Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-06-03
GRAFTON, Saturday might. ]

HuiI-plSL ~.
Grafton, which Is now the point of so
much Interest throughout this section of
VirginiA, contains ordinarily nbout 900
souls. II is built about as scattering and
irregnlarly as it well could he without
good deal of ingenuity. The PRINCIPAL
portion Of tue town lies along rough hill
side on the SOrtbcrn side of the Tygnrts
valley and Three Fork, (which here forms
junction With iO there being some few
houses across Three Fork and u few more
over the river. There are some four or
Eve hotels 10 place, and about as MANY
stores. There are two or three churches.
one printing Office, and these together COM
prise about all the public buildings in the
city of Grafton, for it has a city govern
ment, if nothing more. The g. / o. Il. R.
have several buildings, among them large
engine mouse and still larger machine
shop. Indeed, the distinguishing and only
feature of this town is that il is n railroad
town. II was created by railroad enter
prise. built by railroad money and inhAb-
tied, for the most part by railroad men.
who are at the same time Union men of
the true blue and unconditional stamp
Their vote on the ordinance proves this
beyond caril, there being nearly 500 Union
to one secession vote. ! saw the man to-
day who cast that vote, and he looks AS
though he wouldn't do it again If be had
1t 10 do over. Many ofthe houses are now
vacant here, the owners having gone off
during Bill ThOmpson's reign Of terror.
The Wheeling boys are quartpred 10 some
of them fog the present. Doubtless the
tugitives will return, now that Uncle Sam
IS here to protect them.
And speaking of Bill Thompson, reminds
me that was turning over the register al
the kaiIroad Hotel to-day, and fund reg
istered, some dnys'bAck, his name. "W p
Thompson, Prov. Army,'' (the landlord saws
ne lett without paving his bill and a
great many other names equally distin.
gnished; among them the reioubtaLie
"Thos. SnrghnOr, Captain of the Barbour
forces, tbs whilOm editor-in chief of the
B1TbouF JeFeTsoNian. This same little
Surghnor wouldn't make more than two
mouthfnls for II big seven foot Indianian,
saw stalking around town to-day. This
registry is quite an Interesting record
Nearly all the prominent secessionisis in
the country appear 10 have stopped here
during ThOmpsonis reign, many of them
registered provisional Army" and some
with little note appended in pencil, mot
paid suppose the Fearful emergency. ;"
Ms CHrlile wonld say, under which they
left, Was so terrifying that they forgot to
'NlNAaAANgs AZ - wv " uG SuppUAEu IOF a
moment, that such chivalric Southern gem
tiemen bad not the specie about their
clothes.
But was speaking of Grafton. When
the B. L o. r. r was projected, nine years
| ago, or even at the time the n. W. Va. R
Il. was begun, four years later, the ground
on which this town now stands, was n
pFimeTal forest, with but single log hut
and small opening around it. The juno
/ ton OF tue two ronds at this point was
what created Grafton, and what at the
same time killed up Fetterman, couple of
! miles below which place was becoming a
considerable railroad town, and which,
even in its declining days, has had the re-
I nowu OF quartering the first Confederate
army in this part of the State-and very
likely the last one.
/ There Is small suspension bridge here
over Three Fork, aud very fine railroad
bridge across The Tygari's Valley, on tho
\. w. Va. R. R. il is matter OF SUNRISE
that this was not destroyed by the retreat
ing nalcontents ON their way to ths
mountains Of Hepsidam. Nothing could
nave been easier, and the loss wonld have
oeen very great. But the sconndrels were 30
frightened that they couldn't think Of any
thing but putting distance between them
ana Col. kelly's command
lhe HESteTR NfginidH, which was com.
PEELED 10 surcutnb for one week, IL on,
! again to-day in full blast. Long may il
wave.
Several prisoners have been brought IN
To-day, and many secessionists have come