The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-09-16
SMiseel1 " NJ Vt q .
Correspondence
LETTERS FROM VIRGINIA.
A TOUR THROUGH FAREWELL.

NO. 81.
MEssRs. EDIToRs.-I think told you
in my last, that expected to be in Taze-
well when that letter reached you, and |
am happy to be able to say that have made
the tour and am again upon the tread mill.
Instead demonstrating my thoughts and
impressions, and giving them the usual
form of a communication; | will content
myself with transcribing the crude diary
of each days experience and observations
by the way, which you can dispose of in
whole or in part, as may best comport with
your convenience or pleasure.
Friday, Aug. 19.-Left Abingdon on
horse back at noon, in company with Mr..
Robert E. Brunette, of Petersburg, with
a dark cloud looming up in the west. Tried
to outride the storm, but it overhauled us
at the end of Is miles, when we turned off
the road to the residence of Mr.. b. X.
Buchanan, who owns one of the largest and
best farms in the Rich Valley in Washington
county, and the most conveniently construc-
ted house have ever seen. 1t is a two story
brick building, not less than so feet square,
and has, all upon the same floor, in addition
to four large rooms and wide hall,
kitchen, dairy, smoke-house, pantry, laun-
dry, bathroom, broad recess and by
drant, all literally under the same roof
the latter supplied with water from an adj
jacent spring through metallic pipes. Mr..
B. is among our best and most intelligent
farmers and spares no trouble or expense
in procuring and propagating improved
stock. The cordial welcome of himself
and excellent lady made us feel at home,
and we forgot our race from the storm
cloud in an excellent supper, pleasant re-
union with old and valued friends, and
quiet and comfortable nights rest.
Saturday, Aug 20.--Left our pleasant
quarters at "A. NJ, and at the end of three
miles, accompanied by Mr. Buchanan and
and his son, were at the Salt works, where
we spent an hour among hundreds of boil
ing cauldrons turning out 5000 bushels
per day. Passing on a mile we were at
Mr.. Palmer's Cheese Factory, where his
hands were milking $50 cows, and in anoth-
er mile we crossed the battlefield where
the Federal General Burbridge left regi-
ment of niggcrs, by placing them in 'front.'
and where $500 old men and boys whip
Kentucky 5000 Michigandcrs and "loyal'
Tennesseeans. We here forded the North
Forth of Holston, which was up to our
saddle-skirts, and kept along the bank of
the stream, under beetling cliffs six miles
to Broad Ford, where we found my genial
friend Alec COLLATION., who owns one of the
best farms in Burk's Garden, buying bees
wax and selling tape! Thence turning
northward, another mile brought us to the
immense gorge in Poor Valley Mountain,
worn by that madly-rushing and dangerous
stream the Laurel Fork between jagged
precipices at least 900 feet high, and so
narrow that man could throw stone
facross the chasm. A narrow valley sep
arates this from Flat Top, crossing which
and then Clinch Mountain, which are as
close together as two mountains can be, a
few miles farther on brought us to the resi-
dencc of Gen. r. II. Bowen, in Tazewell,
where we were welcomed with hospitality
so genial and generous as to make us feel as
! five were in Hartford again, in the better days
of the Republic. Here we sojourned from
Saturday afternoon till p. nj. on Monday,
examining and admiring the wonderful
| freaks of nature and of art with which that
locality abounds. The General owns 5000
acres in what is called the Cove, u rich al.
luyial plain, famous for its fertility and ro-
mantle beauty. Such is the character of the
| bluegrass, even to the SUBMITS of the
mountains, that cattle keep fat during
the winter without other feed, except on
rare occasions when the grass is covered
with snow, Upon his place are found those
strangely painted rocks, which have been
| the wonder of all who have seen them
The grandfather of Gen. Bowen settled
the cove in 17G6-one hundred and four
years ago and the paintings were there
then, and are rs brilliant to-day as when
first discovered. They consist of horses,
elk, deer, wolves, bows and arrows, eagles,
Indians, and various other devices. The
mountain upon which these rocks are
based is about 1000 feet high, and they lie
in horizontal line about half way up;
and are perhaps 70 feet broad upon their