Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-24
Correspondence of the (Pa.) Volunteer. |
LETTER FROM STANTON, va.

Correspondence of the (Pa.) Volunteer
LETTER FROM STANTON, va.
SrAUNToN. May %, 1873.
J. B. BRATToN, ESQ.
My Dear S,ir-Accordiug to promise, give
you a letter for publication. | arrived in this
Virginia town of considerable note on Tuesday
night, leaving Carlisle for Hagerstown on Sat
urday last | entered this classic Shenandoah
Valley on Monday last at p. NJ from Har-
per's Ferry. Before leaving that point, having
some two hours stay at this world-renoWned
place, again visited 'Jeferson's Rock, noted
in the annals Of Virginia as the place this i'm
mortal parsonage wrote his Notes on virgin
Ia" then descending UiG path and steps cut
in solid limestone, took another observation of
HOId John Browns engine house, whittier he
retreated and fortified himself until wounded,
CAPTURED and imprisoned. This building still
bears the port hole marks, from which he and
his deluded followers fred ON the people who
surrounded it. The Government property re-
mains intact as it was three years ago, when
visited this noted locality, bare walls of the
burned Armory and other buildings.
CHARLEsTowN.
Leaving Harper Ferry at P. NJ, and af-
ter passing up along the Shenandoah for some
miles, emerge into the open country until we
reach this grand old town, county seat OF JET
ferson county. Here John Brown was tried,
convicted and executed. The field was pointed
ont to me by a negro In which he paid the death
nepalty. This town has some attractions, but
none ef historical eminence. The valley here
begins to spread out in width, extending for
many miles from the Blue Ridge to the Ale
ghany, and here appears in all its incpient
beauty
WINCHESTER.
This point was reached in due time The
country is open and the valley increases in
width. The first thing that attracted my atten-
ton when nearing the town was Mllroy' Forts
and earth-work defences on an elevation west
of the railroad, and southwest Of the town.
From here he was disgracefuly chased. He
fed in confusion before the forces of StoDewall
Jackson The town is well situated, and the
stir on the business streets was quite lively. As
the sun clipped the horizon, in the cool shade
of Monday eve, wended to the National Gene
terry Here sweetly repose over four thousand
of the Union dead, each grave mounded up In
grave form, and marked with white head-boards,
bearing name, company, regiment and State.
The Pennsylvania dead occupy a large space in
the north east part. The unknown are
numerically the largest. Think of it, five acres
appropriated to this benevolent purpose, and
the ground nearly all occupied 1t isa beauti-
full place on an elevation surrounded with a
stone wall, each section separated by walk of
some four feet ia width, while the head boards
give it much attraction, they being SO regular
II SET The Confederate Cemetery is separated
therefrom by road, or rather a lane, and con-
teins five acres, an extension of the town Gene
tery. The graves are similarly mounded and
the head boards alike Here the Ashby broth
ers repose, side by side, and the poetic inscrip-
tions on wooden tablatures erected on various
spots show that they were true to the "Lost
Cause" sublimely appropriated and selected.
DEsoLATIoN APPARENT.
Leaving Winchester at A. NJ Tuesday, the
first sight presented is thousands of acres of
beautiful land laid waste, no fences and pre-
sents the appearance of an elevated prairie,
without timber, the surface covered with short
grass. beautifully carpeted with this natural
covering. And thus it will remain until Penn.
sylvania farmers purchase this desolate region.
and improve it. The land, of course, is lime
stone, similar to Cumberland Valley, and wouln
soon recuperate under the skill and culture of
such farmers as they; price, | suppose five or
ten dollars per acre Still, there are other lands
improved and productive. The wheat looks
well, and promises an abundant harvest. A
number of small towns are quickly passed, and
HARRISONBURG,
the present railroad terminus, is reached. This
town is quite stirring, the people active and
sprighty, and the town quite large, and the
country all around beautiful, the growing crops
luxuriant. Here the 'slow coach" is taken fol-
twenty five miles to Stanton, the valley rail
road not yet completed, but will be-, perhaps,
next autumn. The turnpike passes through a
country noted for its fertility and productive
ness The farm houses and barns are, in many
cases, similar to Old Mother Cumberland -
the wheat looks well. as far as human visio q
extends Indeed, the natural features of this
valley. for this distance, is sublimely beautiful
The timber large and abundant, oak and hick.
ory, with much valuable pine
sTAUNToN.
A long, tedious journey, and some eight miles
after night ended, this town is reached and
glad, indeed. to step from the coach, tired arc
stifened. Next morning "wednesday started
out early to view the situation, end to interview
the people. The town is built on hills, In hol
lows, and much on the level Business seems
to be prosperous. The suburban residences are
almost hid from view by tall oaks and shade
trees much elevated above the general leve
and splendidIy improved, and suppose are oc
cupied by the wealthy. Here there are five f.
male private schools, the most conspicuous, the
Wesleyan Female College," fine building Of
large proportions in the midst of forest shade,
TheState Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institution, y
is itself worth trip to this place to see.
don t mean the spacious buildings, but the in
mates or rather pupils of this benevolent insti-
tuition. Whilst walking around viewing these
unfortunates, a number of the dumb had q
length colioquy with the gentlemanly youthful
Principal. He talked to each and all in sign
language with the utmost facility and as each
was attended to, and another came to have his
talk and then left. In the crowd were many
harena starenas, vicious-looking chaps. and
many of seemingly low culture. The Principal
informed me they fight betimes and halloo I'D.
roarously. and pitch an pugilisticaly until sepa-
rated. The blind are docie, quiet and peace
able from necessity. for they cannot see the
dumb can see and their passions are as all 9TH
ers. tamable and untamable. The State NAV
we'll be proud of this noble institution, situat-
ed, as it is, amidst trees and grove, fascinating
ly charming
THE PEOPLE OF STAUNTON,
Are made up of blacks and whites the former
superintendent They are polite, 'well-behaved
generally moral and industrious, and amongst
themselves very lively and social. The colored
people here partake, in great measure, of the
intelligent, refining influences of the whites
In conversation they are remarkably witty, Ian
guage good, and we'll enunciated, free from me-
groisms of the ignorant class, which are not
here found. What is remarkable. perfect good
feeling prevails amongst them ard towards the
dominant race, and vice uersa. The white pop
ulation-Vlrginians to the manor born"-for
L. -