Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-03
AN INTERESTING LETTER


Virginia farmer residing in Jefferson county,
near Winchester. He is a man Of truth, char
acter. and excellent sense. We place implicit
reliance in all his statements. Though the
letter refers to occurrences In his vicinity
weeks ago, they are nevertheless very inter-
esting. as sfording at a glance convincing
evidence upon more than one point that has
been cOntroverted:
ADAMsTowN, MD., July %, 1861.
The quiet town Of Winchester has been
quite changed in appearance by the war. 1t
has been headquarters of the portion of the
Ssntbern army under Gen. johnson. He has
bad about fifteen thousand available troops
since his evacuation Of the Ferry, but he was
reinforced by some seven or eight regiments
of infantry, in consequence of an expected
attack from General Patterson. On the 18th
inst. he left Winchester with his entire force
TO join BeauTegard at Manassas. He left ne
troops at Winchester, except few to load the
baggage, &c. The militia remained at Win
chester to the number of two or three thou
sand, under Brig. Gen. Carson, Of Frederick
county. The militia are under no discipline
whatever, they go home daily, sometimes by
the hundred; and suppose hardly one-half
the whole number are there at this time. The
men were taken from the harvest field and
compelled to throw up the breastworks, while
the volunteers were in their camp doing moth
ing at all. / heard they put the prisoners
also, at work on the fortifcations The people
complain loudly of this universal impressment;
and had the battle at Manassas terminated
favorably for the Union cause, there would
have been a reaction in this portion of Vir-
ginia. johnson left a large portion Of his
baggage, all his heavy cannon, and about if
teen hundred sick soldiers at Winchester and
had Gen. Patterson advanced on the place,
instead Of remaining idly at Charlestown, he
could have taken all without firing q gun.
The Notifications there are of no strength
He only had few large cannon, which he
mounted on an embankment. All the fencing
was threWn down for two or three miles, in
the event Of q retreat. This raised several Of
the farmers and they expressed their senti-
ments pretty freely. Indeed johnson has
done little else than destroy property since he
has been at the Ferry. All the cars and en-
gines were taken OF or destroyed from the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Inc climate hore agrees badly with the
Southern trOOp5-the sick list numbers at least
fifteen hundred, and / suppose two or three
die daily. Sometimes this number is greatly
increased. L heard nineteen were buried one
day, but L cannot yOuch for the truth of it.
The troops are well supplied with provisions,
but they are not well uniformed; you scarcely
ever see more than hundred with the same
dress. All material for clothing has been used
up, aud where they will get their winter cloth
ing 1T is hard to tell. The wooden factories
here cannot furnish enough certainly.
The soldiers from this State have not re-
ceiyed cent of pay, although some Of them
have been in service three months, and have
families depending on them for support
Dry goods and groceries are getting very
scarce at Winchester There is no sugar there
at ali, except little "crushed," which is re-
tailed at p cents pound; salt, S6 per sack
coffee 81 cents per pound, dc. Flour is very
cheap
The secesSiOnists are jubilant over their late
victory at the junction; nothing could have
been more fortunate for their cause, although
they suffered severely. And nothing has 80
much depressed and disheartened the Union
men. Some think they will follow up their
success by attacking Arlington Heights or the
redeEal troops at the Ferry, but 1 don't think
so. With all their bOasting they will not vol
UNFAIRLY make an attack, with the chances of
victory or defeat doubtful. By a system of
deceit, Misrepresentation. and lying unparal-
lelled, they have succeeded in uniting the
people in this struggle for the time being, the
leaders in the conspiracy knowing that if they
fail in their rebellion eternal infamy will at
tach itself to their names, and that all their
cherished hopes will be blasted They are
therefore determined to hold out to the bitter
end. They will impoVerish the country, op-
press the people with taxation, and press them
all into service, before they will allow them
selves to be conquered. Virginia is required
TO raise twelve or fifteen new regiments 1
suppose a draft will have to be made, as il
will be hard to get that many men without a
draft.
W L. Clark, jr., Captain of the Winchester
Iifes, is badly wounded, his recovery is con-
sldered doubtful. Lieut.. Col L. T Moore,
Capt. John Avis, Lieut.. Chas Bush, all Of
Winchester, are wounded. Privates E. B.
Burgess, J. A. GleiZe, Chas. Mitchell, VIM.
Young, are killed Henry Anderson was mur-
dered by man named Shipe.