The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-11-10
aatiuual gepnblitan
wEpSEspAxMoaSIso ::::SoyExBERlO.l 1909:
tcorrsspondsnesof the Republican.
Letter from virginia.

YoRKrowS, Va. Nov. T. li6a
Rienzi saidi "0n the threshold OF two
worlds, the spirit OF prophesy rushed thick
upon me-" and here at the headquarters OF
two armies Of two long wars, food Of sen
Stations crowd the mind and challenge curl
osity. In the same building when was &C.
cupied frst by Magruder and then by NC
ClelIan. and at the very desk which they
occupIed, am writing this letter, and with
in the sight and Enclosure OF the embank-
ments and Notifications Of CORVALLIS 10 the
Revolution, and OF Magruder In the late re.
bellion, am penning this, and from tue
windows of this house. where am enjoying
the cordial hospitality Of Sheriff Halstead,
can be seen the ancient buildings where
were written and agreed upon the stlpuln-
tions NJ surrender by CORVALLIS to WASH
layton. And In sight Of the window where
slt are the old brick buildings the brick
Imported from England) which were used
as the FIRST custom-h house, and the first i'm
portation Of goods into this colony.
Considerable portions OF the early breast
works OF the revolution are still standing,
as well as long ridges OF those thrown upby
the rebels.
This location Is avery pleasant and slightly
one-a desirable place to live In; and leaves
no wonder that 1t was so early selected, and
is now being again settled by Northern
people.
business at this place, being the largest
establishment, though there are several
others here. The sheriff has commenced
the collection Of taxes, though 1t Is slow
business In some localities from the absence
Of funds.
The steamers from Baltimore to West
Point land here twice day. My passage or
A ~. AL -,
pleasant and satisfactory; In fact hav'
rarely paid my fare more checrfully on an,
boat.
There is much land, many farms, for sal,
In this region, truly entitled to the consldern
ton OF our Northern friends who desire I
genial cline and friendly soil, aud thes,
boats afford convenient access.
York river and the creeks that afior
barbors Is really ore Of the finest In the OIL
Dominion, and were 1t, and the lands alon
its banks, better known to our Eastern an
Northern people the country would soone
be settled by emigrants from that region
and for that reason dwell ut some lengt
on the subject for their information.
The energy OF Northern agriculture, wit
Its better system, would return even bett'
reward In this region than is realized whe
the winters are longer and colder. Farm
with timber and cleared fields, are for 50
at very low figures In every county, and Il
country needs such settlers for both its p
cuniary and political welfare.
A short distance outside of the breas
works Is the national cemetery, where
the remains OF over two thousand Unic
soldiers and few rebel soldiers killed in Il
late war, and 1t is kept in nca. repair an
well protected.
The corn crop the past season has bee
very slim, as well as most other gfainsi b.
the peanut crop Is pretty good, aud is Il
chief resource Of many tillers In this region
The yield ranges from thirty to seyent
bushels per acre, and sells by the quantity I
from 81 to $3.50 per bushel, which atiort
q handsome return to the cultlvator. Swc
potatoes arc sold here by the farmers at fro
twenty-five to fifty cents per bashcl. The,
crops, of course, are mostly -aiscd by Il
negroes, who make good living thereby.
d. S. {.