. The excellence
of it's character is truthfully indicated be-
lieve, by the timber-the oak land. as il is
called, being the best. The oak, in all its
variety. is found upon the higher lands and
the Southern grades OF the mountain
There is q choice variety, however. Oi paw
paw, hickory, locust, chestnut. elm, maple.
walnut. gum. and occasionally II noble spr-
rimen Of mulberry. Besides these. ~
though nature intended to exhibit the YER
satility of her productive talent. and asso
ciate the beautiful with the useful, III" red
bud and sassafraS unfold then bloom in ear
ly Nav, while the lockwood and wild honey
suckle seem only to await the run of anoth-
er halt-mOon to succeed them. The Wild
grape is abundant here. and il much used
by tho inhabitants The wine made from it
is of very superior quality. The straw
berry. raspberry, and blackberry, are natives
of these hills, and are found in their season
in no limited quantities. The higher lands
are mostly adapted best to the production Of
oats, corn. and buckwheat; YET many far
mers on the very summit of tia ridge make
fair Yields of wheat. ! have known rs
many ~ fifteen and twenty bushels Of very
superior wheat. weight 10 10 "a H.. 10 the
bushelJ grown 10 the acre on the highest
lands. and of Northern exposure. Within
4 few years past there has been some i'm
proyement in the care and skill with which
these lands are managed. Gypsum il used
freely. and with decidedly beneficial results.
In many. indeed. may say most places, the
surface is thickly covered with stone. and To
one who is a stranger TO the cultivation "f
such soil it appears astonishing that any
one should ever think Of attempting its cul-
tiyation. To staid old German farmer
from the smooth mellow soil of Pennsylva-
mia it would look like labor lost to attempt
its cultivation. Not 40. however: comfort
and thrift as universally follow the industri
Gus and skilful use Of the plough and the
hoe here, as upon the smoother lands of the
valleys. During dry seasons from which we
often suffer in the South, these stony hills
are more productive than the lands even of
II 1