Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-06-07
Army Correspondence.
FALMOUTH, Va, Nav II, 1862.

encouptering adventures. lhave met with
many strange incidents, which | promise
myself much pleasure in rocounting to you
in case l live to return home.
have become acquainted with quite a
number of old Virginia families. Last
Sunday I visited one of this class in
Prince Williams Co., with which 1 had
contracted a slight intimacy. received
much instruction and was highly entertain
ed. The head Of the family was about
so years of age, but his memory and pow
ers of conversation were undiminished -
He had lively recollection of Washington,
Lee, Madison, Monroe, and many other
distinguished Virginians. He was near
ncighbor to the former and attended the
same church in Alexandria. A short
time previous to bis death, military gen.
tleman formed company in Alexandria,
consisting of small boys This company
assisted at the funeral of Washington
Only two of the number yet live my
friend being one of them. He showed me
pair of silvcrmounted pistols, once the
property of Washington, They had been
gifted over to suit the rank of Major Gen.
eral, and on the handles was engraved
"Genl. G. Washington" Soon after com.
ing into the hands fthe present possessor,
he made trip to Now Orleans. When
near tho Muscle Shoals of the Tennessee
night overlook him, and he halted at
ferry owned by certain Indian Chief,
whose name 1 have forgotten. The chief,
though drunk, entertained the traveller
and on taking off his saddle, saw the pis-
tolls and holsters. Uttering the character
istic "Ugh," he exclaimed "Me know him;
he built me this house" He was not un-
derstood; and next morning the gentleman
left. On arriving at Washington he men
toned the circumstance to Henry Lee,
who Immediately explained it, The Indi.
an Chief had been faithful attendant on
Washington, taking care of his things, and
by this means became acquainted with all
his equipments. The General, in order
to reward him for his services, built him
house on the Tennessee near the Muscle
Shoals; and Congress, after his retire
ment, by Special Act refunded him the
amount.
My entertainer held position under
Government during the former part of
Madison's Administration and upon the
breaking out of the war of 1912 took
commission in the army. Several swords
taken from British officers were shown me,
and many interesting anecdotes related.
One part of the house formed a picture
gallery, which was very interesting. There
were many old pictures by renowned ar
lists of rare value but what chiefly
amused me were the old family portraits.
Here was an antique lady with huge
skirts, and an immense stomaeher, while
by her side was the Gold Virginia gen.
tleman" arrayed in buff waist coat with
flaps to the thigh, dainty silk stockings,
snow-white frills and ruffles, and an enor-
NOUS wig The books were old and or
thot}oc.
His extreme politeness almost shamed
me of my blunt manner; and I was on
nettles till the formal and lengthy dinner
wa. over The ladies then entertained us
with music and singing.
His politics were Estates Rights"
which here means Secession. He has five !
sons in the rebel army. He informed me
that SO long as there was United Gov
ernment he clung to it, and that his county /
had sent Union delegate to the Virginia
Convention but after the fall of Fort
Sumpter he changed sides. He argued
"that mans first allegiance was to his
State, and his second to the Uuited States;
the latter being the creation of the former,
and entrusted with only certain delegated
WI" SHuhioi" "tSo PoWeIs. lle lOuSuG lOr
the Union as long as he could, but he
went with his State
This is the rock upon which this people
split. OF course I endeavored to argue
against these fallacies. He thought the
war would be long and bloody, and final.
ly would degenerate into a guerilla strug-
gle; that the South were taking their ar
mics from the coast to be out of range of
our gun-boats, and then to wait for sick.
ness, &C., to do its work
Since my last We have moved to this
vicinity; but the description I sent you of
a late reconnaissance renders the account
of our march here uninteresting. One
pontoon bridge, and one of canal boats are
stretched across the river, and the rail
road bridge is completed. The cars can
now run to Acquia creek. Only one Bri. |