Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-11-03
yorre,Dondenee of tbe New York Post.

.
Z Correspondence of the New York Post.
MARTIEsBURG, Va, October 20, 1854.
a visit to this town since Sheridan be-
gan his operations in the Shenandoah
Valley is peculiarly interesting. The
place is now held as military post by
our forces, and its population is largely
increased by the arrival Of refugees from
all parts of the valley. Originally it con-
tanned between three and four thousand
inhabitants. Yesterday afternoon, after
obtaining quarters through the assistance
ofsome military friends, sailed out for
4 look at the town. '
A PICTURESQUE SCENE. ,-..g
Darkness was near at hand, and the
sight was picturesque in the EXTREME
Over a space of fifty acres or more were
spread unique clusters, hundreds of fami
les o! the Valley OF the Shenandoah. The
Government had furnishd them with soft
| bituminous Cumberland coal, which
abounds in this region, and each little
FAMILY had lighted pile which burned
bright, but smoky like a blacksmith's fire,
and around IL were grouped the few arti-
cells of household gear which, like the
children of Israel they craried with them
| from out of Egypt. They were scattered
over chests, in the lea of bureaus or be-
hind barbados of tables; covered with
old quilts or battered blankets, with moth
ing but the angry sky over their heads,
and the bleak, cold winds whistling
around them; the women with children OF
tender years, often with babes at the breast,
the young girls and boys, aud the feeble
old mentor there were no young or able
men-cowered over the itful bla ze of
these fires.
One woman nursed little babe careful
" wrapped in an old shawl, and her
| daughter at her side held another just
about as small. l asked her-for they
we're not displeased at questions, and |
waited for no introduction-"if the babes
were twins" "Yes," said she, "nine weeks
old, and she screened the wind from the
face of the child with her shoulder tive
had to leave seventy families all came
away at a time. Me and my children came
with them" "How many children have
you," said l. "Four children, sir; my old
est girl is twelve" "Where are you 60
ing ?'' awe don't know, SIR"
The country was lighted up with fires,
and the smoke and the dampness reflected
the light till it seemed that vast city was
spread around. strolled from group to
Sheltered by some old boards piled
against the runs of q brick wall, STUN
bled on the first case of "miscegenation"
ever saw. Facing the fire stood a black
Congo man of herculean proportions, dsnd-
ling in his arms beautiful blue. eyed child
with curling auburn ringlets. The delicate
spiritueLEe look of the child-which was
about two years old-attrncted my atten-
lion. presumed it had been his masters
aud asked him who be belonged tor go
lonol Grey WAS my masteri sir, blonged
. to der rebel army, he did, sir % "Well,
3 said 1, show came you to bring away his
, child 2" "Dis is my child, mas'r-ny OWL
child, sir. Dere's my wife and my other
D chiIlen, sir" Aud, sure enough there
: at his side sat woman perfectly white.
4 presumed she was of the 'poor white
class She was nursing little mulattc
= babe; and two other children of various
4 shades were playing with the FIRE, and thi
completed the family.
woMAS's STONY.
Farther on was seated on an old Ches
another woman; Nfobe in her DISTRESS
n "You look very sad, ma'a am" said 1. eyes
and feel SO, too, sir, v,replied she. "Bu
I've got through crying long ago, cir Pvt
no more tears to she'd" "Do you come
y from the VaIley2'' eyes; WEI are all from
. the Valley" allow far2" Nigh fifty
g miles l reckon We come. Why, we were
y rich" continued she; 1--WE had a nice farm
q a good house and barns, and let me tell
= YOU what we had. We had nine head o
. young cattle, we had four COWS, and foul
old horses and six colts. Then there were
thirty sheep and six fatted hogs, and sil
l. pigs. Then had In the house two barrels
of apple butter, three hundred pounds Of
honey, three crooks of butter, and had
silk in the house for two new dresses-tC
8 say nothing of my drawers being full o
u sheets and pillow cases, and oil kinds oil
3 house linen, and feather bed on eyerJ
8 bedstesd. Well, sir, Was.a Union wo.
! man, was; gave my honey and my APP
z Pile butter, and all my things to your men
ID when they came up there scouting, and
i never bregrudged it. When the order came
l for your men to clear the Valley, some Of
q them came while l was over to neighbours;
q saw the light in my direction, and, oh
- dear l knew what was going on knew
my barn was going. run all the way, and
n came on one man with pot of butter, and
!. another with pot of honey, and all my
things; knew whose they were, and When
got there they Quilted my house. iusl
had time to get few things together
there's all that's left, sir" pointing with an
j: air of unutterabls dependency to a little
}; pile of effects at her feet.
' Said l, "HsVe you nothing left but
those2" "0nly thirty dollars in money be-
}. Sides" said she. AVE sold colt to one of
your men; be was q kind man, too-for
thirty dollars. We had considerable con.
!, feders:e money, but that WAS no goodl"
,"WelI, where do you intend to go?" ask.
ed. -TMe and the children hope to go to
Ohio" said she;i"but We don't know as we
shall. We don't know what TO do"
J. With sad heart picked my way on
among the gypsey-l like biVouscs on every
side, until darkness was so near at hand
t that to prevent being lost, made my way
home as fast as possible. - : -
ARRIVAL OF TRAIN.
. This morning strolied out in the Keen
wintry wind to continue my researches of
the previous night. A long train of flour hun.