The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1863-11-18
Warr,nton, VA Picture Of the War

correspondent OF areligious paper gives
the following account Of his visits to War;
reniou, Virginia -
This place, with its present condition
and conn ectives, is TO doubt fair sample
of all the large towns in Eastern Virginia
II is the seat OF Justice for Farquier county,
and located beautifully on the summit OF an
elevated ridge oil land. Before the war il
must have been place OF very considera-
bic attraction. The principal street con-
sists of fine old Virginia mansions, detach-
ed from each other, with pleasant grass
plots in front, and, what is not common IN
this region, both sides of the streets l:ned
with fine old shade trees. In Dixie estima-
tlon, a wealthy, refined, exceedingly ars~
tocraiic-lhorough F. F. v. place-secesh
10 the core.
Riding through this place, short time
since, chanced 10 meet an intelligent look
ing old gentleman, a rebel resident, and
felt constrained 10 accost him and if posi-
BILE have free aud friendly conversation.-
The military salute was accordingly given
and by him, in a seeming manner, returns
ed. My connection with The army was
stated accompanied by request that leav-
ing out for the present Union and Couieder-
ale wars and revolutions, We would have
social chat about Warrenion aud lis condi-
tons, past and present. "No objections at
ALL" was his reply, 'dismount p Seated
on the edge of The side walk under the
shade of large elm we had together long
and free communion. From this, more
real insight was obtained with respect TO the
actual condition of things--lhe thorough
and entire revolution which has already Ia
ken 2lace-the breaking up and scattering
OF all the old elements OF Southern society,
than could otherwise have been gained by
long personal observation.
My first question was about the Churches
"We had," he said, pointing 10 the build
Jag of each as named, presbyterian, Bap-
list, Methodist, Episcopal and Catholic, all
respectable congregations. All preaching
stopped many months ago-the ministers
ere starved ont and gone; the congrega-
tions wholly scattered, and the houses of
worship taken Tor hospitals, guard houses or
barracks"
'How do the remaining inhabitants con-
tinue to livs-how do they obtain food or
anything with which TO bay? ?p "Look,"
he continued, Eat the different classes of
houses As you observe nearly every good
house is inhabiled-lhe wife children,
family are here ; but the men are gone into
the Confederate army, in some way con-
necied with the government, or fed away
at your approach-very many never 10 re-
turn for many are already dead.
'.The inferior housss aud negro quarters
are nearly all empty. There is not store,
grocery, mecEanic-shop, or any place of bu-
siness open in and around Warrenion. The
store keepers, mechanics and laborers had
their business all broken up by the war !;
and are driven away, the men into the
Southern army, and their families, The Lord
knows where, do not. AS TO the negroes,
you know perhaps better where they are
gone than could tell you. This better
class of families, the remnants of which
are still here, nearly every one owns or did
own a farm IN The adjacent country. From
those they have contrived 10 live till the
coming OF your army a few weeks since !;
now, however, every resource seems taken
away. have iarm," he said, pointing 10
a place about mile distant f'lil lately
managed to keep few slaves and do lit
tie farming. When your army encamped
here the last of July, had FOUR work oxen,
three colts-horses, all pressed into the
Southern army-so many milch cows, !,
sheep, pigs. and posl,ry, with forty acres
OF corn coming into ear now there is not
slave, a domestic animal, a fowl, or an
ear of corn left-alI taken by your soldiers
-and this is about the condition of all the
other families here. So long as the Union
army remains here We may contrive 10
live, but when it is away ] have no con-
ception how the people who will be left
can obtain food TO sustain life during the
coming winter" With thanks to my old
secesh friend for our freedom in couversa.
ton and hopes expressed for the dawning of
better times upon him and his, we parted