Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-06-19
WOODSTOCK, SHESAsDoAH Co, Va,
lima 4th 1963


believe any one pscs in the Confederacy has suffered
as much as that faithful old spot You would scarcely
know it we're you to 60 there now. Gen. Milroy and
his Yankee tribe still have possession, and, you
know have had for six months. l did not leave with
my husband when our army lef for !: was winter and
my health not good, aud did not fancy moving around
from place place as should have had 10 do if left
home, particularly in winter. But pleasant
weather came wanted to leave, but could not imagine
how 10 get lover the lines Every day sInies
we're becoming harder aud harder for u.s. There is only
one prayer in Winchester and that IL, go God, how
long, how ongI" breathed from hearts filed with suf-
ferng and misery. We have two distant relations in
the Yankee army nov in Winchester; one, Charley
-, from Wheeling, and the other aunt Sue IS
nephew, from Ohio-Laut AcOrocler. 10 Is chief OF
Mlroys staff and twas he who sent me the lines
at my own request could not be too grateful to him
for his kindness He does all Mlroys writing, and is
highly thought of. The Provost told ne would have
no trouble if would 90 to him. | fret went to the
Provost, but he asked take the cath, which, Of
course would not do. brought all my clothes and
was not even searched / stsd all night in New Town.
and stared early next morning for this place. Oh,
brother, you cannot Imagine my joy when | reached
our pickets near Strasburg | rejoiced TO
see ANYTHING in my life as was those dear old gray
clothes. felt il wanted to stand up in the wagon
Thank the Almighty for my froedom, aud then hurrah
for JEFF Davis.
to headquarters, where our town boys all came
to and hear from home and notwithstanding all
the Yankee talk about the Barefoot raqged rebeisn
them with better clothes in better spiris
But had nothing but suffering to tell them Of for God
only knows what the people of Winchester have had 10
bear and suffer from these iends in human shape The
town is full OF hospitals They have Taylor's HOTEL
York House, Union Rote and when left turning
the people out of their homes to make hospitals Of
them. DR.. T. Baldwin and Mr.. ngleton were turned
out the DAY before | came away. The soldiers have
been camped about in town all winter, and such dirty
place you never saw. The Chuch opposite was taken
for stable and had the horses quarteIed all around
u.s. The typhoid fever has at last become so bad thst
has grown TO epidemic and there is scarcely family
in town but have two more, and in some the
whole family is down, and just dependent upon their
peghbors for help. All the servants have gone, and
tie people have just been worked and worried to DEATH
A great many deaths have taken place--as many as
eight funerals week among the town people, which, in
q little place ike that, you know is something.
The Yankees will not allow the people to
buy anything without taking the OATH and would
rather starye than do that. We could get nothing
either one way the other, and just had 10 live
bread and sometimes had bHstsr. They would not
allow us TO buy bone Of meat to make soup for the
sick was not much afraid OF the fever for you know
had my spell last fall.
We think our troops arc going to Winchester. They
passed through Woodstock yes erday Oh, Go hope
they will; and i know If they once make the attempt
they will succeed for the Yankees are such towards
Every time they went up the Valley they came back
double Qasick Once when they came up they sun ound
ed with SIR hundred Of their men about fifty OF ours
and did not kill one-all escaped. Old Silroy was
riDping mad swore terribly, called the officer who lad
command and said, "Why is 10 that Siz hundred YAM
KEGS havitg one hdred Rebels surrounded, let them
al escapef" The officer said, "All caa say is, the
Rebels fought Nth daring JrarSy and the Yankees like
cosrdrGs ~ They put the officer under arrest for forty
days M,lroy never goes out. lie had his wife and
four or five childreu-ugly little red-headed things
With him. They bad Mrs.. Logans fine house. You
heard suppose, they sent Ms L. and family over the
Inca They took possession OF the house and every
thing in il: Instead of coming up the Valley to fight
the men, they stopped in Winchester and fought the
vople,t and children The women were firm and laith
tul; never would give up step When Milroys wife
first came she had one itie trunk and whel she left
she had i've very large carried of every thing she
could lay her hands on.
They say they viii not leave negro in town when
they leave They had an old darkey under arrest be-
cause he would not work. ono said he "secesh -
They put him in the guard house, and kept him for
three DAYS on water The fourth day the officer went
and said "Are you secesh yet% They faithful old
fellow, clappng his hands said, "Bless de Lord, massa
is secesh yet" They then took him up TO the gene
rails aud put very large mon balls to his legs and sent
him TO splitting wood. Brother Alex went by and saw
him. 1t happened that the officer who was guarding
hin, was the same who had searched house and ar.
rested brother He was cursing the poor cd negro
dreadfuy said he ought to have ball on his neck aud
one on both arms The old fellow went on splitting,
saving all the time "Bess &c Lord, masa, anywhere
Won csn nut it. You can kill de body but you can't
kill de soul and when dat gets to heaven it will be
secesh vet" Brother called to the officer aud said,
"Halo Grant, is that what you call freedomf" Mother
and John Godfrey N. were standing on the steps
laughing and talking. Just at that moment some little
children we're laughing and making fun OF the Yankees
General Cusara passed by and thought mother and John
,.;fh tha ,hidran nd th
both up to headquarters, W ere they were kept for
several hours SO you we were not allowed even TO
lady went to General Mroy and asked for pass to
90 over the lires. lie said, 81 will give you pass to
hell" She told him she did not know his lines extended
that far she had often heard it, but now had il from his
own lips
An old man went for pass, and Gen. M. asked if he
would take the oath. "Oh yes" said he, with the
greatest pleasure. Just put in box, and easily
carry it over" ~ mean," said the General twill you
promise TO support the Constitution Of the United
Stately" The old fellow raised his hands and said Oh
INV God can't do that, for have got wfe and six
Gladden. to support" The General gave him pass.
They would not allow the suffers to sell thing ex-
cant IN the soldiers The town is just full Of Yankee
women. who act as if they owned everything in it,
Tney lust go to the finest houses and order furnished
rooms for them. Oh! but it is dreadful The people
are not loved TO move step out Of town-cannot
Get mouth;n of fresh air No wonder there is such
Suffering sickness and DEATH There very few Union
neope in the town. and those are the commonest kind.
One of our girls beautiful creature, and the most
polite lady that ever was went into store to look at
some shoes and the sutler said "Do you know madam
have more leather in my store than you have in your
socalled Southern Confederacy Your soldiers rag
ged and barefooted" She said laying the shoes down.
SThat may be- sir; but it is mystery now, and has al.
WAYS been mystery to me, how our poor, bareooted
soldiers can make your welshod Yankees So" and
leaving him bushing and mad could be, she walked
out. a9 80
Old A5e Liicoi,G President Of the Northern States,
had spiritual rappng meeting at the White House a
few weeks ago. Called on the spirits of Washington,
Jefferson Jackson and Others to know how this retsi-
on could be put down. The spirits said all was in
darkness about heye6eilioa One thought by putting
all the forces at one point; another it would die of
kaustio, and 50 6se ead, see the saints diff
Ca 40 ar as tba sin,,srs II Is Something like my cab
.oi % 49, - =. Ln.s,a knrr 10 catch The A la