The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1863-01-16
WINCHEsrER. Va. Jan. 6. 1863.

s~' DS"' w mic my neSSm1teS 6OnIe
or dream Of home and good things, I just
whisper a moment with you. il you please.
Three weeks ago party Of picked men,
selected from the first Regiment of Milroy' 8
Division. consisting of parts of the 9th.
10th, and 18th Virginia. 9Th Pennsylvania,
Tour guns OF Battery and Company of
Cavalry. left Moorefeld. Hampshire co..
Crossing Great North Mountain. We made a
dash Oh S,rasburg. hoping to nab Regi-
ment OF Rebel infantry and . battalion Of
Cavalry encamped there; but they got wind
OF us and left two hours ahead of our en-
trance. However. the 9th Va. took some
thirty prisoners. and came near having a
nice little skirmish with the Rebel Cavalry
Three days afterward we arrived at this
place after marching some IS miles, and
laying in the open air with nothing but our
blankets. Next day (Christmas) the Rebel,
paid US their respects by driving in our
pickets, about 8 p. NJ. Blu. finding us
ready for thsm. they threw few shells at
at our Cavalry and shut down for the night.
We laid on our arms all night and took our
position on the field at day light expecting
sn attack; but they had taken leave during
the night.
We are in the heart Of the great Valley
Of Virginia. and from our Camp, We over
look every thing for fifteen miles in every
direction. We have marched over amongst
the Alleghanies for many months. but the
Valley Of the Shenandoah surpasses all in
extent and beauty. l only regret that it is
not included in the new State Of West Vir.
ginia. From our batteries we can show you
away down Northeast the Blue Ridge
like sunken cloud crossing the State Of
Mary land. Then the gap at Harper's Fer
ry, where the Shenandoah joins the Poto-
tomac and breaks through the mountain
into old Virginia. Farther South and east Of
US. Suckers Gap partly sewers the range.
Southeast We see Ashby's Gap-then the
deep and perfect Gap of Manassas. through
which the Railroad from Washington passes
into the Valley. Seventy miles of the long.
Its siies are cultivated to the very top. and
are said to be very fertile. The beautiful
Shenandoah washes its western foot for
hundred miles with the product Of q thous-
and springs; and such springs! We drink
from one at Our Camp that yields stream
rs large as my body. and is carried in large
iron pipes into the city Of Winchester. sup
plying all its wants. Another. mile South
Of Camp. turns mill after mill in its course
toward the river. Looking South, we see
the Northern terminus of the Shenandoah
Mountain. laying between the east and west
forks Of the river. Westward, little North
and over its head rises the stately proper
sions OF Great North Mountain-r running
from fa'South-west and fading sgain in the
Northwest. Then imagine . valley .
hundred miles long and thirty wide Of beau
tifully rolling and highly cultivated
country. walled by such noble barriers.
Large country residences with their white.
washed negro quarters aud t-houses. form
quite village on each broad plantation
These. surrounded by undulating fields. en-
closed by stone walls Of blue limestone. and
in turn partly margined by neatly KEEP, groves
OF timber. were once the homes OF Southern 4
aristocrscy. We can count a hundred Of
Il em from one hill top.
Eden itself was not more beautiful nor
walled by nobler Mountains. The once
Hourishng city Of Winchester. sits in the
center Of this garden, while Martinsburg,
Charles,own. Berryville. Front Royal. and
Strasburg picket the outskirts of the view.
but not the Northern and Southern extreme
Hard stone turnpikes diverge to every part
like paths. bearing abroad the surplus and
bringing the Injuries OF other lands in re.
turn. But alas! the same devil that whis-
pered treason to poor Eve. has visited this
paradise, and after poisoning the happy
tenantry, turned it over to desolation! Many
Of these Mansion houses are now deserted
and the chilly blasts Of winter sweeps
through their sashless windows. Fences are
eoue-walls are knocked about by cannon
balls-rich meadows are strewn with the
bleaching bones OF army horses, snc many
a poor soldier fills an unmarked grave where
the farmer once swung his scytbe. War
and death till and gather, instead of the list
less husbsndman-s staggering chimneys,
mark where the torch has been, aud the
tired picket cooks his meal amid the torn
shrubbery.
From our camp we can see four of
ten grave yards (if yards can be fenceless)
the nearest is not year old; yet four
teen hundred traitors have there found "their
rights" When will it s,op?-that is the
question. The esgle answars-when tres
son dies. Yours. truly.
w. c. s
Lot NJ. Morrill, is elected Senator from
Maine.
Cn,s u Rack alew Is alected Senator