Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-06-18
CEDAR CREEK AND FISHERS HILL

SrRAsBuRG. Va, June 4. 1873.
Yesterday VIC visited Winchester; to-day,
Cedar Creek and Fishers Hill. Have walk
ed 10 to 10 miles to-day in burning sun.
Ii is simply impossible to visit the battle
grounds in this valley with carriage or
even saddle horse. The fields are fenced
up ard under cultivation. Therefore We
have walked over them, as we did eleven
wears ago, but under different circum-
stances. Then we had provision, haversack,
sword or gun, &c Now We carry an UNI
brel!a in one nand to avoid sunstroke. and
the ether carries a IL ID. solid shot, or sun
dry shells. as relics A ten pound shell
found to-day on Cedar Creek battle ground
proved too much for me as | was attempt
ing to Jump creek. 1t SO disturbed the
centre of gravity. that | was compelled
to stop in the centre OF the creek and see
how deep 1t was.
The house then occupied by Gen. Sheri-
den looks very natural. The small stone
house that was Gen. Ricketts, head quarters
is now occupied by Confederate soldier
who was gunner in kirkpatrick Bat
terry, and who was directly in front OF our
regiment. He showed us in several ways
his friendship. and genuine Southern hos
pitality.
Corn now grows where the 10th Vermont
recaptured two guns of Battery NJ, 9TH
u. ). Artillery. Near that spot We picked
up three minnie balls and other relies. A
lutte farther TO the north | saw the spot
" herc Il minnie ball struck me. October 10,
1864, passing through one hundred and
thlrty-six thicknesses of paper, pamphlet.
and three qulres OF paper purchased the
evening previous of settler. The hard,
polished writing paper caused the bal! TO
change its direction and 80 my lie was
saved.
Our next point was Strasburg By rail
road recently built From there we walk
cd up the pike to Fishers Hill. passing
over the stone bridge where the First Yer
mont Cavalry made such large captures.
October 10Th, 1864, and where the young
est lad in the Vermont Cavalry (Charlie
Carpenter, | bclieve) captured the Con
lederate General Ramseur. Upon the slope
OF Fisher Hill, IN the south side OF a large
locust tree, we dug out two rebel bullets that
were intended for Union soldier. The hill
side looks very natural that We assembled.
September -. 1864, at the top of which our
regiment captured one very fine 20 ID. Par
rott gun, one l. ID. brass Napoleon. and
FIVE other guns, with one hundred and fifty
prisoners At the foot Of that hill Is Tumb
PipeTs mil, where to-day VIC found the
finest spring OF water that We have vet
seen.
The farming land is the best here of any
portion of the valley that We have visited
this week. We saw to-day two -four mills
that are run by water from living springs
conducted by a wooden fume, upon the sur
face OF the ground. to large overshot
water wheel. These springs furnish solid
and continuous stream OF water about one
foot deep ami TWO feet wide. Considering
that this l. now the third consecutive sum
mer of drought, 1t Is remarkable. At the
foot Of Fisher HUI, near the stone bridge,
between the pike and the Shenandoah
River, where our brigade once filed in Tor
dinner. upon a piece Of bottom land, i now
the finest field OF winter wheat that | ever
saw, sowed in drills. standing IL feet high,
and very heavy. Perhaps there are 30 acres
in that bottom. This field with the springs
ard four mills alluded to, together with
$50 acres of other rich farming land, be-
longs TO an unmarried Young lady. Not
being a candidate myself. | forgot to in
CURE how She regards the Young men of
the North
There is much good land here, bat in the
main II has been OyerWOrked. NJ rotation
OF crops, and no manure used. Land worth
so per acre in lot0 can now be had for
Slb to $50 This valley Is sadly in want Of
nl9Hcg ami men, Of eHergy One man told
me to-day that in 1850 ms mother had go
acres OF land worth 80 per acre. and -
slaves that they were tf-red $500 each Tor.
and he advised has mother 10 sell them all.
Sue DAD not. The war came and the slaves
were all freed. The lfni Wi not bring
over SIC per acre, and they are poor. Inc
man went 10 the Pacific Coast when the
war broke out. and this week he returned
here to make his first visit home
Respectfully.