Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-06-05
Virginia Correspondence.
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FRIEND COVER
Virginia VIII ever
stand forth in the annals Of Amari
can History, as the scene OF tie
most sanguinary conflicts during the
war Of the Revolution as well a. the
ground most sex crely contested by
Loyalists and ConteGuratcs during
the four years Of the Great Rebellion.
Her soil, from the days of Capt.
John Smith to the surrender Of Lee,
has been mostencd with the blood
OF heroes and martyrs, who have per
lied their iivcs for the noble cause
of human freedom.
Nature was prot'use il the bcsluw-
ment OF her gifts upon This portion
OF the sunny South; and it IL sad
thought indeed that land so beau
tifui, so fruitful, so congenial III eli.
mate shoald have been 1cdsted, al
most destroyed by the tread Of ar
mics and the devastations CT war.
AT present many portions of he
country remind westerncr Of the
mineral regions Of Wisconsin the
soil being Of a deep red color, and
thrown up in many localities ia the
form OF forts, reminding the writer
of vast heaps Of dirt thrown from
miners pits in the vicinity of Wing
vile and Mineral Point Especially
is this the case in the vicinity OF
Winchester, the scene Of one or two
Of the most hOtiy contested battles
during the dark days Of the southern
cOnfederacy.
Winchester was settled more than
l25 } ears ago and at present con
tains about 5000 inhabitants beside
= large proportion Of Blacks. It's To-
cation is IN g beautiful valley, and
amid sceE4ry grand aud picturesque
AT n distance OF : or 10 miles, ranges
OF the Blue Mountains are seen on
either side with .Nalyiaad Heights,
a. the base Of which il Harpers'
Ferry, Is miles distant, rising TO
view like some lofty promontoly Of
Oriental lands. Approaching. from
almost any direction, one bias
pleasant view Of the city, which be
fore the war presented such beau
litul appearance, sleeping quietly
amid Is forest OF Mulberry and
Mountain Ash, as to make it the
pride and glory OF Virginia 5 sons
sal ject ior the artists pencil and
the poets song War changes the
whole aspect of nature, and It's infu
epce rests like a death pail not on y
over Winchester but over the entire
South. During the continuance of
lie rebellion, whole To- ests, miles in
extent, " ere destroyed by the hanGE
of soldiers beautiful and fragrant
shrubUery iell beneath fae hand Of
the woOdn4n ; magnltic nj and pal
atAl mansions were riddltd by she'll
and shot thousands OF acres OF the
most highly cultivated lands wcro
stript OF wood aud fences, SO that
even in the vicinity Of Winchester,
the country is SO nude OF timber hat
| was torcibly reminded OF a west
ern prairie with scarcely a shrub 10
break the monOtony OF the scene.
Entering the city from the north, the
first thing which attracts the eye OF
the stranger is the site OF old Fort
London established under the super
intendence of W Arlington, and where
tie Father of our country. laid the
foundation Of his military character
long before the days OF the Ameri-
can Rev olution. The site Of the
Fort is now occupied as citizens
residence and is easily discerued trcm
every part Of the city. The old
ueL is still used, which was digged
bv the order of Washington, and
from which his own lips were often
cooled by its crystal waters, The
principal streets are laii off regular
~; enc Of which Sealed Lopfoe 10
tp, r,o.latc TIE lame o. tbs most
cassie spot within the 0ld Dominion.
Gen. BraGdock is SOL remelnoosrd
by a street which bears his name,
( and until within few years, the
house he, and the y uthfal Washing
ton had their head quarters, was
standing. rs a relic OF the french
and Indian war. The main business
street Loudon) is half a mile IN
length. running due south, ana eX-
ceedingly narrow reminding one N
that respect Of the main street IN
the city OF Galcna. Winchester Is
we'll supplied with churches, ole o:
the largest of which, belongs to me
Methodist Episcopal church. This
has been the scene OF much strife
during the last year; the rebel Meth
odists claiming il as their property
in defiance OF The deed itself, aud The
claims Of the proper owners and
We're oniy disPnssosstd bJ the Pres
ldents order N connection with th(
strong arm of military power 9th
81 churches in tho city havo nc
trouble about Ownership or oceupaac,