Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1870-05-06
Tie vvar I'm the valley.

HOmer0ys letter from Winchester, showing
how often and suddenly that town changed
hands during the war:
zone day it would be in possession of tie
Northern troops. The next day these would
DO driven out, and the Southcrners hold the
place. One day there were lively times at
Winchester. The Confederate flag had float
ed for several days, and was floating at 4
O'Clock in the morning. With the early sun
rise came long lines Of armed mon on horse.
back. There was yell--a surprise-down
oame tho red and white, and at o'clock up
went the red, white and blue. Northern
soldiers quartered themselves hero and there
as ] 20 remain. Soon there was to be seen q
line of horsemen coming from the foot of the
mountains away off to tho Southeast. And
soon another line of humanity was seen ad-
vancing towards the place from the northeast.
Very soon after there was q shock of con-
tending armies, and those who were finding
quarters and places to rest after the victory
of tho morning hastcned out more rapidly
than they came. At 10 o'clock the soldiers
in blue had left and the soldiers in gray took
their places. Tho red, whito and blue came
down from tho flagstaff over yonder, and
again the breeze kissed the red and the white,
rs it floated in triumph where all might SEQ.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon thero was
rallying, just back from where we are stand.
ing, concentration of blue-clad men on foot
and on horse. Then came few thousand
moro Northern troops from the northwest.
There was yell, charge, q fight, and away
back to the waters Of the Shenandoah were
driven the Confederates. And down came
the red and the white, and up went the ma
tional emblem, the flag of our country forev-
or. Then there was rejoicing along the
Northern lines. The wounded were cared for.
Those who were hungry were taking food,
and the yiotors thinking the war wol.nigl
over, when back to Winchester, like devils
who had forgotten something, came the ar
mics of gray which, but few hours before
had been flying to the east. They came as
tho waves como when naves are stranded
as the winds come when forest are rended.-
They came on foot and on horse-rough and
rapid riding men, with that peculiar yell
which Northern troops knew meant business.
They came in this street, and they came up
that-through gardens, over fences, through
nlleys, into and up streets, down streets, and
across streets. Blood ran like water. Men
who but an hour before were thinking of
home, were lying all about here breathing
their last. Back upon the hill where We
stand, and back to the fields beyond, were
again driven the troops from the North, leav-
ing dead and dying>in the streets of the place,
and all about hero. Then down camc the
stars and stripes, and up, with yell and a
shout, and loud huzza of triumph, went tho
flag of the Confederacy, while the victors
made ready for supper. And this was one
day during the war at Winchester
Eghty.seyen times during the war did
property change hands in this place. It was
indeed the scene end :n .hc track of contend.
ing armies, A few rods back Of where we
stand was fort occupied by General Milroy,
whoJwhen he took possession thereof, gave it
out asa public announcement tliat he should
remain in possession here till hell froze over,
tho rebellion ended, and his army made rich
from tho plundor. Ono day the, General
wanted placo for headquarters, so he march.
cd in upon the finest residence in the oity.
Thinking that to tho victors belong the spoiis,
lie boxed up the pianos, the books, the pic.
tures tho elegant bedsteads, chairs, sofas,
aud all the furniture he could lay his hands
on, from gutter to- CELLAR and shipped the
samo to his home in the North or elsewhere,
at the expense Of tho Government. It did
not seem by this time that he intended to re-
main here till the pandomonium should be-
come a skating. Hardly had he dispatch.
ed tho property thus confscated toSa distant
home, when there came along q few regiments
Of gray. And, worst Of all, they oamo n.the
night. Some Of them crawled up behind,
and roached this little hill, just in front Of
us. A few moro planted battery with far
reachiog guns on the spur Of the mountains
over there tothe left. A few more took quar-.
ters Just behind the fences, tho houses, tho