The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-01

STACNTON-COLOSEL BALD"lN-NE" booh-
WAR SCENES DEsCRlDED-A WARNING II
CASvASSERS.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.l
SIDNEY, Augusta COUNTY, FA.,}
10Th August, 1873.
Your readers have lately heard so mucl
about the mountains and the springs that
word about the Great Valley may entertain
them. Yesterday l came into Stauntol
from the mountains. AS stepped on th'
platform heard his physician say that Col
onel John B. Baldwin was better and the
symptoms in his case much more favor
able. This will be a pleasant item to thu
ColonePS numerous acquaintance, who have
been 1illed with anxiety on his account.
Staunton was "moiSt," decidedly, anC
muddy, and was for the time looking down
| and not up. Her size is not yet sufficiently
great to prevent the arrival of train from
Richmond creating some excitement; but
she is fast passing beyond the train.time'
stage.
In the afternoon I took stage to 60 down
the Valley Irode on the deck-seat Of Il crowd
ed coach in order to see the country conse.
puently had to face driving, misty rain all
the way. Such ride always pays me, not.
withstanding the discomforts. The noun.
tains, wrapped in clouds and mist, were
never more grand, and the luxuriant fields
were never clothed with a prettier vcrdure.
The corn crop along the road appeared to
be excellent, the long ears, heavy with their
oyerfulness and the dewy rain, leaned over
toward the ground, while the "fodder was
green and luXuriant. The earlier and later
grass crops have not been surpassed since
the war.
noticed that the work OH the Valley rail-
road approaches completion, and appears 10
be of the most substantial quality.
| stopped to see the old stone church,
eight miles from Staunton, around which
cluster so many historic memories. 1t has
recently been repaired and fitted up, but the
boary walls of gray limestone continue to
pcrpetuate the spirit Of the oden time.
I called to see my old friend DR.. Handy,
who has been for several years the pastor OF
this church. The Doctor is preparing to
give his prison experiences to the world,
and his Journal, entitled "Unlted Stltes
Bonds; or, Fifteen Months in Fort Dell.
ware,'' will soon be issued from the press o!
the Turnbulls, of Baltimore. 1t Is a faithful
portraiture Of life in that famous prison,
and, while acknowledging kindness and
courtesies received from northern o1hcers
and others, shows up the Yankee. method OF
dealing with opinions most truthfully ana
While in prison the Doctor was
intimately associated with Generals Jeif.
Thompson, Basil Duke, and other prominent
Confederates. He tells Of the efforts OF Gene
raj Tyler and Colonel Dom Piatt to brow
beat him; how q prominent brother Pres
byterian minister undertook to lecture him
for the sin of treason, and manifested his
don't.touch-me holer-than-thou feeling
most extensively. Indeed, the book will
abound with varied and interesting. incl
dents, and will prove valuable accession to
the collections of the Southern Historical
Society.
nile are not aroused on the Kemper question.
an who vote will vote for him; but these
people don't feel the need OF turning out.
They cannot realize the danger as the east,
ern people do. Our State Committee would
do well to "stir things" up here. ! men.
ton this not to croak, but to call attention
IL an iii ,5oi iallG lnalleI. AS nave recently
passed through or conversed with intelii-
gent and observing men from Highland,
Bath, Allegheny, Rockbsldge, and Augusta