Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-30
From the Shenandoah vsnsy-Condition
of atauuton.


A correspondent OF the Cincinnati Gdsstt
writes as follows from staunton, Va, undel
date of the 9th instant;
" We arrived here yesterday, after making
trlumphal march from Lewlsburg, along
portion OF the line Of the Central Railroad, ant
destroying the railroad, the bridges and tele
graph from the Cow Pasture river to this place
driving the rebels from the country through
which we passed, and from their strong forti
aed position at Panther Gap.
" We LETT our camp at Lewisburg on the 80
OF June, preceded two days by the command
Of Gen. Crook, sending portion Of our diyis
ion on the Union road, threatening Salem and
Lynchburg. The rear guard had prisoner
with them, who was condemned to death. He
had murdered one Of our men last year. His
negroes Informed on him, and he acknowledged
the crime
His sentence created considerable excite
ment in Lewlsburg. After passing the Hot and
Warm Springs we struck the Cow Pasture
river, and at our noon halt graZed our horses
| in meadows alongside the Central railroad. In
this valley we had a skirmish with Rebel cav
airy, and a bushwhacker killed man Of the
sth Ohio cavalry. The Rebel was captured and
hung.
"When we came into the valley we were
destitute Of rations, but the first mill we camt
TO we found -four, meal, and corn. Ny com,
pany being detailed to forage here for the bri,
Rhue, VIC btAIttu OUT hnu CAME lnte bcttlemeDl
OF Dunkards, who were loyal. One old lady
brought us out pies and cakes, and her hus.
band told us that he looked for US two Year,
ago, and had cheese hid away for US at that
time. On our line of march we found a great
many Union men, and at several places they
made loyal demonstrations.
"staunton is lovely place, built on several
slopiDg hills and their intervening valleys, and
before our army entered, had mills, foundries
iron works and machine shops, but these hav,
been lifted from their foundations by the use o
gunpowder, and along with depots, bridges
| and rolling stock, arc now heap Of ruins
The rebels had erected q prison here for oul
men, something like Fair Grounds, calculating
strongly on the defeat Of Hunter. This the,
| now occnpy themselves. The battle that tool
place was between here and HarTisonburg, anC
was no doubt the heaviest ever fought in tn,
Valley. The rebel loss was near 5000, I sup
pose, from the information can get. Think th,
rebel power In West Virginia is completed,
broken, and that there need be no more fear O
raids.
"The ladies here have treated our OH
GERS with marked respect, little different from
their behavior two years since, and instances
have come under my notice where they wer,
very kind TO our wo nded. notice q soften
iDg In the feelings Of the people, which thlDl
is a good indication.
"From the Kanawha Valley to the Warn
Springs there has been very little cultivation o
the soil; but after we crossed the Warm sprinJ
Mountains, and came into the valley OF tn
| Cow Pasture river, 1t was different. II seemeI
As IL the people were dwelling in security, AnC
| expected that their mountain barriers woRlt
afford them protection.
sin this valley the growing crops of whea
and corn are abundant. Truly 1t 10 the gardei
OF Virginia, and this beautiful city, the gem o
the valley in its rich setting of mountains
regal old forests, green meadows and wayinI
wheat fields, forms picture of beauty that !
unequalled almost by any other section of ou
country. 1t is no marvel that the rebels woul
not give up this fine valley without q grea
struggle.
with a return Of peace, an infusion of tn
enterprising spirit OF the North and the oil
evil Of slavery eiTectually removed, this coun
try will become one OF the richest and fines
spots In the world.
"Iron ore sbounds In all the mountains, an
almost every spring aud fountain affords waite
power, and at several localities In the vale
there Is coal.n