The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-14
Tour Of Observation Through the
Conquered States.
THE STATE OF VIRGINIA
HOW THE COUNTRY LOOKS.
What the People Say and Think, and
What the Prospect Il,
&C.. &C., &c.

witnessed during that jouneytho aspect of the regions
Of conflict and the condition Of the people who survive
amid It's ruins
THE VALLEY AT THE END OF THE WAR
Shortly before the close of the war was up in tho
county Of Frederick, Virginia. and the all pervading
misery of the blooming but blighted valleys
Of the valley State shocked most thoroughly From
Winchester to Richmond, whichever route you took,
there nothing note but the devastating marks Of
Lines Of rifle pits and intrenchments carefully or
hurredly flung up by either army and CHASTITY mounds
OF nhumed slam SCARED tho fair face OF rich and
rarely diversified of country graces the earths
surface Despite of the beaming beauties with which
nature through soil and struggled to adorn these
productive and attractive regions all was havoc and
horror Neglected and fenceless fields trodden crops
dsmantled homeseads trampled flower gardens charred
ruins all the tokens Of territorial desoation were
painfully visible every side At distant intervals
along the road terrified inhabitants white and black,
peered tmdly behind temporary shelter safely
removed from the ordinary path of marching friend or
foe The roads themselves but gored and guttered
remnants of credtabe highways. You often found
them with unsightly extensions multipications Of
jagged paths making many roads, all running together
zigzag may DO needed by the ruthless claims of
moving of warriors with their terrible and cum
brous artillery appurtenances
WARS RAvAoEs
Though 1t shocked 1t did not surprise to discover
such universal and dismal havoc. Hardly mile Of the
country between the James and the POtomac-hadly an
acre between the James and the Shenandoah and the
Rappahannock and the York rivers, exempt from
tho trail of carnage Many little farm have seen in
bloom and promise and peace this week. which in yet
another week could only DO recognized by some bold
points in the landscape beyond the reach Of description
remember visiting C0xs farm, on the James, few
miles below Misunderstanding it one fno day last fail
1t then just the spot to 60 to and forget that the
demon Of strife breathing his pescnai breath all
around. Tho fences good Of yore the man.
sion in excellent order the grounds uxuriant the farm
fields golden, herds Of browsing cattle, broods Of
pigs and poultry-the whole picture Of peace and
| plenty. Irestoi change comes over the scene The
little oasis in made by was, sudden
absorbed and became part Of the black barren waste
That the fortune OF all north Of the James; but
there did not astonsh the conendng armies mado
that for years a battle ground. In the southern
portions Of the State however, happier and more hal
| cyon things looked upon as not only likely, but
certain To what extent this expectation came to DO
realized the observations of my tour will disclose.
| DEVASTATION EVERYWHERE.
| Beginning my journey Lynchburg, in Campbell
county, Virginia. after the surrender Of Lees army,
tracked the self same ravages of at STEP and
traced gloom dismay every face The rugged but
tween the James and the Roanoke rivers-one of the
most osouth centra localities the State The
around but repetition of what had noticed In
| the valley not long before.
There was near me a hillock-t would be a consdera
bic hill anywhere else-but the vcinage of tho Blue
Mountains dwarfed its dimensions assembled 1t, leay
ing the party l with to traverse their way to the
James around its base
| SUGGESTIVE INSCRIPTION
Almost on the summit OF this hill was lordly oak,
whose nobcst branches had felt the shock Of and
fallen Topped to its SIDE Some tourist had been there
lately; for tho, bark on trunk freshly Off
and inscription carefully engraved within, the form Of
carved shield. There singular appositoness In
this inscription The tree, the side, overlooked
the James that river strayed down from the opening
in the Blue Ridge, and the other side II stood in
sight Of distant and towering peak Of the South Noun
tains Whether the stencil which cut the characters
held by loyal rebel hands do not think the text de-
cides Either side may force 1t construction 10 suit
ITSELF while both could agree TO its appropriateness
In other respects II am not much mistaken II Is q
quotation somewhat altered, from Coeridge's Ode 10
Liberty, France" he called it himself Here is .
copy of from the giant old oak the crest Of that vr
| ginia hill
| Forgive mo, Freedom. o. forgive those dreamsl
hear thy voice, l hear thy loud lament,
| From yon bleak mountains coolest cavern sent
/ hear thy groans upon bloOd-stained streans
Heroes, that for our peaceful country persisted,
| And ye that, fleeing, spot yon mountains SHOWS
| With bleeding wounds, forgive me that cherished
| One thought that ever blessed our cruel foes.
| To scatter rage and tratorols guilt
| Where Peace her jealous home had built
| patriot race to dsnlerit
| or all that made those pleasant plains 30 dear;
| And with nexpiable spirit.
To faint the boodlcss freedom we'd have here.
Both the Roanoke and the James, at either side Of this
tree are indeed "blood stained streams" and in the
n
| ridge had many sanguinary skirmsh.
| FALLEN HOSPITALITY.
Turning down the hill cspied little house nestled In
dell over purlng stream about two hundred yards
beyond the valley at the foot of the height was leav
ing went to II, and there Is lesson In what trans
pircd distinctly In keeping with the illustrative charac-
| ter proposed Tor those sketches.
white lady-ber bearing and features and manners
(rather than her dress which scant and coarsc de-
cared her of the social rank usually implied by the term
| gresses old and pnched, its occupants As l
opened the mis- rabe wicket admitting " the weed grown
little yard around the cottage the old lady warned ms
| that they had nothing for me there
Apprchendng at that she took me for one OF the
army sraylings or wayarers, Who when most needing
Vrginias boosted hospitality found IL least, replied
MADAM, want but little Information, and not
| willing 10 pay even for that"
| ''Indeedi and In what currency"
The drift of that question understood instantly; but
not sure that ought TO show my colors until saw hers
| 1 answered:-"I am not much burdencd with either
currency, but have little Of both that passes In this
section"
"You have, have your And what may your haver-
sack contain Anything one buyf" she asked, point
| SProvsons for three days madam, for SELF
Won no 10 croua" around here wsrs you md
| fewer fed people than hungryfn
81 am not alone, madam, and our party ia not unwill
ing 70 share with those they meet IN want, although
We have common stock, each one carrying only suf
0And what sort Of things have your Como onto the
| n