The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-07-14
The DesoIation or virginia.

A correspondent of the Richmond Times
who made q trip on Horseback through the
counties of Orange, Culpepper and Fauquier
writes as follows of the desolation made in
that section, by the war:
With the exception of small enclosures
of one or two acres, here and there, there is
Scarcely fence worthy of the name, from
the Rapidan to Bull Run: and the fields,
once the pride of the farmers hearts, and
shut in by ten rails and rider are now
broad commons, with old landmarks obliter.
ated, bitches filed up, quarters, corn houses
and barns in ruins, while the lone and black
ened chimneys of the once happy homestead
stand like some grim old sentries on guard
until the last
i" The once majestic forests of pine, oak
hickory and chestnut, along the line of the
Orange Alexandria railroad, have disap
peared and given place to the rude huts and
cabins improvised by the armies Of Lee and
Meade, and instead of whortleberries and
chinquepins and chestnuts, one kicks up can
teens, worn out knapsaeks, odd shoes, bread
boxes, suggestive of hard tack, bayonet-
scabbards, with here and there stand of
grape, a ten pound Parrot shell, and every
where, almost, the hollow-base little min
Mes whose whistling tones are SO familiar
to us all.
The village of Raccoonford is village no
longer: Stevensburg is Stevensburg only on
the military maps. Brandy Station is bran
dy smash, and all to pieces at that and all
along the route, crossing and recrossing the
railroad, one sees nothing where man S agen-
ey is concerned, but utter destruction
The people are returning to their once
happy homes, after such hardships as ref.
ugees only can know, and are patching up
any outbuildings at hand for temporary res
ldence until the great house can be built,
and former comforts collected around them
The negroes in Orange county can be hired
for their food and quarters but this does not
pertain in iCulpepper and Fauqnicr. where
labor is scarce and in demand, as nearly
every negro-man, woman and child-left
home early in the war, with the hope of an
improved condition in the crowded. streets of
Alexandria and Washington The supply,
however, will be equal, and perhaps more
than equal to the demand, when the farmers
are once more prepared to cultivate their
lands, but just now there is a feeling of op-
pressive uncertainty hanging over every
mans head, and until cour1 are established
magistrates, sheriffs, surveyors, commission
ers, &c, are appointed, this feeling will pre-
vail, and tend materially to retard the devel-
opment OF the agricultural resources of the
country, and of that desire to do their duty az
good and loyal citizens which is the sincere
and hearty wish of nine -tenths of the people
OF Virginia, now that the terrible struggle is
over, and which has been finally decided
against them.
The farmers need nearly every article
necessary to 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 and integ-
MY, the prohhe soil will soon supply their
wants ana IN few years one will scarcely be
aOie 10 recognize this as the classic battle
ground OF the two celebrated armies of the
Potomac and Northern Virginia. i