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

ashes repose. Hearing of the massa-
ere company of soldiers passed over
range of the Alleghanies a few
days after, found their bodies mutia-
ted and dishonored, dug a grave
II by 10 feet, where they con
signed them to their dusty bed to
wait the morning of resurrection | can
not describethe feeling which solemn
ly crept over my spirit, as | gazed
| upon the spot: no monumental slab
tells their names and characters, but
they sleep quietly beneath those aged
oaks unconscious of the tears which
the American citizen sheds at the
remem brance Of their inglorious end.
| The grave lies east aud west in an
ancient form, with large flat rock set
edgwise around it which enabled me
to take its exact dimensions, which
found to be as above described.
On Monday, Sept. 18th, we left
Pendleton county, striking due east
and crossing over a mountain peak,
which we were two and half hours
in reaching, and from whose sum-
NIT tie had such a vision as but few
are ever permitted to behold. On
descending the mountain our road
lay along dangerous chasms 1000
feet in depth into which we gazed
until our heads really grew dizzy at
the sight. After travelling 50 weary
miles we passed Brooks Gap and
found ourselves in the Shenandoah,
the garden spot of Virginia.
Our homeward route was down
the Shenandoah river; a stream not
much larger than the Black of
Wisconsin, but one Of much more
beauty, with clear and rapid water.
need hardly attempt to describe
the valley of Virginia, but it bears
striking resemblance to many val
leys in the west, but its surroundings
are most grand and picturesque. 1t
is fully 20 miles wide mostly fiat
like prairie, and Of a richness of soil
which will compare favorably with
any part of Wisconsin. Such fields
Of corn l hardly ever saw on the
richest prairie Of Illinois, and such
quantities of tat cattle, feeding and
rolling in Virginia blue grass, were
a sight worth going a considerable dis
tanoe to behold. One year ago, the
most of this valley was fenceless
almost every acre lying as open to
the common, as it did before the
woodman felled the sturdy forests,
or the handy work of the industri.
GUS husbandman turned a bowling
wilderness into the garden of the
Lord. Now it is fenced with the
most serviceable material, and peace
and plenty crown the board of econo
my and toll. Homeward bound
VIC passed number Of beautiful
towns,and villages, much injured from
the effects of war, but which seemed
to be arising from a state of dilari
dation' to their former beauty and
Importance. THROWN, as we neces-
sarlally were, among the most rabiC
secesh portion Of Virginia, we were
glad to learn, that the common PEG
pie were apparently cured of war
ttilN We " VI Y CdllSlCQ Ii ltOcI IcdU-
ors and southern preachers were cx-
lied to Patagonia, our nation would
learn war no more. Ny opinion is,
the south will not soon again at
tempt to break up the American
/ Union if Andrew Johnson would
hang the secesh Editors and Preach>
ers our country would never again
: be disturbed by intestinal commotion,
and threatened with national ami
hilation. The South needs men of
peace, wise and discreet rulers, with
a strict enforcement of national laws
and we should soon behold a nation
the like of which can not be found
in the annals of ancient or modern
History. Long live our country
One and undiUided.
VIM. NJ OSBORNE.
WHITEHALL, Va. Sept. Both, 1866.