Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-10-17
ALEXANDRIA.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER IL.


food for conversation, in all this section Of
Virginia, not only for the present generation,
but for their chldren's children. Tradition
VII! then take up the story, and transmit to q
future postcrity what so many now living have
seen with their own eyes. In the coming years,
the young will
Tin winter tedious nights sit by the fire,
with good old folks and let them tell the tales"
Of what our people saw and suffered. There
is hardly hill or valley, a mountain or a
stream, farm house or q village, around which
does not cluster recolcctions connected with the
fearful strife; and often, with the gallant
achievements and successes OF those who fought
50 brayely or concnded 50 earnestly, for the lost
cause. Even now, aged men who could only
look on at the contest as it ragged, and stalwart
youths who took part in the shock of arms,
many Of whom bear on their PERSONS the
wounds received in battle, when recountiug
what they were the witnesses Of, or paGtici pants
in, will have that
'Melting heart and brimful eycH
Hhieh is so contagious among the listeners, and
with which The bravest OF those who took the
opposite side, do not fail to sympathiz4, if they
cannot approve The chokcd utterance the
deep sigh, the silent tear, are more eloquent
than the most eloquent language.
People used TO call, after the old Indian wars,
Kentucky the dark and bloody land But
Ours was the 'bloody land, y for four OF the
long years just past 1t was bathed in blood
ctnG lighted up with fire We,who live on the
l2nd, can hardly ourselves yet realize what that
VAR wasi when compared with the other wars
which have taken place in Europe and Amcri-
&c within the last century.
The beautiful Valley of Virginia. almost the
richest and loyeliest land upon earth-and all
jhe ncighboring Piedmont ana River coan-
t.y--thc frontier Of Virginia, -was the arena
mhcre contending armies fought-whcrc the
ieIcest encounters ensued, and wrec grim
2isaged war" never, during the strife,
'smoothed his horrid front They viii take
you now, to the hill tops, aud point out to you
Cor miles and miles around-as far as the eye
can rcach-the spots from which arose the
smoke and flames Of Hunter burnings They
;Fi!l carry you through Winchester, and Berry
vile, and other towns, and show the marks Of
bullets upon the houses il the streets, the
charrcd and blackcucd walls OF the dwellings
md stores, and the remains Of the destruction
10 every direction. They Will conGu3; you TO
Edwards Hill, near LecSburg, from whence
Fitzpatrick hurled bis iron missiles upon L de-
ienceless town. full Of women and children.-
They will let you know, that here, on this de
lijqity Alosby in one of his raids, turned upon
his purSucrs, and with his own hand captured
those who undertook to follow him; and that,
Or that road, he made daring dash, and seat
cred those who thought they had surrounded
nm They vii! go with you to tie scene of
conflict at Balls Bluff, Vienna, Kcarncy's town,
:\abctown, and hundred other places. Here
was g cavalry charge-there was I sklrmlsh.-
iiere are the 'StonewallS," there the woods,
:lom which rifles cracked, and nuSkets poured
tncit yolleys On that field the serricd hosts of
the Federal troops lay encamped-on this, the
Jenfederatcs biovacked. Deeds Of bravery will
DC narrated, the localities Of which arc all around
you, and over which you walk Or ride. What
atEc Of carnage ana DEATH Nor will history
n2rratc half the incidents which marked the
progress CT the war, in the section Of country
20 which We refer
There are among the people ieit and who
ayc row, almost to man, engaged in the peace
ful pursuits Of life, no hard thoughts or bitter
ieenes about honorable war, anG fair fights
They engaged in the contest expecting both,
and knowing that the war would bring its ca
Ia7nities, which they would have to endure
Ecu DO not hear them complain o! the severcst
engagements in which they may have been
w0rsted, or Of the conduct of the officers ard
men who fought against them Oh the blcodleSt |
fields, and with whom they contonded, iii arms,
and for victory. But there is a recollection, |
which time cannot efface, of cruelties, and plum
6erinss. and condagrations, not necessary for the
purposes of war, and ottentimcs committed, |
apparently, in the wantonness Of power, if not
Of malice It is with compressed lips that the
Tatlev people repeat to this day the words Of
81 officer high 10 command, that he would so
degastate their beautiful country, that crow
should not be able to fly over IT, without carry |
ing his provisions with him" For they re-
member that while they were with Jackson
3raraly carrying on war, their wives and child
zen their mothers and their sisters, were still at
heir homes thus threatened to be desolatcd en-
utio0 by their sex to the humanity and COM
rIisSeration of soldiers, though their enemies.
There are some things to be forgiven many
many and there arc some that cannot be Tor
gotten. 1t is not in human nature.
Why DO We mention these things? Surely
.,of to excite or keep alive hatred, For q far
different object Now that peace has come, We