Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-07-04
The DesOlatiOn of Virginia

A RIDE THROUGH ORANGE, CULPEPER
AND FAUQUIER C0UNTIEs-HoW THE
COUNTRY LoOKS-coNDITIoN OF THE
FARhERS-THE NEGROES.
A correspondeut of the Richmond Times" who
made q trip on horseback through the counties
Of Orange, Culpeper and Fauquier, writes OF the
desolaion made in that section by the war:
With the exception Of snail enclosures OF one
or two acres, here and there, there is scarcely 3
fence worthy Of the name from the Rapidan to
Bull Run; and the fields, once the price OF the
farmers hearts. aud shut in by ten rails and q
ridecn are now broad commons, with old land
marks obllterated, bitches filed up, quarters,
eornhouses and barns in ruins while the lone
and b!ackened chimneys Of the once happy home
stead stand like some grim old sentries on quad
until the last.
The once majestic forests Of oak, hickory,
chestnut and pine along the line Of the orange
and Alexandria Railroad have disappeared and
given place 10 the rlde huts and cabins impro-
Tised by the armies OF Lee and Meade, and IN
stead OF whortleberries, ehinquepins, and chest
nuts one kicks up canteens, Wornout knapSacks'
odd shoes, brpad.boXes suggestive oil the lnevita-
bic - hard. tack" hayOnet scabbards, with here
and there 8 stand Of grape, ten.pounder Par
rott she'll and everywhere almost the holiOWbase
" little Mnicsn whose Whistling tones are so ia
miliar to US all
q
ger. Stevensburg is Steyensburg only on the mil
itary maps. Brandy Station is a Brandy sIash,
and al TO pieces al that ana all along the route,
crossing and recrossing the railroad, one sees no.
thing where mans agency is concerned but utter
dtsolatOn.
The people are returning to their once happy
homes, after snch hardships as refugees only can
know, and are patching up any out6uilding at
hand FIR a temporary residence until the great
house" can be rebuilt and former comforts col
lected arouad them.
The negroes in orange county can be hired for
their food and quarters but this does not pertain
in Culpspsr ana Fauquier, where labor Is scarce
and in demand, as nearly every negro-man, wo-
man and child-left home early in the war, with
the hope OF an improved condition in the crowd
ed streets Of Alexandria snt Washington. The
supply however, viii be equal and perhaps more
than equal 10 tae demand when the farmers a'e
once more prepared 10 cultivate their lands, but
Just now there is 4 feeling OF oppressive uncer-
tainty hanging over every mans head and until
courts s.e established magistrates, sherTs, sur.
yeyOrs commissioners, 6c. are appointed, this
feeling will prevail, and tend materially TO re-
tard the development OF the agricultural res0ur-
ces Of the country and Of that desire to do their
duty as good and loyal citizens which is the sim
cere and hearty wish Of nine enths Of the people
OF Virginia now that the terrible struggle Is over,
and which has been De 5ided finally against them.
The farmers need nearly every article necessary
10 a successful cultivation OF their lands, and
with but very limited means for purchasing them,
no credit, and an entirely new system OF labor to
contend with, the problem of success seems to be
one Of difficult solution but with industry skill
aud int gritty, the prolific soil will soon supply
their wants, and in few years one wi II scarcely
be able 20 recognize this ss the classic battle
ground Of the two celebrated armies OF the POto-
mac aud Northern Virginia.