Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-06-22

| ouss IRo writer, rolled IN single blanket,
tails to sleep; at miduiaht is Weakened to
ind tents pitched, everybody turning in,
aud the fire Pickering low. The officer
whose tent he shares informs him that
breakfast is ordered at four o'clock. It
seems just no time till the shrilI bueled
reVille rouses the camp. Breakfast lie
dispatched, tents struck, horses mounted,
all with astonishing celebrity, and again
gallops headquarters cayslcade. To. day
Grant rides his war horse "Cincinnati,n a
tall bay, the handsomest horse in the army
and the best. sas
1t is difficult for oneufamiliar with the
thriving villages and we'll cultivated farms
that cover the North to imagine YirRlna a
populous State. he steams hundrsd and
fifty miles up the Rappahannock aud sees
but one village port Royal), and but one
indifferent city iFredericksburg); up the
York and Pamunky hundred miles, and
comes to one or two "Landings" of two
or three houses, now deserted. Riding
over the country he is struck with thesparse.
ness of the population even as it must have
been before the war. Pretentious names
that at the North would mean a commHni.
ty of thonsands cover here an insignificant
hamlet of a dozen houses. He rides miles
and miles between farms, or plantations.
The houses are mainly small unpainted,
dilapidated structures, the outbuildings a
few negro huts. Ride up to them and he
finds them deserted, except, maybe by a
"native" too old for war, or old African
cronies, too old to run away. He sees no
school houseB-a few churches but no
school houses. / have ridden over nearly
all the roads in the region We have ira
versed, between the Rappahannock- aud
the James, and have seen barely one school
house. Curiosity led me to enter. Every
seat was furnished with spittoonI 1
found one book, q Smiths Grammar,
"adapted," as the preface states, "for use
in the Confederate States." So far as 1
can see, the adoption consists in substI-
tuting 80. s." for ~. s." and the elimi-
nation of sentiments in praise of liberty.
1t was published at Richmond, in the
"second year of the Independence of the
Confederate States," whenever that may
have been. i
The better class of houses are usually
deserted altogether, but if one is found still
inhabited by ''frst family" or the rem
nant of one-I have not yet seen single
able.bodied man, always only woman and
old men or very young boys-they are al
ways rank, out spoken Rebels. With the
''plain people" 1t is otherwise They either
pretend to be for the Union, or disclaim
having had anything to do with Secession,
or having any care which party sncceeds,
so they may be speedily let alone. They
say the rebel soldiers are as harsh and un-
sparing as ours they have had everything
taken from them, and can see nothing be.
fore them but starvation. They have no
crops in the fields. Go intottheir gardens,
and you will find nothing edible growing
excepting little corn and sweet potatoes.
But those gardens are one bower of gorge.
GUS June roses, and the peach trees are
laden with green fruit. In New England,
when the rose bushes are in blossom, their
foliage is falling here, it. is at its direst,
darkest green, and the effect is surprising
ly beautiful. srs.z..i .l-1l- t.!
This morning rode half a mile at right
angles with the line of march to strag-
Cling combination of cabins that looked
humble, but homelike. Before the door,
smoking veritable corn.cob pipe and
mending fishing tackle, was grizzled old
African patriarch. Seven bright-eyed,
kink haired youngsters. as counted them,
who crowded the doorways and lounged
on the grass, proclaimed him patriarch.
He had ,patriarchal name-EIi; had
bought his freedom "more dan forty years
dun gone;" was the father of fifteen living
children, nine Of whom are boys; has two
wives, both living with him, and is the
owner of seventy. i've acres of soil, on
which he lives. Iwish could report his
conversation literally. Three Of his boys
sis fghtin', sab, wild you somewhar. T
sent 'em Norf Dey made 'em work fixin'
for de batteries at Richmond, and WASH
gWyne 70 hab 'em helpin' on dat sile. Spect
dey is down in oareliny wid de culud sol,
diers dat left Washington." The old man
intends to go North with all his family;
says he shall have nothing to take with
him except the deed of his land. which he
worked for and paid for, Sab" bat reck-
ons be can get along sup dab durini ob de
wah, somehow" And 1 devoptly hope he
may. agsEkh