Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1866-10-23
Virginia Correspondence.
(Contiuued)

educational facilities which distin-
guish the states in the north and
west In our upward trip Of 100
miles, we saw about half Il dozen
school houses every one of which APP
peared to be vacant of botl scholars
and teachers and for the very good
reason that schools are seldom Taught
in this country some from Novem
Der to the first Of March, the balance
of the year passing in long vaca-
ton. 1t should be said to the praise
OF West Va. schools are being organ
lied in every part Of the state, and
the pubic mind, for tue first time,
seems to be awaking to the impor-
lance of general system OF educa-
ton. Whst ! have seen in the
south, leads me to think, liza thorough
plan Of education had been inaugura-
ted here twenty five years ago our
country had never known what our
children will read of in History as
The Great Rebellion" A free and
educated people are the last to en-
gage in an intestine war: let the
people but remain in ignorance and
you find them the combustible ele-
ments of individual and national
ruin. Taking up the thread of our
former letter, where for the time be-
ing, we left it, we have something to
say Of those mountain counties lying
in the interior and adjacent to the
territory Of Virginia proper. Pen
dletop county lies on the bead wa
ters of the Potomac, and Of course,
ia m Oh divided,b by mountain ranges
and cut up 10y numerous and rapid
streams. The north and south
branches Of the Potomac are remark
able for their rocky beds, aud the ra-
pidity with which they send their
waters toward the great Bay and
Ocean. For many miles they run
nearly parallel with each other some
II miles apart and separated by lofty
span OF the Alleghenies. Their vol
ume of water at this season is quite
limited, reminding me OF Grant riv-
or in low water mark. In the val
legs, the soil resembles the aChlte oak
soil in Wisconsin, and is said to pro-
duce fine crops of wheat and corn.
of the latter article, we saw fields
already ripening for harvest, and the
yield was said to be remarkably even
and good. Farms are valued from
SO to $50 according to quality OF
soil and nearness to market. Saw
and GrisC Mills are quite common,
but mostly in o dilapidated state,
having been entirely neglected du-
ring the continuance Of the war. A
live Yankee would make a fortune
out of such property, but their pres
cnt owners are dull hcaded and im>
pcrvious TO all Impressions in the
way Of western improvements
People are born, live to so years and
die without ever having been fifty
miles from home Every one knows
the way to Church and Mill; but
concerning Raj Roads and Telegraph
lines, thew know IS little as the in
habitants ofthe moon. Every farms
er boy can drive a six horse team
with one line, and every girl Is
years and upwards knows how to
spin, weave and make her own gar
ments break to the saddle her own
Bucephaus, and ride him over the
most lofty mountain to meet her low
en- at some husking frolic;" and trip
the fantastic toe at the chant of the
bcwitching vioI In fact ladies 90
everywhere on horseback, and are
just rs much at home on a prancing
colt alone or in company, as Sambo
in bis 10 by II cabin, blest with SUI
perabundance of corn dodgers " and
"possum gravy"
Sabbath, Sept. 10Th, was a great
day for the baclwoods mountaincers
Of Dyer's valley Services by loyal
preachers, had not been held in their
time honored church for fully three
long months, and another sqch a raj
lying of lads and lasses, of old men
and their better halves we had not
seen for many long day. God bless
the loyal people, Of this classic land,
was the involuntary expression of
our hearts, as we greeted their care
worn and sun burnt faces in the house
Of prayer. Perhaps it is enough to
say "thdt sabbath was an high day
in Israel one we were assured by
many devouC worshipers, long to be
remembered by the old and young,
in the future prosperity of the great
vineyard. The spot where stands
the house, within which we were so
Hospitality entertained during our
stay, was truly classic ground. Over
100 years ago here STOOD one of the
stockade forts, built by the early set
tiers as defence against the prowl-
ing savages who then infested this
part of Virginia. On the defeat of
Braddock at Fort Pitt the Indians
overspread all this this country, pill
aging and burning houses, and de-
stroying human life in the form of
helpless women and children, until
the whole land had the appearance
of desolation and death. On the al :
proach of the Indians the carly set
tiers sought shelter in this Fort cons
manded by one Capt. Dyer. The
precise number thus seeking protec-
ton | was not able to correctly as
certain but for many days and nights
it was defended with a skill and de-
termination which baliiel the contin-
ued efforts Of a determined foe.
FHbou.b blast with a,,,,lr