The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-11-10
Correspondence of the Jeffersonian Democra.
A Visit to Manassas Junction.

A Visit to Manassas Junction.
MANASSAS, Oct. so, 1865.
The regular running Of the trains on the
Orange and Alexandria Rail Road, fur
nishes an opportunity Of visiting some Of
the portions Of Virginia that, once OBJ
scure, have forever become historic by
having been The theaters OF some Of the
most important of the battles Of the war
Just closed. Awaiting myself Of the fa.
c,llies thus afforded, l recently spent a
day in the vicinity OF Manassas Junction.
The plain OF Manassas embraces an area
of about Six miles square. 1t is not q
dead level, like some Of the prairies OF
the West, but is gently undulaling, af.
fording many slight elevations, that are
excellent sites for buildings, while the
whole is susceptible Of culture. Some Of
the sites are still occupied by houses. and
others, where dwellings once stood, are
marked by ruins that tell of the ravage'
of war. Before the war, the farms upon
this plain were quite large. II never
was what might be called thickly.settled
In the vicinity Of the railroad, such ele
vatious as admitted Of being used as de-
feusive positions were fortified, and The
remains Of earthworks. the erection o1
one or the other Of the contending ar
mics, are still 10 be seen.
At Manassas, upon the retreat Of Gen
Pope, q great many cars were burned
and .he town was successfully occupied
. by both armies. Gen. Beauregard wa
here for long period. and it was iron
this place that the troops under Gen
D Johnston marched TO the Grss battle o
Bull Run, and decided the fortunes o
that eventful day. The town OF Manas
sas, which consisted of few hundred in
habitants, was destroyed, not house be
t ing left standing. In June last, th
. trains ran pas, Manassas Junction, a
through an open field. In July Of th
present year, Capt. Oliver P. Cleppell, c
Co. X, 18Th New York Volunteers. 100
n down a car. load OF lumber, and put up
shanty, preparatory to the occupation {
!, the place. Others soon followed. Th
II Captain purchased some land, and CON
menced the erection Of hotel. which b
now occupies. Part Of il is soon to ;
= used as ticket Office and telegraph o
fee, part as q store, and The residue as
hotel, while the hall belonging TO it
=, learned was to be given for the holdir
r. r. OF religious services until the new Tow
re of Manassas was largo enough TO build
q; q; church. There is also at this place o.
M er other hotel, q store. and several 9th
ed buildings. As this is the station whe
i. visitors 10 the Bull Run battle fields lea
% d. the railroad, il will doubtless be a poi
ty where considerable travel will center.
Those that wish to visit the batll
Al al grounds will find here, also, q livery {
n Iablshment. ready 10 accommodate thel
's' Looking over This plain OF Manass'
and considering the many inducements
- offers for the en,erprising farmer; 8
we'll adapted TO the growth OF col
wheat, grass and vegetables; to
cultivation OF the spple, peach q
g. grape its proximity to Alexandria a
q Washington as a market: the fact II
butter, cheese, and milk even. could
sent to either OF those cities with less d
u tance in transportation, by far, than ,h'
{ articles are carried to the cities at
- North and the fact that all the luxur
that The ocean and rivers furnish in
way Of oysters and fish. are withic e,
ted reach and also that farms can he p
at chased at much lower prices than
me me land lying not farther from small villa
of of west OF the Mississippi River; it will
quite surprising il it long remains unoc
,si' pied, as it's now. And. not only he
!" but all along tho line Of this railroad. .th
Il are quantities OF land .thst u might
-. we'll ior Northern farmers to look at.
= fore seeking permanent homes elsev vh.
to M
ay, .-- l-.--.-