The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1862-02-04
from. Alcsnni,ir.
Atrx,NpuiA. Va, J,n 2Jlh. Il

MlssRs EpIroEs thinking that p,rhap,
yoa o. ,our reader. wa Ike TO hear something
FROM me ia relation 10 the cOGduion Il afIa he II
the "seai II var" b, seated n,, self With
peu ~ baud, 10 give yau some aceoun of What /
.''~ere here. But ] must be brief and will not
therefore lreuble ycn with any particular account
Of the reasons Which induced ne to come IL this
distracted part Il our stressed country, or the
manner Ia which | came, Suiliee 1t TO sty thar
obtained pass" VI The proper authorizes at
Washington, aud erased o,sr hahn Bridge into
"Uld Virginia, 'and within the lints II III. grand
Amy If he Potomac. about twO xeeks ago, ami
have teen un this side II the river most Of the
time since lloS different is this region Of cvun.
Try IRON Shat i MAS when visited II four or 6.s
years ago. hen peace aud harmony prevailed
Then thrift aud plenty smiled arund Then
good viii aud neighboriy kindness were every
where apparent. NV, alas hos changed -
Farms are deserted fences Al hiialeI, and forcsis
Frustrated. Immensely loug train, Of Govern
ment wagons ATE 10 lie seen breaking the '.saclel
Soil, aud the sabbath, ii hi,le.ion 1 eountr;.
The fields Shliened, DOT Sth suo~. but WIN
ienls. stretching Away ia the distance, tie smoke
OF the camp nlss, the beat If drums the IL ing of
figs, the heavy tramp Of horses, the ulrisurcJ
tread Of armed men, the shlill sound Of the bu
gle accompanied ~ the more inslodious stratus VI
music from thousands Of instruments, he "roil
calls, the fs..imen,Al drills the dress parades,
The battalion drills, the Grand he Jews" iii,
challenge of patrols. the command ''halt, )" the
demand for your pass, the standing vn guard, |
The relief VI pck,lt. the Ikrmi,hhg and forag- |
ing. the heavy booming ot canton, the lesser but |
noIe constant roar Of muskel!, the careless jes, |
:hs Ihoushtless oath, the CONTINUED death scenss,
the solemn funeral professions keeping pace wiih
the melancholy music Of the DEATH march, - these
and thousands Of other things which must fine.
cess'it .or which wtu naturally accunp,l, ,ueh
All army as IL here collected, the chief matters
which now demand attention upon the sacred
soil Of Old Virginia"
Yes. cruel and relentless war has unfurled his
crimson baliner the gen lc lrttzes Ut The odd
Doninion," AID she Is LEV called upon 10 p.n
or her folly and madicss. her ttcaehsfy aud
reason Nor can she refuse the d mand She
'annot aaoid the payment. She is indeed lll.s
lay paying dearly for her gross tfe.chery. She
5 paying Tor in the breaking W Of her poli,.
81 policy and the breaking dowu Of all her ma
eriai interests. Size is ying lor il in the ais
snsons AMI autagonsms which are sinking her
rom cen ie 10 circumference AMI which have ne
aally reit her sssunder She Is paying Tor in ,
he reign ~ terror which is thret etIinp her whole
aud Wiih violence AMI bioo1shtd vii c has al \
cady driven thousands ef her lest eli " : from
heir homes aud her borders She is paying TOR 81
~ the spilllug Of the blood VI thousands Il her
bel soiis aud pttriot mtriyts Il may he sid
her a' w,s Of sty uetge people II oil. of q
ouid Ne have gathered her together under the :
foiectinn Of the Union. ~ hen gathcrsth her
dickens under her wings, but size wou!l not; be- :
old her land is eit uutu her desolate
Bur fear am wearyiug Jour pa isnce aud T"
usl close ! am happy 10 by that the sickness
our troops in this loc4iity is somewhat aLi.ted
al the general health u the Vermont boys es
.caly is improving.
Very truly yours, Jonx CUsTs. !,