Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-19
ARHY OORREsPONDEEGE,
From, The asd o.. v. -1s-RIghts and
Scenes around Winchester.



FpTroRs LEADEE 1t has been come time
since / have had oecssion to write con
eernlng our movements, for in times like
these, when the public mind is filed with
attention towards the great events of late
occurrences, it cares but little for details
of little or no importance.
The 2Sd is again at Winchester, and en-
camped on the ground that has bean the
scene of many conflicts, of defeat and vic
tory, of bitter humiliation, and of triumphs
grand and decisive.
For the first time In four years the Shen-
sndosh Valley can be said to be entirely
free from any organized rebel force. The
last vestige Of resistance TO our arms has
disappeared, snd the army OF the Shenan-
doah is lying idle, waiting events that may
turn up in other portions Of rebeldom.
The citizens Of this vicinity have come
to the wise conclusion that the rebellion is
dead, and that further resistance is useless.
They are anxious for the old state ofthings
as before the war. Those that were the
most bitter against the Union cause now
advocate it as measure of necessity.
This valley in common with other parts
of Virgins has suffered severely. It was
beautiful and fertile district, but now it
is 8 waste. Everything that FIRE could
destroy has disappeared, from HArper's
Ferry to Stsunton. Barns, mills, fences
and hundreds of dwellings, have been
swept away by the ravsges Of war, until
now the few remaining inhabitants are
ready to cry out "Our punishmentls greater
than we can bssr.
Winchester is an old and oddly built
town. The first settlement of the place
was made prior to the Revolution, and q
few buildings are shown, said to have been
built at that time. At one time it was in
possession of the British, andseverallegends
are extsnt concerning their occupation,
among which, Is one concerning q well of
water said to have been dug by the British
soldiers, one of whom had q peculiar gift
of discovering where water could be found.
The we'll or spring is peculiar, being sunk in
the limestone rock to where the water
apparently oozes through pores in the solid
rock, for the 81 les and bottom appear solid,
and no place where stream could run can
be found.
1t may be Of interest to your Masonic
readers TO know that the first Lodge insti-
tuted west of the Blue Ridge is at this
place, and is still working under the origi-
nal charter, which is dated 1907.
In the outskirts of the town there is an
old ehurch-ysrd, enclosed bya high stone
wall. A remnant of the old building still
remains, but the greatest object of interest
is the tomb of General MorgeD, of the
Revolution. The following inscription I
copied from the marble slab that covers his
grave:
MAJOR GENERAL DANIEL MORGAN
departed this life
en- Juiy the oh, 1902,
In the 6Tth year of his age
Patriotism ard NalOr were ths prominent features
Of his character;
and
the honor bic services he ren dered to his country
during the ReVolutlona W5E crowned him
with glory aud remain IN the hearts
OF his countrymen.
A Perpetual Monument
to he
Memory.
The old hero of the Revolution occupies
an obscure corner of the old burial place.
A small elevation of k-work is built
over his grave, and on that was laid mar
BILE tablet with the inscription above copied.
LA0 DAASh- VIII 10 AON VI III pleCcs.
and to the shame be il said of our Ameri-
can rage for relics, the marble has been
broken in many places, and large part
carried off in pieces. The part containing
the inscription barely remains, and even
that is broken into three pieces, and lies
on the ground by the side Of the grave.
Such Dissertation is disgrace TO our 9TH
erwise fair name; but Of one thing we are
proud-it was not done by the soldiers of
either army, but by citizen strangers who
have visited the place since the war.
There is q large and well organized ar
my about here, commanded by Major Gen.
ersl Hancock. We still belong to the De-
psrtment of West Virginia, but have been
temporarily assigned to the Army of the
Shenandoah.
The 23d o. Y. I. is now in the lst brig
sde 4th division, of General Hancocks
command. Brigsdier General DuvaI is our
brigade commander, and Brevet Msjor
General Carroll commands the division.
Tho men of our command could net be
in better condition or spirits, and are now,
as they lave ever been, ready to do their
part.
The weather is very fine. Drills and
parades are the order Of the dsy, with an
occasional grand review. SATIs.