New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-17
Virginia Railroads, and a Trip over some
If them-A Miscellaneous Party and n
Rough Road-Efects OF Wnrfare-A
Frightened Railway-Barter Trade in
ond-Opportuni,ies for Yankee
Enterprise-Stateo OF Travel.

From Our Special Correspondent.
RICHMOND. Va, July 49, 1865.
On Tuesday, July IL, the War Department
gave up to those of their that were loyal the
railroads Of the State OF Virginia And on that day.
by the invitation Of Philip Quigey. esq, of the Board
of Public Works for the State of Virginia your Speca
Correspondent invited to pass over the Orange and
Alexandria Road to Gordonsye, and thence over the
Virginia Central TO Richmond 1t was trial trip the
last having been made four years ago-Apr IL. 1861.
6ipce then war had desolatei Northern VrginAto its
utmost But with the advent o peace, enterprise was
to resume its ordinary functions aud Richmond was to
be once more welded to Washington by an iron tie.
We left Washington al O'Clock, no longer passing
over the Long Bridge which is once more to go back
70 its old use OF horse and foot and Of Our
company was miscellaneous soldiers in charge OF sun
burned prisoners officers and negroes the invarable
butternut travellers for business and travellers for
riosty all rejoicing In the revival Of railroad travel
Our progress was necessarily slow. Tall grass had
grown up in the bed Of the unused railway and rust
covered the iron bars Still slowly worked our way
along till arrived at Marsh Creek where missing
bridge invited 70 stop and But Mr. Quigley s
energy enabled us TO decline the invitation strong
gang Of laborers shed up the missing treses Of the
bridge. Sleeper and struger and rail were brought
from the neighboring embankment where our Rebel
friends had pitched them And after an hours delay
We sped onward till we were brought up by burned
bridge over Tinpot Creek There weary train had
70 make its final rest But the passengers strong IN
faith and pluck walked to the Rappal nnock crossed
that stream swollen and angry With rain. in boat and
there found waiting train, that boro US
safely through to Richmond. We arrived
here at 5 o'clock Wednesday morning
Now that the road has been opened travel will at once
resume It's regular trips. BY the time tlat this letter
rsaches Won. trains will run direct from New
York TO Richmond making the trip through In day
Mr. II. Phoebus agent Of Adams Express CANE
through with us to organize their fast express trains
Rebellion belongs TO past; travel and business u
the present and future.
II was depressing TO travel leo miles over countr,
th,t Nature created for garden. and TO witness tn
rayages of civil war. In other part Of our Who'll
copptrv can 80 much Of the desolang effects Of war b
seen as in this trip far the residence OF man
concerned the country is desert. Between Alex
.pdria and Gordonsve, a miles, but one church re
main, standins-the Catholic church at Fairfax. A
Manassas where 40 or so houses stood before the Re
belhon now 40 or 50 chimueys and cellars tell wher
tbs village once stood; notsa house remains. Their
were no signs Of cultivation, and the land had all re
turned TO its original state Of meadow and pasturage
Here and there labor living in tents was culng out tn
best OF the grass and cutting it for Winters use Bu
the vast majority Of Natures products FOR that hundred
miles distance will 60 TO seed and 10 decay and onlI
he useful in manuring the land for another year.
v.s one vast pasture; field Of Nature without crea
spre 10 feed on ito Juicy richness The timber has al
seltsd away The labor Of man foy two centuries Ass