Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-08-02
DesOIatiOu Of the Valley of the James.

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In 1860, the Valley Of the James, from Rich
uond 20 Norfolk, would have produced subsis-
toDce for = million Of men had the aim in the life
Of the planters been to make the most out Of their
lands and labor but being rich men, living at their
case. they were content with moderate yield from
the soil the same being consistent with the happi-
ness OF those who titled the fields
Still the plantations were well kept and cultiva-
ted ana contributed yearly their quota tohe worlds
subsistence. The war came, and during its first
wear this portion Of the State was included within
The Federal lines. The planters left their homes
sad came TO Richmond; the colored population
withdrew to the SeabOard. The country became a
wilderness, and so continues. The richest and most
productive portion Of this continent now lies
waste Of tangled grass and briars.
With the conclusion of the war, the planters or
their representatives have returned TO their home
stesds; but they are unable to do anything in the
way Of cultvatng the soil for lack Of labor. Those
who should be earning livelihood By hon
ezt labor. on The James River low ground, where
they first saw the light, are enjoying themselves in
Norfolk and Portsmouth.
What Is TO be the future Of James River Valley
Is more than can be positively stated at this time,
though il Is not impossible that there are keen spec
ulators somewhere whe look forward 10 the time
when the lands and houses OF this section viii be
sold for taxes. OF course, if such q thing should
5sal II could not be attributed to the deep design
u any class Of men but must be accepted as one Of
the logical results" Of the war.
To show the condition Of the James River cs-
tates il is only necessary for Us TO mention the
amount Of lands now under cultivation Oh some of
The most noted. At Curls Neck, Taylor's and Tur-
Key Island, the plantations just below Graveyard
Bend wheTo formerly there wasten thousand acres
# wheat and corn, there is now wheat, and only
such corn crop as the returned owners have been
able, mostly with their own hands, TO plant since
the first Of MAY.
p-,,-,' ILL, IN The ,,,,,,-ito si,la ,f tho riyar
once q garden spo:, Is now q tTampled wilderness.
Ha1als on the north side where five hundred acres
were cultivated, now lies barren. At Royals a
place Of four hundred acres Of cutivable land there
Rre now, perhaps, many as thirty acres IN corn.
Nj Hill Carter, at Shirley with the aid Of some
old colored hands cultivates garden patch around
bis residence.
Bermuda Is a village common, where there are
more cabins than Cornstalks. The magnificent
plantation Of Eppes Island, opposite City Point, Is
untitled and uninhabited. Berkeley and Westoyer
once the residences OF the Harrsons now the prop
erty respectively Of L. ID. Crenshaw and a. j. El
lett Of Richmond, and memorable as the position
taken up by Gen. McCellen after the battle of Mall
vsru Hill, viii this year produce grain enough to
feed the animals ferGE nature that have pitched
their sbOde.
The same may be said Of Swynyards and VIII
uoxs At the two WyanokeS the Douthats are
trying, in the face Of every imaginable difficulty,
70 make quarter crop. All Of the south side OF the
river lies q wild waste,
On Barndon Neck, where there seven thousand
sores Of arabic land, as rich as the banks Of the
Nile, there viii, this year not be five hundred
bushels Of corn made On all the plantations along
The river there arc heavy crops ofcloyer and in some
instances Of volunteer oats which will be lost from
the iPossibility Of procuring labor to cut and Sc
cure them
As VIC have said it is impossible to tell what is to
be the fate Of the country. The owners of the land
cannot fiyr wear at least uDtIl there Is an mml-
grafton Of white aborers from Europe, obtain reia-
Die labor. Such ColOred persons as can be induced
70 promise 70 labor are oocLle TO be sufficiently
bed upon TO authorize planters to undertake exten
sive and expensive agricultural operations.
While they arc waiting for the confscstion scheme
20 be disposed Of and the country to settle down,
the taxes State and Federal viii eat up the estates.
There Is nothing for IT, il appears l. us but to
trust in God and be Of as good cheer as the surround
ings will admit Of