Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-08-06
From he 9Th Cavalry.
CAMP IN THoRNToN's GAP, !
% DIVISION, LIST. CORPS, Army OF Va,
July 10th, 1862.

- Nv lSlONf ISL SOhHS, AhA1 OE A,
July 10th, 1862.
Editors Chronicle Having a few mo.
ments leisure, and thinking a short sketch
of my observations in this portion of Vir.
ginia, of its inhabitants and army, may
perhaps, be interesting to some of your
readers, will improve this opportunity to
pen a few lines for their benefit.
Since my arrival in Virginia, have trav-
eled over a considerable portion of its ter
itory, amidst endless varieties of surface
and scenery, from the rough, rugged
and mountainous, to the most fertile and
beautiful valleys it has ever been my for
tune to behold. One of these, the She
nandoah, through which / passed, in con-
nection with Fremont's army, during its
passage up that valley in pursuit of the
rebel Gen. Jackson. I think for beauty
and natural endowments, far surpasses all
others, and would, under favorable cir
cumstances, if settled by a race character
lied by the indomitable energy, ingenuity
and perseverance of the inhabitants of the
northern States, be capable of yielding an
endless and untold amount of wealth.
But alas, that so rich and beautiful a
country, should first be doomed to lie
comparatively dormant by the blasting in
luence of slavery, and lastly that its ruin
should be contaminated by this senseless
and fratricidal war, these people have so
foolishly brought upon themselves.
The chief productions of this section,
are wheat, rye, oats, corn and niggers.-
The first is raised in great abundance, and
of a very superior quantity. The last
mentioned article has not been produced
in great quantities of late, for true to the
examples set by their illustrious proprie-
tors, the major portion have seeded"
and owing to the exceedingly frail tenure
by which such property is now held, what
there is scattered about is hardly considered
worth gathering in!
The organization of this army, under
the leadership of the gallant Pope, and of
the lst corps, under the command of the
matches Seigel, and of this THE 2d) di-
vision under the command of the brave
and patriotic Steinwehr, l think 1 may
emphatically say, gives the most unbound
ed satisfaction to a very large majority Of
the officers and men of which they are
composed. 1t is truly encouraging to see
the marked improvement, the new order
of things is already producing among the
soldiers and affairs Of the army generally,
for whatever may have been Freemont's
Military requirements or abilities, one of
three things is certain, a very loose, in
suborlnate and unsystematic state of af-
fairs pervaded his whole army, which
must have been the result of military in
capacity in Fremont himself, or of his
staff and line officers, or both, and know
ing the above facts to be true from person
al observation, 1 am the more ready to
sustain the administration in thatprompt-
ly placing commands so important, in the
hands of those who have proven them
selves equal to their task.
This division left its camp near Middle.
town, on the evening of the Sth of July,
arriving here on the 18th, where we are
o encamped. meeting with no Incl
dents worthy OF note on u march, ex-
cept perhaps, that we saw the family of
the murdered man Hahn who was taken
from his house near Milford to Luray
and shot, a few weeks ago, for no other
crime than hat of loving the Union
Four others who lived some or 5 miles
west of Hams were taken from their
houses a few days before we came along.
and murdered in cold blood, without trial,
Judge or jury, for the anne offense. Such
tragedies are beingdaily enacted through
out the dominions of Jeffdom, by the
fends incarnate who do his bidding
But a fearful day of %retribution I trust
may soon overtake them.
acknowledgements of their barbar-
Gus practices, has been carried on to such
an extent throughout the mountainous
of Virginia during this spring and
summer, that really it was becoming a
serious matter. Hundreds of our brave
have been inhumanly murdered
BY this sneaking, cowardly mode of war
are. On the day of our arrival and the
lay following, several of u men were
ost,-between here and Luray by these
ikulking miscreants who frequent the
mountain paths known only to the inhab-
tants, But thanks to the prompt and
rigorous action of the General command
ng this division, the nefarious practice
efsetaaHy and speedily arrested. !
l enclose you a copy of order by which
t was effected, which sufficiently explains I
tself: also of the letter from a minister of
as one of the many assurances, !
eceived, indicating prompt action in the
latter,-asso soon as they see their own ,
!scks were in danger! Ia