The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-12-21
VALLEY RoMAsoE.

/.
VALLEY ROMANCE.
The Shenandoah Valley is very vale
of romance. Nothing iu the history of
the war at all, compares in vivid, tragic
interest with some of the events which
have been identified with the marches of
this army The Secret story of the last
summers cam mpaign has never been, and
perhaps never can be, fully written. 1t
IS as yet too nearly identified with the in
terests of the cause In, this quarter to be
described at all, and The war must be
safely over before some of the most start
ling facts will ever be known outside Off
cial circles.
The guerrilla system is one of the ele-
ments in the web of romance which the
war has woven in the valley. Barbarous
and terrible as this warfare is becoming,
it has had in the past-although IT scarce
ly yet retains-an air of chivalry that
dulled the edge of its horror W bile the
majority OF men belonging to the bands
of Mosby. Gilmore, McNi"l, and the rest,
are simply full-blooded rufians, bent on
murder and plunder, there were some
among them who attached thems elves
purely from motives of revenge for fami-
| ly insults and losses, and few from mo-
tives of duty, ss they understood the
term. Others did it out of deviltry-
harem scarem youngsters badly bred,
badly governed, and lacking anything
ave the desire to be in a row. One of
the last named sort was picked up at Mil
wood when the Sixth corps marched
through that place in October He was
boy of about eighteen years. home on
leave, and quito unaware of the vicinity
of orr troops until he. was surprised in
the house of hisTaunt by couple of Uni
ted States soldiers. A saucier, more un-
concerned young scamp it is impossible TO
name. He was a boy, certainly, after
Mosby's own heart.
The sons of some of the most promi-
nent people iu the valley are cuerrillas =
| One OF the deccndents of Washington
Bushrod Washinetor-ist a member Of
one of these bands. Lawyers, physicians
and men of wealth are said TO belong tn
them. They are an Ola podri7a of all
! sorts of characters, and If is for this rea.
sor-that their members belong TO every
class of society ard have relatives OF
friends in every place in the valley--that
the movements and sometimes the plans
of this army have so often become known
to the enemy. Winchester and Martins
burg arc infested with their spirs. II
has been considered necessary since tile
late descent of Mosly's men close upon
The pickets of the latter place, to cstab-
lish system of security favoring of those
prevailing in the wars of Europe. Nearly
every street in Martinsburg is now barri
caded, and no person can walk the street
at night without the countersign. II
will be understood from these facts thai
we have TO contend in this region, Do
alone with an enemy in front hut with ar
enemy in the rear, annoyingly formidable
because all his movements are made il
ambush. ia4i go l
Very few rebel families are without /,
representative either in the guerrll;
bands or in the regular rebel civalry.-
There have been Instances during the re
cent battles where the enemy's officer
and men have been shot dead on thei
own grounds, within sight of their owl
homes. Colonel Marshall, WIN was kill
ed in the cavalry fight along our from
less tEan week; ago, fell within muske
shot of his children-beautiful children
who were being petted by some of on
own officers upon the steps of ston
mansion near Newtown, at that time. 1
son of Mrs. Davis, very prominent sc
eession lady, residing just this side o
Newtown. was in the same fight, an
: twice within hail of his own home
which he had not visited for two years
without being able to reach it.