New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-11
An Old Virginia uslsion-A Remnant of
the EiizhUgh Essnic-iIOw it, Negroes
were Hurried OG-Wben the Great Eat
ile-.snan2e Tactics by the Rebeis-De-
pIorabIc Condition OF shc Rebel Army.
FrOu Or spoelsl CoETesgondenl.

From On Special CoEresgo ndent.
o. TEA FEosT. Is Iaies below FrejerieS,buTg,}
am writing again from one OF the old mansions
Of Virginia, whose foundations were laid in the
Seventeenth Century, but TO whOse supersiructure
additions have been made all along TO the Nine.
tenth. 1t is Z fine old place, commanding beauti
fnl view Of tue river and the valley for many miles
10 The east aud west. Long lines Of negro huts
stretch to the north aud south, but not single
inhatiant is to be found therein few poor old
horses and cows, which have been plsced there for
protection from camp marauders. Many years ago
i proprietor boosted Of his thousands Of acres, and
bis 900 or 800 negroes. Now, OF his descendants
cutvates but a few hundred acres, and owns not
single slave. The only negro the plantation Ia
sn active intelligent fellow, who purchased bis own
freedom several years ago, and now receives
for his labor $l5 per month and MS board The
plantation is one Of the email remnants
Of that immense hitZhuRh estate, which, according
20 Bishop Meade, originally contained 54OOU acres.
1t has been cultivated for more than two centuries.
Fields have been cultivated until they were worn
out then abandoned until dense pine forests covered
them, then again cleared and prepared for cul-
tyaCn, and alternating through the decades from
timber 10 tobacco and wheat. Here, too, generation
after generation, and crop after crop Of negroes have
been raised and sold, but instead OF adding TO the
VI i4Ouu nave az alulVSt
impoverished IT. The Fitzlugh family, as al know
who arc familiar With the history OF Virginia was
one Of the most aiistocraiic in Virginia. William
ftzhugb, the founder on tbs ride Of the Atlantic
lived really hike one Of the old English BaTons. and
during his lie welded quito as much power having
been man Oi talent culture a8d force OF character,
a. well a. possessed Of greet wealth. But very little
OF his vast estate now remains in his family al
though branches Of il foood all along the valley,
from Fredericksburg TO the Chesapeake.
Last sprn2, just before the advance Of Gen.
Mcdowell, "a negroes occupied the huts have just
spoken Of. Five Of them hastily packed In Il
Dig Virginia wagon, aud trundled of in the drec-
lion Of Richmond. The rest, more Fortunate anti |
epaLng tho movement. escaped 10 our lines aud are
now scattered through the North The obi mansion |
aud the empty negro huts now look cold ana 6es- |
olaie And yet there is something attractive about
II, and as tie falls rapidly and the cold north.
east wind ehreks ard bowls around the corners and
this log fire Of pine knots craokles and snaps on tie
wide ire place, much prefer my seat before il than
Tie most comfortable one under tie most prominent
General tent--warmed and made pleasant as they
ere by many Yankee contrivances. Ny host, too is
very pleasant, agreeable gentleman, and talks |
about It's losses without cuFsng and swearing at The
universe in general and the Yankee army in partc-
MAR As yet the present army now slowly approach.
Ing the river has disturbed him but little. His FEM
ces are in good condition, his stacks OF wheat un-
lonched his cattle quietly eating corn.husks ia tho
delds. But before the close Of another week, as If
aosk Of Egyptian locusts bad settled upon hs |
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