Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-05-28

SuAAU WIS UlHCeQ IN the rear oil
the first brigade.
After We get under way, it was discoy-
cred that the third brigade was eight or ten
miles ahead. with no prospect of being
OVertaken. Gen. KimbAll had, therefore,
to change his entire column, which caused
delay of two hours. We moved at six
O'Clock, and commenced marching between
eight and nine, having lost entirely the cool
of tho morning.
THE COUNTRY AND ITS CoHDITIoX.
Our course lay through the heart of Fau-
quier county, one of the finest in the Old
Doninion. The first mile was a hy-road,
running beside the Rappahannock, which
we were compelled TO take in consequence
OF the destruction of the turnpike bridge
over the stream, some distnnca below
That small bit of by.road was hugely
hOley, and the teams had a terrific time
getting over it.
The army in Flanders did not swear hard
er than the tenmsters did amid divers
wrecks of army wagons. Wheels were
crushed, and tongues snapped quick as
lightning to the joy, no doubt, of the we'll
IHshed and fOaming horses destined To draw
them over that piece of Dixie land.
Atthe little village of Waterloo we struck
the turnpike again, and after crossing two
considerable hills, passed into Que of the
most delightful portions of Virginia. The
country ts beautifully undulAting, and di-
vided into immense plantations, which have
had the culture of more than "A century, and
upon which the wealth of its products have
been lavished. One exquisite pastoral
sceuce followed another, each seeming more
charming than the other. And to the rare
beauty there was quietude that give the
impression of luxury and ease, and that
WAS particularly inviting to the dlust-cov-
cred warriors beating their way over the
heated turnpikes to strike again and again
for their country.
As the large column of blue, crowned
with glitteriug panoply of steel, moved
over the ewhfteturnpike that wound through
the emerald landscape, there was strange
mixture of stern war and happy peace in
the scene.
In the rural palaces and vassal huts
which distinguished these plantations, se-
cession and revolution have been nursed.
The naughty lords who pride themselves
upon their blood and ancestry, have looked
with horror upon the Democratic progress,
the strong tendency to social equality in
the Northern States, and conspires to de-
strOy government which fostered this
Democracy. They feared an innovation on
their ancient institutions, destruction of
their chivalry, an insurrection of their
slaves, and u general breaking up of their
arislocTatiC social relations; and TO pre-
vent the disaster, they pledged their wealth
and their ancient (that IS a familiar word
in Virniuia) blood to destruction of the
Union.
Little did they dream that the course
they were pursuing would bring about just
the result they go much feared. The des-
Olation of that charming valley is awful
1t is true that few troops have passed
through it, aud the plantations have not
suffered from the military forager. The
great fields are uudisturbed, aud the thresh-
olds of the old family residences have not
been polluted by the tread of hated Demo-
cratic invaders, and yet how iesolate they
are. The Confederate government has
drained them of their wealth, the row aud
din of battle mas placed loved ones beneath
the sod, aud. what is worse, the slave has
learned his power. Many of those proud
families have gathered up all their move
able wealth, and gone they know not width.
er, leaving their plantations to the care Of
their servants and slaves.
The slave, believing that the day of his
deliverance from bondage is near at hand,
is beginning TO tpnt on airs" aud evince IL
total disregard of his position as vHssal.
nc 5tAthS freely va flaNVE Il AuhGGSS
and the master knows he cannot trust even
his best used and favorite servant. This,
more than anything else has caused them
to flee from their homes, to which many
will never return. A gentleman who has
lived in the county since 1905, and who, 10
his younger days, enjoyed large wealth sud
influence, told me that during the last
twelve months thousands of slaves have left
Farquhar county, and thar those who re.
main are necessarily suffered to DO pretty
much as they please. He knew of only two
who had returned. For several months
there has been great prtvatian and suffering
among all classes, and with the deprecia.
ton OF Rebel scrip, the wealthiest will be
ruined. As cOnfrmatory of this, a gentle
man with whom stopped over night, said,
in response to an inquiry as to the amount
of my bill:
"For thirty years, sir, my house has been
open to all corners. blush to say that I
can no longer afford to be hospitable. You
arc the frst gentleman of whom 1 have ex-
acted a remuneration for seat at my table,
but must frankly admit that have NO
,.,y,1 ranORniah nv scanty, larJlaF - .4l