The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-01-02
Gur Srmy Correspondence
FROM THE rasD REGIMENT
PErERsBuReH, Va,
December 81, lS62.}

day and were unloaded. The balance
OO'came up this forenoon, together with
train Of l6 wagons from New Creek,
making 90 in all unloaded to-day, Sun
day as II Is. have filled large, brick
Presbyterian Church full. This church
is situated on the top of the hill over.
looking the town, and the midst of once
beautiful, bot now sadly mared pine
grove. The pews are toru out--the gui-
lery echoes no more to sacred melodies
the bible has disappeared from It's place
and the once sacred altar is entirely co.
yered with boxes OF hard bread. The
Minister and, J suppose, most Of the con-
grcgoton are in the rebel service. What
a pic ure Of wars hesolatiou, and the
awful retribution which the South have
brought upon themselves equal
to that Of Sodom.
The distance from this place to Bur-
lington Is 80 miles. The intermediate
country is one of the most beautiful and
picturesque that ever boheld. II is up
a magnificent aud fertile valley, walled
in on one side by the Allegbenies, snow
topped and towering 10 the clouds, and
on the other by tho South branch and
Patterson Creek ranges, no less sublime
aud more unique and varied In beautiful
pictures, always appearing, alway. dis
solving. 1t is indeed the Italy of Ame-
rica. Passing over the dividing ridge
from Patterson Creek to the valley of
the South branch, charming picture,
rich in treasures to the artistic eye, un-
folds itself. There are many rich plan.
tatiOns along the road, some of them EN-.
bracing many thousand acres, but the
owners pay little attention to architec-
turc and those outer Hdornments that
make home attractive. Tho mountains
and hill.tops are covered with the most
beautiful evergreen bushes, you exer saw,
which, in Ohio, would be with millions
yet there are few adornments about the
residences here, unless | may except
that adornment Of peculiar beauiy--a me-
gro hut near by, which is generally to be
found. 1t seems that, where Nature has
been most lavish In the bestowal of her
treasures, man is the most yemss in cul-
tivating them.
The people about here are mostly &C.
ccsh, yet | have found some as genuine
and unconditional Unionism here as can
be found in Ohio, and much that would
put TO shame the pretended Unionism of
certain class at home. have met aud
talked with sluvcholders - intelligent,
high-minded men, and men of position,
who declare that slavery is the cause of
the wOr and that we cannot have a per-
mauent peace until this bano of all free
governments is destroyed. They are
ireeto admit that this is a Shareholders
Rebellion, and they heartily endorse the
Emancipation Proclamation Of the Prssi-
dent. Ii Western Virginia could vote
to-day, she would vote two to one for the
abolition of slavery.
Petersburgh is an insignificant town of
antiquated appearance, situated in ma.
tural amphitheatre, constituting the ter
minus of the valley, and seemingly the
terminus Of civilization. The South
Branch sweeps around the town on the
South, describing the arc of a circle, and,
beyond and all around except on the
North, is circumvallation of high noun
tains. There seems to be no outlet to
the regions beyond. The river emergcs
from dark labyrinth Of impossible cliffs
above, and plunges through a similar
rock-walled channel below. The road
TO Franklin crosses the river here and
winds over the mountains through gaps
and gorges. The country between here
and Franklin is said to be more broken
than that we have just travcrsed, and 10
said to abound in guerrillas and BUSH
whackcrs. Our cavalry and detachmenis
of Infantry have boen scouting in that
region, and have brought in as the fruits
OF their labor some twenty" graybacks."
Con pany d of the i2sd is now out on
scout. Captain SHAwHAS has peculiar
relish and fitness for such expeditions
BY the way the l2sd are disgusted with
their guns, and Colenel Wmsos is now
at Columbus, trying to make arrange
nts for an exchange. 1t is to be hoped
he will succeed.
General CLUsEREr's Brigade, which
preceded us several days in the advance
upon this place, has gone on East and
is said to have occupied Woodstock in
the valley of Virginia. The 10th Ohio
and tho iath Virginia, have gone to
Moorefeld, and perhaps further, and our
cavalry are occupying Romney, tind
here only the la3d, l22d and ll6th Ohio
Regiments, under command Of Colonel
WAsHBURS. A section of Carlin's Bat
terry, aud a company Of cavalry are also
here. General MLRoY still has his head.
quarters at this place, but there are move
ments contemplated which il would be
imprudent to relate, even If l understood
their design. There is considerable sick
ness at present in the i2ad, and some
deaths have occurred. Company X is
nnw ON detached service and stntinned