Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-08-14
AT,FXANDRTA GAZETTE AND VIRGINIA ADVERTISER

E,etter from "a former Federal Soldier
TCorrespondence of the Alexandria Gazette.l
JEFFERSON, GREENE Co.. Pa, Aug. To-
I read regularly the Alexandria Gazette and
its columns are closely scanned, especially tor
names, and occupations, and business, OF some
of the citizens Of Alexandria and Fairfax, with
whom l formerly became acquainted. o.
ways find matters of interest in every NUMBER
and in the last, find two communications one
from Fairfax Court House, and one from Man
assas, that were worth to me the price OF sub
scriptioD. ~--- ~. ~
You may think it strange that PennsylYa-
MIA Volunteer, who spent four years in Virgin
ia, performing the every day duties OF COM
mon soldier, such as marching, fighting, &C.,
should feel any anxiety to hear from, or any
interest, in people who were once his enemies
in war. But outside OF our political differences
7 ALWAYS found Yirginians generous and KIND,
and to many Of them am indebted for hun
dred acts OF kindness. II one Of yeur old Vir-
ginia 18th Regiment should come here, l. would
cali on him and talk over the Charles City
Cross Roads affair, and one Or two other occa-
sions when met, in arms, that gallant regiment
/ Of course differ with one Of your, puDic
speakers, as reported in your paper-that the
doctrine of State sovereignty has been !recog-
nized by the government since its date. At any
rate 7 think it is doctrine which the South
might as we'll Surrender" too. The Northern
people, Of all parties, as body, think they
were right in the matter of the late var, and
extreme Radicals make this doctrine, at pre-
sent, pretext to subjective Southern States to
military rule. ,G
think that the idea that any great proper
ton of the North is in sympathy with the
South, as to the war and its causes, IS an erro-
ncous one. But great portion or the North
crn people are in sympathy With the Snte'7ngS
Of the South, and arc opposed to the Congress,
sonal plan Of Reconstruction, believing IN
the axiom, ''that all just and free governments
are founded on the consent Of the governed -
and this fundamental principle seems to be
entirely lost sight of by the ruling party.
[ would be glad if some of your Fairfax cor
respondents would tell us about the old Court
House; if it was reitted or rebuilt; what they
did with the stockade that was around it, etc.
In this old court house Whiled away many a
lonesome hour at game Of euchre or checkers.
[ notice the escape Of prisoners from the old
Jail in which 'sour boys" used to be confined
for getting son high" though We were
compelled to keep guard at the door. This
guard was given the countersgn every evening,
and almost always in so loud voice that certain
Young LADY living near by could not help hearing
if she desired The fact that she had the coun-
tersign was soon known at Brigade Headquar.
ters, and this was sufficient ior Gen. Gamble to
fix the blame Oh a certain Lieutenant who was
ShamefulIy abused in the presence of all the
officers of the station or post. We often thought
that Gen. 6. had visions Of Col. Mosbys visit
to the private quarters Of Col. Stoughton
STGTTA