The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-09-09
CuLrsPEa COURTHOUSE, VA, }

SILFEPH~E Stbhl '<N'' !
September Z, 1868.
Your correspondent knows OF no town
which has improved more rapidly since the
war than Culpeper Courthouse. Neat resi-
dences have sprung up on every side, o
number Of business houses have been erect
ed. and the business of the place has very
largely increased. The neat enclosures,
beautiful yards, and clean streets, present
q very striking contrast to the appearance
Of things during the war, when the Yam
KEGS and Confedera.eS used to chase each
other through the town, or in turn use il a.
barracks. There is scarcely county in
the State which was more desolated than
Cu!peper. So long the camping ground OF
both armies, every PANEL Of fencing wac
destroyed, the fields were laid waste, score:
Of houses we're burnt or torn down by q
ruthless enemy (hardly a church in ths
county, outside of the town, was left stand
iug), and the whole country was one widc
scene of ruin and desolation. But three
years of industry and perseverlng energy
has changed all this--thc fertile soil has
yielded generously to the labor bestowed
upon it, and the land now smiles with its
pristine verdure and beauty. The churches
of the town have caught the spirit o!
Improvement. The Baptist church has
Thoroughly repaired the damage done
their handsome house Of worship BY
Federal soldiers the Methodists are now
remodclling their house, and the ffcs
bytcriaus are now completing very neat
and convenient house, for which they
deserve great credit. Nor is the i'm
provement less marked in the increased
activity and zeal shown by the churches.
Instead of a service once month, as for
mcrly, they now have their resident PAS
tors, and preaching every Sabbath. All OF
the churches have had additions to their
membership, and the Baptist church (undel
the labors of their efficient pastor, Rev. j..
L. Taylor, Jr., formerly Of your city, has
had within the past two years largely up
wards of one hundred additions.
The schools are keeping pace with the
general progress. Colonel Charles Light
foot. widely known as the gallant and skill
full commander Of battalion Of Coniede-
rate States artillery, and J. ". Button,
ESQ, have each academies for boys, and
CAPTAIN Nathan Penck, one Of the bravest
and best artillery officers which even the
Army of Northern Virginia contained, Is
the accomplished principal Of the Culpeper
Female Institute.
The Federal Cemetery here is very beau
tiful, and certainly it ought to be, as it has
already cost 1--WE learn one hundred thou
SAID dollqrS. The people have done what
they could to improve and emhellish the
cemetery in which sleep our "boys in gray"
but il is in sad contrast with the Yankee
cemetery. Well so be it. Let the
money wrung from our down-trodden
and oppressed people be wasted on
these so-called Irrational (O cemeteries
let their graves be now kept green, and the
" stars and stripes" (once the emblem OF
freedom, but now the ensign Of despotism,)
wave above them-lct our poor boys sleep
in their humble graves, unornamented
save when our noble women bring their an
nual Offering of flowers. THIS cannot alter
the verdict of history, and the fallen heroes
OF the I" Lost Cause will live enshrined
in grateful hearts when the names and me-
mory of the Milesian mercenaries, who are
now so honored, shall have rotted into
deserved oblivion.
Tour correspondent has had rich treat
in meeting many of his comrades III
the glorious old Thirteenth Virginia-two
companies of which were raised In this
county-and in other branches Of the
Confederate service. But alas ! there are
missing manly forms and noble spirits who
marched forth gaily with these to battle for
the cause they loved, but who have not
come again to their accustomed places.
There are vacant chairs and silent voices to
tell the sad story Of the sacrifice made i'll
the great struggle by the descendants of the
"Cu!peper Minute Men,
The writer is especially reminded OF one
he met here in the summer of go III al
the flush Of a bridegroom's happiness-a
he had lust led to the altar the accom-
zlished sister Of General John II. Morgan
whom he next saw at Harper's Ferry IL
the sprinc of '6l, when he came TO share
She fortunes of his native State--whos'
Glorious career we watched through thu
successive grades of hrisadier, major-gene
raj, and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, until on tina
last sad day which witnessed the fall 0
Petersburg and of the Coniederacy, he fel
where he was ever found-at the post o
duty-and left the name of A. P. Hill t
shine in the brightest galaxy Of freedom
martyrs.
But pardon me. We never know when
stop when We touch on such themes.
,--1 IrlNERANT.