Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1865-10-12
For the G,llipslis Journal.
q ~ For the Gallipslis Journal.
CAMP OF rHI 10TH o. v. l., I
ALEXANDRIA, Va, Sept. 10, '65. !
Mr.. EDITOR:

ALEXANDRIA, Va, Sept. 19, '65.
Mr.. EDITOR:
| E.F SIR:-Feeling assured,
as ! do, that you are still as you ever
have been, ''the friend of the soldier
and that the columns Of your worthy
paper are ever open to his contribu-
tions, 1 shall make no apology for
this intrusion. e -f 81 -r-
Since my last writing while in the
Shenandoah, many q change has Ia
ken place. The struggle between
two powerful foes is ended. A re-
bellion that will be green in histo-
ry's pages for geh@ations is crush
ed; still there rem aims a deep hatred
in the heart of many, Z and we are not
destitute of class that gives vent
to q conquered feeling, knowing
that we return only generosity to
their sex, for insults .
AS we stood on an eminence in
the Valley, surveying the landscape
DER" and saw marks of the ravages
of war, the desolated fields, which
were once rich with waving grain,
and the dilapidated houses of those
who fought against US, my thoughts
reverted back to the days of peace,
when no tramp of armed men re-
sounded through the rich valleys
and fertile hills of the "Old Domin-
ion." We could hardly realise that
there had been war, q gigantic re-
bellion against the supreme laws of
the land. Yet there were the evi
dence which speaklouder than words,
there we're the graves of the honored
and dishonored dead. But let us
hurry from that point as we
did some time since, when we sup
posed we were being moved to some
suitable place for being discharged.
But "no-sir," any thing else than a
discharge. And take our station in
the memorable old town of Alexan-
dria, noted as the place of erecting
the first brick house in the U. States.
The bricks of the same imported
from England and used as the head
quarters of Gen. BradCock's army,
previous to his marching against the
French and Indians at TT Dequesne,
in 1862. S7'.
Leaving the noise and hustle of
the city, we go up the Potomac in
search of Arlington Heights, passing
by dismanlled forts, from whose
frowning battlements, the grim "war
dogs" were once ready to scatter
death through the ranks of the foe.
We saw but few soldiers. Instead
or the two hundred Thousand veter-
ans, who were encamped in the vi
cinity prior to the grand review, We
saw a few camps, and the debris of
many.
We slowly walked up the gravel
ed walks of the Soldiers Cemetery
near Arlington, anxiously scanning
each headboard, with the expecta-
tion of seeing familiar names.
We were not disappointed. In a
secluded part of the ground we rest
ed at the foot of the grave of one
who in earlier days, had been associ-
ated with us in friendships golden
ties" His last resting place was
marked by plain wooden head
board, with the inscription, "Died in
defence of his country" Died to
save what father and brothers were
endeavoring to destroy. We turned
away from the tomb of the gallant
and brave, ard soon stood by the lit
tie white headboard with the inscrip-
ton, unknown. Unknown! and
yet in all probability this nameless
hero had relatives and troops of
friends-perbaps dear devoted wife
and children, more precious than life
to him. Perhaps the fatal missile
which sent him to the hospital, seal
ed his lips on the instant, though life
and consciousness still fingered
With these sad reflections we passed
out of the Cemetery, and started to-
ward Arlington, the former resi-
dence of George Washington Parke
Gusts, the adopted son of the
Father of his country. and more
recently the home Of Col. Robert E.
Lee, the patriot, now General Lee, the
traitor, which, during the rebellion,
was used as the headquarters Of
some Of our Generals, prominent
among whom was the lamented
Whipple who fell at Charlottesville.
AS We stood on the portico Of the
Arlington Manor, which overlooks
the broad Potomac, with the Capitol
looming up in the distance, its mar
BILE walls glistening in the rays Of
the noontide sun, and the neglected
Washington's monument on the
bank of the historic stream, we were
lost in the contemplation of the mis-
cries told and untoled. which Lee di-
rectly and indirectly brought upon
the country, by basely deserting his
country,s flag, and waging a cruel,
relentless war against the Govern
ment he had sworn to protect, which
had nurtured and educated him, and
made him what he was. But alas!
for mad ambition or 6dssr motive,
Lee, like Arnold, fell. But, unlike
Arnold, he took the step calmly, and
deliberately; and but for him the re
bellion would never have attained
the prominence it did, and the. civil
lied world would never have had oc-
casion to shudder at the eontemPla
ton of the horrors of Southern
prison v $3.50 ii
But this man has found his level
IU;4h H.. .,n,-snrars brand ON hia