Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1862-06-17
ARMY LET IE2S.
Near Fredericksburg, va June


. The country through which we passed,
from Washington, Is poor nud uniuyiting,
until We come within one mile # this city,
now occupied By Gen N'Dovell's division.
Fredericksburg is the chief town Of Sp5t;-
sylvauia county, and is situated on the
r;gA. bapk Of the RsppabAuuock river, al
the head Of tide water betseen 80 and 90
miles from Richmond by railway, and So
BY turnpike, in Nor.heIly direction.
Turnpike roads Connect With Falmouth
aud Neuport, the former by ferry across
the RsppahauDock, and another turnpike
leads through wilderness TO OrauseCouri
House, where railroad counects 1t with
Gordousvi.e The town is situated in
fertile valley, and bas Advantages for com
merce and manufactures. The railroad
from Washington, via Aqlia creek, pas
ses through, and thereby a large trade or
trafhck was done previous TO the Rebel
lion II is dis'an, trom Aquia creek, by
railroad, about IL miles, from which
point part Of the Potomac river traf-
fck used to be carried to Freier!cks-
burg. 4 good cansi had also been con-
s,ruc'ed from the town TO point on the
RappahanBock riyer, about 10 miles above,
by which large quantities Of wheat, ur
and tobacco we're received for eTpoTiation.
The river affords extensive wafer power,
which is not much used The hills il the
neisbborhool, varying in height from 10
to 100 feet, abound in fne grauite sod
freestone In 1910, its population mum
tered nearly 1000 souls, and in 1850, ten
years after, !, had only increased 5 per-
sons-less than niue each year, being
about two per cent. in a decade
remarkably email increase. Before the
Rebellion, i, contained FIVE churches, one
orphan Asylum, two Semiuaries, four
newspapers offices, and two bsuks.
Tue county iu which Fredericksburg is
situated, has an area of 400 square miles.
The Rappahannock forms the boundary
on the northeast, the Anna river Ou the
southwest, and the Ma,tapouy rises within
its limits. TIE surface is diversified, the
soil generally fertile in the vicinity Of the
streams Two gold mines we're worked
in 1850. The Canal running northwest
carries The river traffic from above the fails
aud the county is iu,eEsecied by the Rich
moud ( Potomac Railroad. SPottsy ylvauia
waa organized in l720, aud named 10
boao: Of Alexander SpO.isvood, at that
time Governor Of Virg;nia. The capital
Of the county is spotisylVaIia Cour;
House, post village, on the Po river,
situated 60 miles nearly due north from
Redmond, with which it Is connected by
a turnpike. The las; return Of the popu-
latiou gave nearly $1,000 persons, over
one half Of whom were slaves The ai-
Iaipiug counties Of Stafford sni King
George run along the opposite side Of the
R.ppshaunock, aud together have an area
of 426 miles The surface Of the soil Is
hilly, partially fertile and partially arid.
Their united population, At last returns,
was 1915, over Que half Of whom were
slaves. Granite, frsestone, and gold, have
been found here, the two frs, in grea,
quahti'ies. Sisf,rd is very old county
having been formed in 1913, and named
after the English county Of the same de-
nomination. The water power and drain
age of Stafford county are very good, and
if properly used would have been sources
Of wealth TO The inhabitants Of the neigh
borhood. Esuquier county sdjoins Stat
ford county on its western border.
The men of this division enjoy good
health generally, and feel prepared for a
battle any day. GEO, CoRMAS,
o., r. sf,h Rsr y Y