Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-24

Aob6 SAo FAA4ey3 u &
CATLETr's STATION, VA.
May l9th, 1862.
Editors Intc!higeactr:
Quite unexpectedly to myself, have
been suddenly transferred to this portion
OF the sacred soil of Old Virciuin. md
here in Fauquier county, suppose, may
be allowed TO consider myself upon wha;
may be termed classic ground, Here. in
times past, lived and fluurished some OF
NlrgInia's prOudest aristocracv; but now
their broad acres are left without master
and their proud mansions furnish shelter
10 the dStestcd Yankee and Western Hoo.
sler, aud the footsteps of the loyal Western
Vlrglntans echo in the halls of their de-
serted mansions.
As you are aware, when left Wheeling
had not the slightest expectation of visit
ing this portion Of tho State. Bnt have
learned that military movements are an
enigma that cannot 6e solved by the unini-
tiated. Stepping from the cars ut Martins.
hurg, Va, was so fortunate as to find an
ambulance belonging te the First Virginia
Regiment, aud which was to leave for the
enc"mPment the following morning. and
after breakfast, in company with four fell
low passengers, started for the land Of
promise.
had frequently heard Of the beauties
OF the Valley of Virginia, but never before
had ! realized oneshnlf the truth. Hem.
med in on either side by range of noun
tHins, whose rugged sides are ever covered
by a misty veil, blue as the azure heavens,
and whose lottyapeaks, reaching above the
very clouds, stand like grim sentiuels
guarding this beautiful valley against the
steps OF the iutruders; and thus, as il
were, secluded and retired, lived people
with everything the heart need desIres-
The soil is strong limestone. In fact, the
limestone STRATA i'll tue vicinity of Martins
burg and Winchester crops out to such nm
extent as to give many fields the appear
ance Of rocky barren waste, impossible
to cultivate. Yet fine crops OF wheat arc
grown upon these rocky fields.
Beyond Winchester the limestone upon
the surface disappears, and the country be-
comes still more beautiful aud fertile.
Another peculiar featdre of this valley is
its numerous and powerful springs, gush.
ing from every hill and rock pure aad clear
as crystal, and with force sufficient to turn
mills of the largest capacity. An excellent
turnpike traversed the entire valley, but is
now somewhat damaged by the incessunt
grinding of the immense army trains en-.
gagged in transporting supplies for Uncle
Sans boys.
In an evil hour the people of this valley,
with everything to DO desired upon earth
lent themselves to the cursed and God. for
saken cause OF secession, and dearly and
bitterly have they paid for their folly.-
They are now fugitives seeking for rights
that were not lost until they became rebels.
In travelling through this portion of the
State you will hardly meet with single
able bodied male citizen, all having fed or
been impressed. The greater part of the
slave population have also lett for parts
unknown. The few residents who remain
still profess TO have faith in the Confederate
farce and talk of the great victories achicv-
ed by the Confederate armies, tell us how
Mcclellan Inns been driven hack, and how
Halleck was cut to pieces. When you tell
them the facts ofthe case they shake their
heads and look grave. In talking to one of
this class who appeared to be (what is
scarce in the Contederacy) q pious man,
after apparently convincing him that his
cause so far as victories were concerned,
was getting desperate, he wound up by
assuring mo that Divine Providence could
bring victory out of defeat. told him
thnt I was also "a believer in Divine PrOvi-
dence, but that also believed the Almighty
was a God of justice and would not give
AIl " uuElEukGUuSS S'IuSSs
To return, however, to matters more
pertinent, had started to find the lst Yir-
ginia Rcg't, and as advanced was start
led by rumOrs of various military move
ments and reports that the brigade I was
seeking had gone, no one knew where. On
arriving at New Market; we found thar
Gen. Banks force was falling back to
Strasburg, and, upon CalIingo on the Pro-
Vost Marshal for pass to where the ReEi-
ment had been last heard from, he told me
that had best remain where was, and
intimated that WQnld not be able to lind
my friends of the lst.; but having deter,
mined TO see it through, we pushed on
across the mountain to- tue East of New
Market, and some six or eight miles from
this point, far up in the mOuntaius, we
found our friends, in company with two
other regiments, just about to leave fnr
parts unknown. The cncampment was in
the Southern part OF Page county, close by
the town of HoneyyiHe. A rebel force, es-
timRted at from ten to fifteen thousand,
under command of Gen. Ewell, were en-
camped IN front, and our little force were
fn what appeared to me very dangerous
position, having frequent skirmishes with
the enemy's pickets and recon:oiteriRg
parties. When we arrived in camp almost
the entire regiment we're out on picket du-
ty. The camp equippage being packed
and the wagon train formed In line, the
pickets,were called in, and the column.
took up its line of march for some point
known only to the few who may have been
entrusted with what appeared to be se-
cret Of some impottauce. -
And herelet me say for the information
of those having friends in the list Virginia