The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-07-23

Ferry, by railroad which is being
built to Staunton. Kearnston comes
next, three miles south, and here
Shields defeated Jackson. March %,
1862, and it is the only real defeat
Jackson ever suffered. The trees and
stone fence show traces of the con-
fict. The village is of no eOnse-
quenee.
''sHERIDAN's RIDE.
Passing Newtown and Middletowu
we reach Cedar Creek where Farley
surprised and routed Sheridan S
army, then under Wright, October
10, 1864. In very short time our
whole army was routed. scattered
and broken ike . mob. Camp, artil-
lery, and stores all captured, and the
rebels drying the fugitives in wild
confusion back towards Winchester
But Sheridan heard the thunder o!
guns, and met his retreating forces,
with courage in his looks, aud inspi-
ration in his words. They halted, and
following ''Little Phil" sprang upon
their pursuers with the fury of tigers,
and Wright closed upon rebel army,
Whipped, captured and entirely de-
stroyed, It's commaDder barely escap-
ing with his officers. This stamped
Sheridan as the great fighting field
marshal of the age, a reputation mag
nifeently sustained soon after, when
Lees rebel army crumbled before
his fery blows. The old church on
the right, and Scared and battered
trees on every part of the field, still
Indicate the points of the greatest
conflict. Passing through Strasburg,
six miles from Cedar Greek, we halt
before Fishers bill, made famous by
the
ASSAULT OF SHERIDAN,
September %. 1864. He had been
off watching the enemy, and return
ing to his troops at dark, found them
in camp and cooking supper. He
called to arm, and ordered up the
artillery, opening the fight at once,
vowing he would not sleep until his
flag waved on the hill top. He was
wild with the excitement of battle,
and the troops caught his inspiration,
and charging up the cliffs with a furious
shout, they swept it amid sea of fire,
and darkness then Only saved Early
from the doom that befell him a
month latter at Cedar Creek.
But the valley is a vast battle field,
and in every direction the hill top
still shows its abandoned forts and
feld-works.
st..irs. "sToNEwALL" JACKSON
was aIconfessed hero, and one of the
most remarkable men developed by
tho war. He has impressed the rec
ollection of his deeds on everybody
and everything in this Valley. In
1862, he out generated Fremont,
Banks, Sehenek, Seigel. Blenker, Mil
roy, Mcdowell and Shields, winning
an occasional victory, and keeping all
bewildered by his brilliant maneuver-
ing. At last, so, 900 men intended
to aid Mcclellan were sent to capture
Jackson, when all at once he dropped
down like an apparitlon on the flank
and rear of the "Young Napoleon"
and doubled up the right wing and
rolled him back IN defeat. This was
the grandest movement made during
the war, and stopped the son to
Richmond" business in short order.
a most interesting book might be
written upon the Valley of Virginia,
its battles and campaigns. 1t is sur
prising that no one has attempted it.
A true and just account would be
equally acceptable, North and South.
Il might dim the lustre of some of
our military stars. This Valley was
difficult to occupy and
hold. Our repeated disasters we're
from lack of skill and energy
Sherman, Thomas or Sheridan, with
10000 men, would have held it
against the Confederacy, after Feb
-uary, 1862 The rebels committed
great blunders, or we would have suf-
rered more. .-f.- ..s..i
THE COUNTRY.
But as to the country, it is of lime
stone formation, and the soil is good.
Bad farming, IN places, had almost
'uined the land, and the curse of
slave labor was blighting its fertile
,lains and valleys. Emigrants have
,ome in from the North, and the
waste of war is almost repaired. They
ire gathering the greatest crop of
wheat cut since 1850, and four times
he land is cultivated that was before
he war. Mills are being rebuilt,
INC Northern labor, skill and money
ire beginning to be felt and recog.
lized. Many farms, though scultiva-
ed, are unfenced. Crops of all kinds
ire encouraging, and business gives
evidence of returning prosperity
The negro is doing well, and appears
lappy. Old merchants say the liber>
ltion of the slave has made him
and trade has been thereby
increased one-third. The freedman
S generally ambitious, and tries to
.lothe and school his family. Some
re idle and worthless, just as among
,ther races. He voted quietly, and
lot a disturbance marked the late
lectjon. There is some crime, but
rood order abounds. Whites who
lever worked before are now in the
ields. Some old fogies, though,
lain all was lost when the slave was
iberated and given the ballot. They
old their farms in 1865, at 81 to $40
,er acre, and moved to the towns to
rink whisky and de. These farms
re now higher than farms in Seneca
ounty. Many have divided and sold |
arts of their plantations, wise, res
lutte men, full of hope and con-
dence as to the future. They have |
onfdeEee in Grant, and fear the ne
70 less than do the Ohio Democracy. |
hey. say he is naturally Co nserva-
i've, and will be controlled by the su-
erior iu tellect, energy and tact of
be whites. Politicians believe that
be old De mocratic party must ad-
ance or de, but that the Conserva-
we Republican party, nationalized
n the basis of the party in Virginia,
i'll become the party of triumph in
872. OF course [ never introduce
ne subject politics, and very little