Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-22

turusd from trip through the entire Val.
ley Of the Shenandoah. Some Information.
with regard to this region will probably be
interesting to many readers of the Tribune
This gentleman started from Winchester
on Thursday, the 25th of May, for Hsrri.
sonburg. At Winchester he found a rebel
soldier from up the Valley who had come
in buggy to that place to take the oath of
allegiance, and who agreed to convey our
friend to Woodstock. From Woodstock he
hired a conveyance to Mount Jackson
From Mount Jackson to New Market went
on foot, and took the stage from thence to
HarriSonburg, distance Is miles, fare So, as.
From HarrisoDburg he went 70 Stsunton,
rs miles, and from thence to OraWford's
Springs, SO miles-all the way by private
conveyance. Returning, took the cars from
Stanton to Richmond, bat found the rail-
road much broken, the bridges mostly gone,
and part of the distance travelled By horse
cara.
From Winchester to Harrisonburg fences
are scarcely to be seen; but few houses
have been destroyed, but near Harrison
burg many barns and mills have been
burned. From Winchester to Strasburg
scarcely any crops have been planted, and
scarcely chicken, horse, COW or pig is to
be seen. Toward Harrisonburg consider
able wheat ia out and corn has been plant.
ed. Beyond Harrisouburg, toward SIauu-
ton, west of the turnpike, near Messy
Creek, is the section which, by order of
Gen. Sheridan, was laid waste for the al
legged murder of Union officer. The
citizens there assert that he was not muir
dered but killed in open fight, be having
first wounded his adversary in the arm
Within a circle of Eve or six miles in
diameter, with scarcely an exception, not
house, barn, mill or other building has
been left standing. Many of the citizsns
were Mennonnists, who are nor. resistants,
and many of them early in the war had
left for the north. They are quiet, hard.
working, industrious people, never own
ing or hiring slaves, and are already re.
turning to their desolaled farms and put
ting up small frame buildings TO shelter
themselves and families.
Extreme destitution prevails throughout
the whole valley. Having been 81 often
traveIsed by both armies, farms have been
entirely stripped of their stock, and in
many districts of all their fences. The
Sble-bodied negroes have all left, those
only remaining who are not able 10 do any
work, and who are a burden on their
former owners. In many CAGES the agents
OF the Government compel their former
IL
recognizing the fact that they are free, and
while they are entirely useless for aEricul.
tural or domestic purposes. This is re-
garded as great Injustice, as the citizens
have scarcely enough to support them.
selves, and think that the rights of free
dom should be reciprocal. They recop.
nize the fact that slavery is extinct, think
that they should have the right to employ
euch labor as should be most advantageous
to them, and that as they cannot have the
services Of the negroes who could labor
and raise crops, the Government should as.
sumo the care aud charge of those who are
mere consumers.
As an illustration of tho way in which
thiuge ore done, negro woman came to d
Provost MARKETABLE office, and complained
that her late master had beaten and i'll.
used her. He showed conclusively that
her story was an utter falsehood, and Off
cred to furnish her md her children with
complete outfit if the Government would
take charge of them. The Provost Mar
shal refused to accept the offer, ordered her
late owner to take her back, and prescribed
tho wages he was to pay. Unfortunately
no was unable to support himself and fam.
lily, having plenty Of frSt-class land but DO
one to work it, and q crowd of helpless old
men and women to support. This ia men
TONED, not for the purpose OF finding fault
with the Government, but to show the con
dilion of the people.
A large number of the people have been
friends of the onion from the beginning,
but we're forced into the support of the
OODtederacy, and not a few have suffered
severely in consequence of their well.
known Union feelings. The whole people,
win very few exceptions, recognize the
great question as forever settled. They are
heartily tired OF the war, having expert.
euced lts most terrible evils. They desire
to return as soon as possible to the Quiet
pursuits of industry, and trust that The
people of the North will meet them In n
kind and fraternal spirit. And SURELY snob
ehonld be, and We believe is, the feeling of
the North toward them. We shall asain
become a great brotherhood, and free from
the once fatal disturbing element, will
be more closely bound in interest and afFec.
ton than ever before,
This immense valley, hundreds of miles
| 10 length, is one of the finest apricnItural
and mineral regions in the world, and with
Tree men and free labor, no limits can br
set to its future greatness. It's people arc
disposed TO receive frankly northern men
and northern capital. The soil is unsur.
passed for agricultural purposes, the whole
NAlley osluB Ihe oest limestone land. and
generally we'll wooded and watered. What
u now needed is some capital to stock aud
improve the farms, to rebuild mills and
manufactures, and to develope the i'm.
meUse mineral resources of The valley.
The best lands may now be purchased on
the most reasonable terms-say for less
than half what they would command a
year or two hence. Good farms where the
fences have been deetroVRi NAV hn borr,L,
for $25 per acre; farms with excellent
buildings and fences for $40. For example,
farm containing 400 acres good arabic
limestone land, and 200 acres frst rate
white oak timber land, iue two story
brick mansion house, large barn, stabliDg
and other outbuildtngs, with a fac stream
oI MAtet running through the land, good
aud good fences, YVES offered for $40 per
acre. On the farm was splendid crop of
wheat, corn and grass. 1t is within .six