Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-01-09
ed with a broad grin that she couldn't see
yet what good Massa Brown had done. No

yetwhattgood Massa Brown had done No,
he guessed he couldn't see it yet." An Incl
dent occurred while was here which told
its own story. Some officers of the Union
army were walking down the street, when
they met two ladies, who Immediately drop
ped their wells over their faces and ayertcd
their heads: Every lady of Virginia was
a true heroine throughout the war, and they
cannot yet accept the fate which has gone
against them without murmuring There
was no hardship which these ladies' delicate
ly nurtured and unused to hardships, were
not called upon to undergo. They we're
ing permitted Sto take change of garments
with them. They rose every morning to see
the flames of the destroyer spreading far and
wide over the country. They were reduced
to poverty, till sometimes they needed bread,
and one by one they parted from their chill
dren or their friends, and saw them return
no more, "I had five sons in the war" said
alady to me, Z" and my only regret was that [
had not sixth to send" 1t was the same
throughout Virginia, and doubtless in other
Southern States also. IF any one expects
the women of the South to smile upon the
conqueror he will be deceived. Fortunately
the officers of the Federal army now stationed
in the South are generally gentlemen who
respect the sGtferings which they sec around
them, and which seem almost too great for
human strength to bedr, too much to feel
aSrleyed because no kindly hand is extended
to them. From Charlestown went to Sharps>
burg, in Maryland, and crossed the Potomac
at Shepherdstown in order to entcr the Val
ley from that point. In Martinsburg an elcc>
ton had taken place two days before, and
eleven gentlemen who had protested against
the test oath had been arrested. One of these
gentlemen had been faithful supporter of
the Union throughout the war. which has
made his arrest more incxcusab!e: The test
oath is imposed upon every voter, and It's it
obIgates him to swear that he never SYM
pathlzed with the rebels or gave them any
succor, or iarbored them during the war, the
best men of the State are DISTINGUISHED. The
gentlemen i'll question were liberated ihmE-
diatcly after the election, but the circuu-
stance had created a very painful feeling, and
the oath itself is evidently opposed to MIR.
Johnson's policy Of Cancellation towards the
South. 10 force a retrospective test-oath
upon { people would now be a wanton and
tJ;&nn.oal exerc.se OF power. There are
some inhabitants Of MarainsDu-g who call
themselves . Union" anl who showed thcir
attachment 70 tlie:r country las. year BY pelt-
nag S91ao taeiic% with rotten eggs beeause they
[
Fair OF ebvrcl OF the place The ladies',
however, Wi.h are well used to dangers NOW.
NeRt on with taeir b.2&ar all the same. They
ltave seen too much Shot and Shell. to psy t.
tention to shower Of eggs. The men who
fought IN the Confederate service everywhere
show their temper towards the government
which is described above, whilst ut the same
time they feel deep their reyerses.
One OF them, gentleman of high cEarac-
ter and ability, told that he could not bear
TO ride about the country now-he felt that he
never wanted to see it again. Yet he was
very warmly in favor of Mr. johnson and his
policy. Between Shcpherdstown and Mar
tinsburg the land is very thinly populated,
and the roads have been cut to pieces by the
incessant march of troops. After the battle of
Antietam-in which, as have learned since
wrote last, only $4,000 Confedcrates were
engaged against 100, 600 Federals Shep>
hcrdstown was filed with wounded, and here,
as everywhere else, the ladies took them into
their houses and nurscd them night and day.
1t now looks u somDrc and fcrsaken place,
some of the best houses near it having been
burned, and others completely guttcd by
wandering bands, for i'll nearly all instances
the deprcdtions, of tho Federal troops were
committed without the knowledge, and even
against the commands, OF the officers. Be-
tween this town and Winchester. n roroh ride
of twenty-five miles. the once fertile fields are
lying completely barren, for the owners have
lost their means, their negroes having fled,
and their horses and money having been car
ried off
There is NOT n fe+5ce left alone thp whole dis
tance, and Graves are scattered ever where bv
tho roads;de Far and Wide the {;9Ids often
vcIlow yy;fL co,., look Ike I, Li.c, and bsr.
Ter co,,,,ro, ,vho oS,+ro,1,;t1, or dosol,.;o,,
is reacboJ at Stevonsons t3,r ,,,;ISs rron,
Wincbcster. Tho ZThole conntrv tor mics