The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-02-12
FROM TIE 4Tu O. v. I.
CAMr OF Arm o. V. L., Cd A. G., ]
Near Culpeppcr, Virginia,
January o7th. 1864.

Y
still. Everything has relapsed into
quietude, and the only question is
how we are to make ourselves the
most comfortable; and how we are &c
pass the Winter with the greatest
amount of pleasure. Nothing occurs
of mnch importance, in comparison
with Summers campaign; but the
little things which daily transpire in
our midst, would he looked upon with
interest, could they be witnessed by
the quiet folks ut home, who are un.
acquainted with an army and its ma
49, quOCI uUiuSS.
Another Summer and Falls cam
'paignings are over, and another
lengthy catalogue of deaths and de-
struction may be added TO the already
long one of two bloody Summers
but to-day the army is comfortably
housed for the Winter, with nothing
to combat with but cold, rain, and
mud; and it may again be said-"all
is quiet along the Rappahannock." :"
This part Of the "old dominion" ly-
ing between the Rappahannoek and
Culpepper is most beautiful coun-
try: being one level plain, like the
prairics Of Illinois, which can scarce
ly boast Of single undulation. On
the West, where the blue ridge looms
boldly upward among the clouds, the
landscape is rare and beautiful: to-
day the bright dazzling rays of the
sun strikes upon its snow white sheet,
and darts away only TO he again re
! flected from some other snow clad
peak. Southwark, beyond Culpep-
per, mountains are seen rising above
mountain in regular order. AS you
near the Rapidan small lifcless hills
crowd up the way, until Slaughter
Mountain, once drcnchcd With blood
by Pope's army, now with its snow
capped peak, and the floating, feccy
clouds above, crowds in upon the
scene. Then, the now uncultivated
vale, into whose peaceful rccesscs the
smoke OF battle has often settled. and
whose sleeping echoes have been
aroused by the din of battle, and un-
earthly sound ofhuman strife, spreads
far TO the base of the Blue Ridge
While the spectator stands gazing
beauty, horror and immensitv lloat
solcmnly before him. Beautiful coun-
try. once thousands made themselves
happy from the fruits OF thy soil; and
the laugh Of the merry was heard in
the mansions of the rich. But, alas
g.ft .f 4 1,
for thy evil thou hast received thy
due reward; and the iron heel of war
is fast grinding out the last ye8tige oil
thy boosted wealth and beauty; and
now scattered over thy deserted plains
may he Geen thousands OF hastily con
structcd shanties. which shelter the
Army of the Potomac. Beyond the
Rspidan the rebels hold domain, and
there, in there Winter huts, their
wretched bordes are nursing them
selves for the coming struggles of
next Summers campaign.
Culpcpper county, before the war,
numbered about six thousand of a
white population, with about an equal
number OF blacks. The plantations
were under high state of cultivation,
and several institutions OF different
kinds we're literally supported; now
there is scarcely sn acre of ground
titled, but few families remain, and
the Ablack element have left for
parts unknown.
I have held conversation with some
OF those who remain, and their tales
are truly painful to hear--of proper
ty they have lost, and suffering they
have endured since the war begun
They say they have been deluded by
their leaders, and the false step they
have taken they are willing to rctracc.
But alas! it is too late; with thoas-
ands of others, that step has cost
them their all. They readily admit
that slavery can never be galvanized
into life again; and as it was the
cause OF the rebellion, we can have no
permanent security OF peace while
this interminable source of dlscord
continues TO he part Of our polite
al system. Then, all that remains for
lttiS iiiVhuH VI bli' Union ~, lO nc UIln
and determined. We will then have
+'Unioh as it ought to be"-fres.
Those who were the most rabid Sc
.cessionis, freely admit that their Con
federacy is worth nothing; it was
soon ripe and soon rotten; and that
the rebellion is now crumblng under
its own weight Clearly have they
seen that all that glitters is not gold.
Where war is it is said there is no
civil law; and l truly believe so, for
every County seat that we passed
through in Virginia, the Court House
would be the first thing to be demol-
ished. The Court House in Culpep-
per is simply a guard house for pris-
oners; the furniture broken up and
burned. Seats upon which the
Southern aristocrat sat and threw
himself back upon his dignity, and
declared his slave his property, have
warmed many despised Yankees
hide; but such are the fruits Of war,
and the desolation that follows in the
wake Of an invading army.
Political matters are beginning to
be whispered about among the troops
considerably. assure you the sol
dier is not asleep when the interest of
his country is involved The coming
Presidential campaign will, no doubt,