Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-03-19
FRO II FIR EDERICKSBURG.
Correspondence of the Eic'!mond hxani'n

co1n,nunic,finns 70 present Your readers VIII
some idea # the pecuriary losses and oe'5fuc
ton Of property 10 which the people mere nave
been subjected. =,
The personal suffering remains 70 be to:E::
Much Of It, perhaps the greater pare VII
never be known, save To th9 afflicted 1ndl'I0-
ua!s themselves or their families, Tor the par
tie, are naturally slow TO acknowledge thc''
priyations and necessities. Indeed, You, cor
Respondent, although fully acquainted with the
poDulation was not aware Of the facts OF their
condition until he had made invests &auoil:-
J'h3 inquiry was prompted by his Observation
Of the return OF many 81 the 1uSltA'es 70 the2T
ruined homes.
A ride through. the ,ocion where they have
sought refuge revealed the reason. ! ne Gay was
raw aud che roads one mass OF mud. OF such con-
sistency and depth As rendered it perfectly M
p4ssibe, even on horseback. The hog paths
presented the only pra:tic;s''le passage Yet
On such day, and along s7ch ROAD, your
correspondent met q lady OF this place On loot
who before the bomardmont had lTed III
atfluence, and whose house had been the very,
home Of hospitality. She was only at1ordea
hv horc?lld, Of eight or ten years, aud the
fa,itIful house dog. The group were thus
vending their way TO Fredericksburg having
already walked some five or six miles, and
were then about the saule distance from their
destination The want o. food had driven
them to undertake the journey.
This is not singular instance, tor in tie
district Which bore the brunt OF the enemy s
late devastation, those who were possessed Ct
coma petence and enjoyed every colnlprt are, IN
many instances. reduced to absolute Indulgence,
while many who lived IN opulence suffer all the
pangs Of poverty The late lnhahltants, tor
the most part, are domlcied III the houses,
negro cabins, and sharties Of the surrounding
country within radius Of twelve OF fifteen
miles In some cases. as many as tour or lVe
families have taken refuge under the same roof.
Your correspondent, attracted by he curling
smoke ascending from one OF the chmneys,
visited hut, for such it really was. which was
inhabited by some the involuntary oxlles. tie
found it consisting OF single room, and 0ccu-
pied By five children, two females and an aged
man
TLev were citizens Of Fredericksburg, whose
homes bad heretofore been cheered by COM
Portable circumstances. They were now bud :
died around a few burning sticks which had
been gathered by the old man. trembling fin
gers, ana the feeble flame fickered, and they
shivered with each blast of the vlntry wind
that blew its chilling breath through many q
creyice of their humble abode. The interior Of
the room showed the cleanliness ot>fenale care,
bat the slender clothing Of the inmates and
their sparse supply Of food we're painfully ap-
parent. Their whole reliance was the proyls-
ion made by public charity, and the incIement
weather and impossible roads had precluded
them from the procurement OF their regular
SUPPLIES. The country around affords nc
subsistence.
In a conference with the Mayor your CORES
,1on,1ent was informed that the relief fund IS
RAPIDLY diminishing, and Tho number and ne
cessities Of the applicants increasing. the