The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-04-14
FROM OUR RAMBLING coRREs-
PONDENT.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, April ], 1871.
DEAR JoURNAL :-Enroute for the Western
Reserve, had nearly reached Pittsburg when
telegram recalled me to this place, and
was again made conscious of the great differ
ence in climate, between Central Pennsylvania,
and Central Virginia.
Crossing the Alleghanies, at Altoona, in a
driving snow storm, within thirty-six hours
found myself among peach and cherry bios
SONS, early spring flowers, and apparently
three weeks nearer GUNNER.
As the country from Washington to this
place IS go well known to many OF your read
ers, who painfully, but thoroughly learned its
geography while in the Army of the Poto-
mac" perhaps its present appearance along
the o. A. s. ii. R. e., may not be uninterest-
ing. Taking the cars on Maryland Ave-, from
an unpsinted wooden structure, an apology
for depot, and relic of the war, we cross
the Long bridge, obtaining fine view OF
Arlington Nights, whose white buildings look
so dazzling as they are Lit up by the rising sun.
(And just here let mo remark that it is the
Long bridge, and not the long bridge, as it
derives its name from Long the patentee and
1 believe original builder of the bridge.) A
few minutes ride brings US to Alexandra and
breakfast.
Leaving Alexandria We catch glimpse of
Fort Lyon and Ellsworth, on either side and
enter upon country which four years war
has made so historic. Constantly on the look
out, I soon perceived a difference between this
and northern landscape, and when we had
reached Bull Run, and more especially at
Manassas, tho absence of fences, long lines Of
entertainments, struggling through the fields,
an occasional earthWork, and lonely Chimneys,
keeping watch over the ruins of once happy
homes, showed me some Of the fearful reali-
ties Of war. At Manassas the railroad runs
through the largest earthworks saw on the
route, and they are still in good state of pre-
servation. They were evidently built by the
"Rebs" as they face the north. At the bridges
frequently noticed small earthworks and at
some, log baTricades built, presume, for the
protection of those guarding the railroad.
From Bull Run TO Culpepper c. H, and even
as far south as Cedar and Slaughter Noun
tains, these sights are not unfrequent, but are
more noticeable in and about Manassas. Pass
ing over this same road, last August, on top Of
a freight car, 1 saw many fields of stunted |
corn, undrotected by q single rail of fence, |
and, it might be added, not pig saw or four |
footed beast, to make a fence necessary. l |
have since Iaarnad that o,-;r,r, 20 3lo a,,,s,,1
of fencing destroyed, during the war, the leg
islaturo of Virginia has passed law allowing !
farmers TO leave their lands unfenced, and re- |
quiring the owner of stock to keep them with |
In enclosures. In case mans field is entered |
y cattle, he can collect the value of the grain
destroyed from the owner of the cattle. For
a second offence, he can recover twice the
value of the grain destroyed, and for third |
offence, can take possession of the cattle.
Most of the land in this section is red, which |
looks beautiful, but is not always productive,
althouge some of the best as well as poorest |
farms, are to be found on this red land and /
many northern farmers, who hocked in here |
after the war, have discovered to their sorrow |
that fine feathers arc no more apt to make fine |
birds, IN agriculture, than in morals
Remembering the battles fought and blood
shed in this region, 1 thought how strangely
nature had anticipated history, in her co or
ings.
At Manassas Junction We passed cemetery
over whose gates was painted, in large black
letters, Confederate Dead" should Judge
there were three or four hundred white head
boards within the enclosure. At Culpepper
G. H., we passed National Cemetery, con-
tanning thirteen hundred soldiers, whose bod
les have been collected from Warrenton to
the Rapidan. In the centre Of the grounds is
a flag staff, from which the star and stripes
are fIying.-The foot of the staff being sur
rounded by four large Columbiads, with muz-
sles pointing up. Near the gate is the lodge
Of the keeper, who lives there with his family,
and keeps the grounds in order. Each grave
Is numbered,-th number, name, rank, regi-
ment, date, and place from which the body
was removed, being painted upon a small
white head board. The Cemetery is pleasant
y situated on knoll just east of the town, =