Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-07-15
The Shenandoah valley.

Uhai the J'aHsy Needs
> From Winchester TO nsrrisonburg
fences are scarcely to bSseen; bot few
houses have been destroyed, but near
Harrisonburg many barns and mills have
been burned. From Winchester TO
lSuausburg. scarcely any crops have been
PLANTED, and scarcely chicken, horse,
cow or pig is to be seen. Towards Har.
risonburg considerable wheat - out aHd
corn has been planted. Beyond Harris
Ionburg, towards Staunton, west OF the
turnpike, near Messy creek, is the sec
ton which, by order of General Sheridan
was laid waste for the alleged murder OF
Union officer. The ciuzens there assert
Iths, he was no! murdered, but killed in an
open fight, he having first wounded his
adversary in the arm. Within a circle OF
five or six miles in diameter, with scarce
Ily an exception. not house, barn mill or
other building has been left standing.
Many Of the ciuzens were Mennonnists,
who are nou-residents, and many Of them,
earlv in the war, had lefI for the North.
They are quiet, hard-woTking, indus.
trous people, never owning or hHIng
slaves, and are already returning to their
desolated farms, and putting up small
frame buiIdings TO shelter themselves and
families.
Extreme des,itution prevails through
out tho whole valley. Having been so
often raversed by both armies, farms
have been entirely stripped of their stock.
and IN many districts of all their fences.
The able. bodied negroes have all left,
those only remaining who are not able To
do any work, and who are a burden on
their former owners. In many cases the
agents Of the government compel lheIr
former masters TO keep and support them,
although recognizing the fact that they
are free, and while they are entirely use
less for agricultural or domestic purposes.
YThis is regarded as great injustice, as the
ciIizens have scarcely enough 10 support
themselves, and think the rights Of free.
dom should be reciprocal. They recog-
nize the fact that slavery is extinct; think
that lhey should havs the privilege TO en-
ploy such labor as should be most advan.
tageous to them, and Ihat as they cannot
have the services Of the negroes who
could labor and raise crops, the govern
mpnt should assume lie care or charge oi
tnose who are mere consumers.
As an illustration ol The way in which
things are done, negro woman came 10 a
provost marshall $ Office, and complained
that her late master had beaten and i'll.
used her. lie showed conclusively thar
her story was AN utter falsehood, and Of.
fered to furnish her and her three children
with complete outfit if tire Government
would take charge OF them. The provost
marshal refused 10 accept The offer, order
ed her ia,e owner 10 take her back, and
prescribed the wages he was 10 pay. I'm
fortunately he vas unable 10 support him
/. self and family, having plenty of first
class land but no one to work il. and a
crowd Of helpless old men and women TO
Isuppcit. This is mentioned. net for the
purpose of finding fault with the Govern.
menl, but 10 show the condition Of Ihe
people.
This inmenss valley, hundreds Of miles
gin lenglh, is one OF the finest agricultural
ard mineral regions in the world, and,
4 with free men and free labor, 80 limits
can be set 10 lis future greatness. Its
people are disposed TO receive frankly
Northern men and Northern capital. The
soil is unsurpassed for agricultural purpo-
ses, the whole valley being the best lime
stone land, and generally we'll wooded
and watered. What is now needed is
some capital 10 stock and improve the
farms, to rebuild mills aud manufactures,
and 10 develop the immense minefel re-
sources Of the valley. The best lands
may now be purchased on the most reas-
enable ierms-ssy for less than half what
they yogld command year or two
Ihencef Good farms, where the fences
h1ve been destroyed, may De bought FOR
S25 per acre; farms with sxeellenI build
ling and fences f0f $40. For txanp.r, .
farm containing 400 acres OF good arabic
Limestone lsnd, and 200 acres 6'sl-rsIe
while oak timber land. 6ne Two siO-y
brick mansion house large barn. tiahlms
) and other oul-buHd.ngs. wiih fine siftam
of water ruuuine through BE land, good
springs in ssrious paris uf the pf"peny i.
and good fences was oa' red for so PER
acre. On tie farm e4s spirndii crrp
. Of heat, corn and rta-,. lfis w'ihB 'ix
miles rl railroad, and ahoJi ~ Gl.~s
: from Washington 90 Da;uHufe.
Many German is.il les l,vD bsErsstf
ca. p. fouad ,h5if tay i"la ii..s ssiiry
maay yrsls alo. aid iaaia4 Win ihe'n
tleir Indu.iuOns anJ lhIhy l'shii>. h~Ve