New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-12

off briskly the fret day, a dis,aii.e Il " mlies;
pas sed through Charlestowh 10 'he ne OF John
Nils bevond Berryv'lle. srsatl troop Of Rebel
l,y Who had made their he .d1uartere at Charles
town and composed the plrS e.s who had annoyed M
30 much tor two months past, retired before adj
vance and attempted TO make some Stand IN piece
Of woods beyond Berryvlie. but a few shells from
our ri.ied guns sson scattered them, killing two of
their horses and left a clear field for the night
in the woods they had occupied.
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
The richness and beauty of this part Of the Shen-
andoah Valley cannot well 10 overestmated, and,
Notwithstanding all the devastationr OF war, 1t s
still very Eden of natural beauty and lovelness.
The houses are all large, subst sntially built OF
wood or brick well painted with those inevitable
green blinds and many of them embowered 10
gardens, orchards aud eveygreens
Instead of the old, diiapilafed tenements which
we had expected TO see We nehed palaces of modern
style, Ia Downing, located far back from the
road approached by winding paths, surrounded by
most substantial stone fences, and overlooking a
turnpike road rivang in hardness and smoothness,
al this season of the year, those OF The New-fork
Central Park.
| Some few of the houses are empty, locked up, and
only guarded by one or two faithful slaves who
live IN log huts near by, while their masters are
either North or South or anywhere away from the
war. Others are still occupied by the heads oil
families too old TO be conscripted, who have sent
away 10 places Of safety.
Many family has daughters in some Baltimore,
Phladellhia, other Northern boarding school,
and some OF them sought with avldity the opportu
nity which they bad Lot had since Bankss retreat,
to send to them letters. money and words OF cheer
/ No Young man can be found IN this valley. The
errors of CONSUMPTION have swept them all INTO the
army, or driven them as refugees into Maryland anc
U pennsy yania, where they are vainly waiting the
advance and protection of our army TO return to
their homes.
WINCHESTER.
The second days march brought us in front OF
Winchester, but il was deemed prudent to camp for
the nj yht few miles ont Of the city, orr road
was hanked by formidable earthworks, built by the
Rebel Gen. johnson and Col. Jalius White, now
Brgader General of Hsrpers Ferry notoriety, in
which small force could have done material injury
10 our advance.
/ The next morning revealed that the works were
empty, and we impatienty awaited the Formally Of
o flag of true, which was sent forward to demand
the surrender OF the lace,
I The answer came: Z" We have nothing TO surren-
! der; if you want that, come and take IT.
! We Immediately marched through the city, and
up the hill north OF it, aud took possession OF the
town and the Notifications, on the largest OF which
was raised the old flag, which was at once saiued
! with three times three by the entire force,
n A squad OF Rebel cavalry appeared on a bill two
miles distant but shell nicely dropped among
them from a l2-pounder, caused most beautiful
skedadde.
4 Winchester is greatly dilapitated. The railroad,
the depot, the storehouses, aud mauy buildings, are
entirely m ruins. Everywhere Were evident marks
Of shot aud shell and fire.
bevv If fair ladies sat at an upper window OF a
brick house, scowng bitterly at our troops, and
immediately around the window were sixteen marks
where rifle balls had struck. Fitting frame for go
dolorOus picture!
The citizens here had long been without either
sugar, coffee or tea, not being able TO find them at
IL
pound while most OF the necessaries Of lite includ
ing clothing of all kinds were, In proportion,
equally eXpensivei top boots, go PAIR, and not
TO oe had ii that.
We took a few prisoners including hospital with
about "a dozen smallpox patients, and after resting
in the town for two hOurs, started on the return
march by another rouie, taking the turnpike north
ward 10 Bunker Hill, and thence across 10 Charles
town, where we struck the road on which we had
gone out.
II THE ENEMY.
On the road we found abundant traces OF the en-
envy having campei III force all the way from Win
chester to Bunker Hill distance of miles, AMI
learned from citizens that Jackson and LOngstreet
had been there with Immense armies until The ath
Of November, when they both went rapidly sou,h
via Port Royal; doubtless re-enforce Lee "a, Fred
egicksburg
The army Of Longstreet was said TO be double in
size that of jackson, but both represented TO
lie in the most wretched state Of decentralization, aud
almost naked. They had no tents; not half of them
had shoes Oyercoats Or blankets, and they sui
ferDg terribly from cold, especially at night, long
before they left. Like most men in ertremis they
were looking 20 the Lord for help and held nightly
prayer.meetiDgs, which many Of their general OF
icers attended, aud used TO encourage and inspire
the men.
! jackson, in particular, was represented ~ ex-
tremely pious and ar constantly PRAYING with bic
men, ana preaching 10 them regularly every SAB.
! bath, when there no fighting 70 be done.
4 May this Lot be the secret Of Lis remarkable infu.
ence aud control over them in battle.
i AN INCIDENT.
/ Your correspondent spent one night in elegant
mansion, few miles out OF Winchester, winch
evidently belonged TO one Of the old arstocratic
families, the r. +. VS. of Virginia. Only the heads
OF the family, venerable, intelligent kindly old
people were al home The daughters were In school
al Baltimore and the sons III the Rebel service, one
Of them a captain in Jackson's army. Tie house
lad been Jacksous headq uaIters for two months
alter lie battle of Antetam, aud great resort OF
the Rebel officers. pleasant round tea table was
spread, bOuntiully for this secton of country and
around 1t sat the hos aud holsters, two Union officers
ana your cores pOndent. Inc lady mad been quite
Oh her dignity and only met US Yankees, with
freezing politeuess, but at last the genlemany con
versaon Of the officers broke through her reserve
aud loOeened her tongue upon the merits Of Jack
sOn as follows, while your correspondent was
wicked enough to take down the exact
words in his notebook under the table
No one can help admiring jackson, who knows
him. lie u moot pure-illDded honest man. lie
was never known % do ornel an ungenerou,
act tie II one OF the most modest unassuulng men
ia the world, an humble trusting Christian, 1T
meek M M0ses, as wise az Solomon and as valia
as Joshua. The world has produced but few such
characters JacksoDs, and II is fitting that we
should reverence them when they appear. He was
once at a social gathering at the bouse Of neigh,0r
Of ours, where he wac surrounded by several ladies
who in playful mood, concealed lie cap, which foi
a time quite embarrassed the General One Of hi.
officers stepped up and raid, General j never saw
you confused before No, Colonel, he replied
because yOu never saw me surrounded before +"
INN Inc rnnd Ladv eNuressed LOT ndtn ratlnn a.