Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-12-03
Southern Correspondence.

Doat Den,ocrat:--It is true chat have
moved to Va, but not to Petersburg. |
am on historic ground. Leaving Peru by
way OF Hartford. Nov. LIST, 1869, on my
arrival in Portland, we took Steamer for
New York and thence by rail through
New fJersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland to Washington. Alexandria and
thence to Manassas Junction, which is in
Prince William County. and six miles
from Brentsville, the County seat Ihave
located myself and family on a splendid
farm. one mile north of Manassas depot,
which.station is on the Orange. Alexandria
and Manassas rail road. IS miles from
Washington, 81 from Alexandria. This
is the main line road South from Wash
ington, through toLynchburg, Tennessee
and the extreme Southern States, with a
branch from Gordonsville TO Richmond,
Petersburg. and to North and South
Carolinas. | am 30 miles by carriage
road. by way of Bull Run, Centerviile,
Fairfax Court House; thence west oil
Alexandria to Washington. Bull Run is
two and a half miles north from me- on
the Centerville road The battlefield is
up the Run, and about five miles west
from my house. When I shall have
visited that memorial field. will give
you short description of the same, and
the relics of the wide spread devastation
of remains, rs they alternately occupied
this vast plain of Country, from Washing
ton, through the counties Of Alexandria,
Fairfax. Prince William. Fuaquier. Cul.
pepper, Orange. Spetsylvania, &c, ia
Richmond Every foot of ground on my
farm was, during the war, entirely
covered with the armies, and the soil was
beaten down solid by the tramp OF men,
horses and heavy artillery. IL is said that
scarcely an acre Of ground can be found
on this broad and extensive plain, on
which the remains Of some poor soldier
oil the Union or Rebel army is not buried.
Near the spring, on my farm, where
thousands of soldiers used TO drink and
fill their canteens, two soldiers were
buried.
Ii has been colder part of the time
since my arrival here, on the 4th inst,
than expected, but il is very pleasant
now-no snow and no frost in the ground.
and my family like well. Ny house
stands on n level plain with the Bull Run,
Manassas Gap, and the Blne Ridge
mountains; from 10, % and 30 miles,
plainly 10 be seen in the distance. ~
the close of the war there were but one
or two houses left In sigh,-but now from
my third story windows, | can count
twenty farm residences, besides Manassas
village, where there are six stores. two
public houses. three small churches, two
blacksniths, one tin shop. one carriage
shop, two meat shops, one steam grist
mill for grinding corase meal. one mil
linary shop, two or three Attorneys. one
physician, a telegraph Office. and lastly
though not least. the Manassas Weekly
Gazette Printing Office People are
coming in here to settle very fast from
the Northeastern States. Within two miles
Of me there are two families from Maine.
There are few here from Philadelphia,
Michigan. Ohio, Vermont, Canada. n.
H., Massachusetts. but more largely from
New, Y ork, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
II will not take many years TO yankee y
Northern Virginia II is very healthy
here. and there is any amount of land for
sale at moderate prices. lam going into
the land sale (commission) business
Shall be associated with two gentlemen
OF Alexandria, and two of this place
(Manassas, )who are extensively acquaint-
cd in this State. We shall have farms,
timber land, and Mill Sites, in our hands
for sale. in many of the counties in the
State. All who wish to purchase real
estate in Virginia, or make enquiries
about the same. will please address me nj
Manassas, Prince William Co. Virginia.
JoSAs GREENE.
Nov. 10Th. 1869.