The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-07-27
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Notes on West Virginia.
CnAn1EsroY, July Nm. lSG6.

CHApLEsToN, July l4th, 1866.
have at last pitched my wander
ing tent in the great Kanawha Valley.
by far the richest and faircst portion
of this State, and although much has
been written about this region, per-
haps some facts about it will yet not
be devoid Of interest.
The varying issues Of the war made
sad havoc with the wealth and indus
tries of this Valley, which are rising
slowly from the ruins The educated
and wealthy families, almost without
exception, went into the rebellion, and
nearly every abe-bodied man took up
arms on one side or the other. This
county, alone, sent nearly three thous-
and men into the Union army and
kept them there to the end At the
outbreak Of the war nearly this whole
people we're Union as also | am
told was nearly all of Virginia, and
had the Government been determined
and instant at the beginning, they
would have found thousands to aid
them, where they found none But the
/ long teachings of the followers of JEFF
ferson had left the people in painful
doubling as to which, State or Nation,
their first allegiance was due The
/ National Government was insulted
and defed, and neither lifted hand
or spoke word in defence. The words
Of Phillips and Greeley, and Others. Of
that ilk, "let them CO. were sown
broadcast Union men were neither
promised aid or protection in return
for their devotion; the national Gov
eminent became contemplate in their
eyes. The seed which Jefferson Da-
Wis had sown ripened fast during
those waiting anxious months; a sin
gle bold blast would have withered it,
but it was not blown, and at last the
harvest was gathered The first reb-
el regiment that left this county was
commanded by Col. Tompkins, an old
army officer He drew his men up be-
fore him, and said, I'm taking com
mand ! want you-to understand my
motives; | love the Union, / hate the
rebellion, ut | am compelled to de-
spise what ] love, and to admire what
| hate. | say before you that if the
Government had logged South Caro-
lima, l would have applauded and
helped; but it did not; it has not even
spoke one braye word; it does not of
fer to defend us; it does not plainly
promise to defend itself; it stands
trembling, cowed, contemptible. II
even by its silence and audience Of
rebels, admit the whole State Rights
/ theory; perhaps it is true. There is
no moro delay; we must choose.
5 cannot leave home and friends.
: draw my sword for my State These
| words, perhaps, express the scnti-
: ments of Il large part of those who
went off under the State flag. What
sacrifice Of blood and treasure that first
hating cost us
There are many rebels about Us
here. Many of them bitter and re
vengeful, but cowed and silent. SC,
across the street an ex-rebel Member
of Congress, walking arm in arm Will
: Il Confederate O. NJ" Most of tn,
4 physicians here became surgeons in
the rebel army, and out of the thirt,
q original members of this bar, onl,
: four can now practice | met las
evening a brother of Gen. Early who
formerly lived here. Bishop Johns
: at one time so much spoken of anc
It exerting powerful influence for thu
IS rebel cause, administered the rite O
confirmation here few Sabbath
Sluct, Nllu new lOlcWuIJ IlODluSOD
implicated in the assassination o
= Lincoln, preached in the Presbyterian
" church, of which he was formerly pas
tor, recently. An ex-rebel Chaplain
j. breaches here tomorrow. But per
haps l have talked about rebels unit
, you tire of it, With rebel graveyard
q and an old rebel camp in sight, and
"a young lady singing Dixie in th
next house, l have perhaps becom
garulous,
THE SEASON AND CROPS.
il The SEASON is, doubtless, more ad
l. vanced here than with you Apple
are ripe; green corn is ready for tn
table; blackberries ARE abundant Of
,e the street; tomatoes are ripening &c
, &c. The heat has not been very OF
} pressiye yet. The days are often no
/ but the nights are cool, and the al
" dry.
) There is much in this valley that
/ historic Washington frequently tro