The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-07-31
STEyENsvILLE, July 81, 1868.

to q dweller among the hills. And yet 1t is
not an unpleasant change of scene, and the
trip from Richmond by way of the York
River railroad and Tappahannock stage
would be very pleasant one if the pro-
prietor of the stage line (Mr. Rouse) could
only learn that little politeness and &C
commodation to travellers is very requisite
to the success of such an enterprise as he
is engaged in. This good old county Of
King Queen was famous during the war
for the number and high character OF the
soldiers she sent to the Confederate army,
and for the fact that she had Home
Guard" composed of exempts, which, un-
der the gallant and efficient leadership of
Rev. DR.. R. H. Bagby, never permitted
column of Yankees to enter the county
without attacking and harassing them.
Dahlgren was killed and his command cap
tured by the King g. Queen and King Will
liam home guards, aided by few regular
soldiers and the infamous orders found on
his person are attested by some of the best
men in the county.
But scarcely second to their gallantry
and efficiency in the field is the energy with
which these young men have gone to work
since the war to build up their fallen for
tunes. Indeed, your correspondent has not
found anywhere better illustration Of the
high character of the noble boys who fol-
lowed "the stars and bars"
The negroes in this section have behaved
much better than in some other sections,
and this is doubtless due to the fact that
there is no Bureau nearer than Tappahan-
mock, and he rarely comes to this region.
There have been, however, d Number Of
land-sellers,' who have been swindling
the poor negroes out Of money, watches,
clothes, etc., in exchange for " land certifi-
Gates"
There is now o considerable sensation
among the negroes over miraculous story,
which runs thus A negro man proposed
on Sunday morning to 60 fishing; and when
his wife demonstrated with him, he bias
phemously said that he would ego early
and catch mess of fish before the Lord
walked up" He went, and after catching
one fish he sunk up to his arm-pits in
quicksand. The story goes that he is still
there--that no one but his wife, who feeds
him, can approach him without sinking in
blood, and that mysterious voice proclalms
that he is doomed to remain there until the
iudgment-day. This wonderful story has
been announced from the pulpit by negro
preachers, and is religiously believed by
the negroes generally.
Rev. Dr.. r. H. Bagby and Rev. Alfred
Bagby have been conducting at Stevens
vile a sort of Theological Institute" for
the benefit of colored candidates for the
ministry. They have had some eight or ten
under their instruction, and are doing,
without the slightest pecuniary compensa-
ton, noble work, which may well be imi-
tated by others of our southern ministers.
The wheat crop through this section is an
average crop; the oats very fair and the
corn quite promising since the fine rains
we have had for several days.
There was held at Burlington yesterday
afternoon very interesting Sunday school
Teachers meeting, composed of representa-
tives from Smyrna (Disciples0, Shepherds
(Methodist), Mattaponi (Baptist), Provi-
dence (Methodist), St. Stephens (Baptist),
and Burlington (Baptist) Sunday schools.
The reports from the several schools indi-
Gated that this whole section is alive to
the Sunday school work. The Smyrna
school is doing a fine work among the pau
pers at the county poor-houSe. There is
quite spirited rivalry between the Malta
poni and Burlington schools. Last Sabbath
Mattaponi had one hundred and thirty-six
and Burlington one hundred and thirty
eight scholars present. The Burlington
school is one Of the oldest in the State,
having been in existence for fifty years. 1t
has sent out seven preachers, among the
most useful in the land, and done a noble
work for the religious training of a wide
circle of youth. Mr.. Samuel Ryland, bro
Their of Rev. DR.. Ryland and father of Rev.
G. II. Ryland, has been its superintendent
for over twenty-f years, and is certainly
a model uperintendent-bea COM
bining the experience Of age and the zeal of
youth.
Despite the rain, a large congregation of
deeply-interested listeners assembled on
yesterday. Besides the reports from the
schools, addresses were made by Rev. Heze-
kiah Mitchell (Methodist, Rev. C. H. Ry-
land, Rev. j. r. Garlick, Rev. j. William
Jones, Rev. Alfred Bagby, and Rev. DR..
Bagby.
The singing was superb-Richmond could
not beat it. Dinner was provided for all,
there having been sermon in the morn
ing.
Rev. ]. William Jones secured liberal
contribution towards remodelling his church
in Lexington.
The Rappahannock Baptist Association
meets tomorrow at " Oliyet," in this county.
A large attendance is expected.
VIAToR.
Meeting OF Rappabannock Baptist
Association.
CLIFTON, July 20, 1867.
This old Virginia mansion, situated on
the banks of the Mattaponi, was once the