The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-09-01
FoR THE HERALD.
CAMP GROUND,
FREDERICK Co., Va,
August Is. 1873.

InEUGh1Ch w., AZ
August Is, 1875.
The Camp Meeting which is in
progress at this place under the aus
pices Of the NJ. Z. Church, is the
hugest affair of the season. The
Grounds are located about two miles
South of New Town and on the East
side of the Old Valley Turnpike, near
Crisman's Spring. The land is what
topograhers call rolling and is covered
with a large growth Of original forest
trees. On all sides old oak and wal
nut trees stretch abroad their. aged
arms and shelter the thronging crowds
with canopy Of living green. Many
of the readers of the HERALD will
readily recall the spot upon which the
tents are pitched. Not far from here
is the fatal battle field of the 10Th Oc-
tober, where the brave and gallant
Col. Rutherford, with many others
from South Carolina, received their
death wounds-where 7. j. Pope,
Osborne Schumpert and George Lane
were wounded. What changes few
years make! What thronging memo
ries came troopiug up as 1 stood on
the summit of the hill just North Of
the Camp Grounds and gazed upon
the scenes around. The full August
moon rode high in the sky, flooding
every object with her pale light. Yon-
der roll the waters of Cedar Greek,
whose hoarse brawl borne upon the
gentle night breeze is distinctly heard
even at this distance-there is the
track of the rail road built since the
war, and within a few steps of the
spot upon which Z stand passes the
Valley Pike, the white limestone
rocks with which it is Macadamized
brightly cleaning in the moonlight.
How many weary feet. carrying wearier
bodies and thrice wearied hearts, have
marched over that hard road. Was
it great ''stretch of the imagination"
when fancied that I saw troops of
old soldiers marching along the road
and heard their laughter and their
talk as comrade spoke to comrade.
And when tbe lights fare up around
the tents yonder in the grove do not
the wood,nymphs peer down from the
overhanging branches expecting to
see the outstretched forms Of ragged
soldiers dressed in grey, and hear the
jokes and songs that in days gone by
were told and sung round the bivouac
fire? * X
Altogether there are about one hum
dred tents on the ground this year.
They are arranged in a circle 86 yards
in diameter, inside of which are the
speakers stand and the seats for the
people. Ample arrangements have
been made to accommodate at least
five thousand persons, and on Sunday
it was estimated that that number
was present. They came in carriages,
in buggies, in wagons, on horseback,
and besides special trains were run
from Harper's Ferry, Front Royal and
staunton. These stopped at every
station and crossing to pick up passen-
gers. In fact everybody and his wife
went to the Camp Meeting. The good
eating of this region is proVerbial, and
although there is canvas hotel here
capable of accommodating one hun.
dred and fifty guests, yet the people
bring huge baskets Of provisions each
day and take their dinners pic mic
style. On Sunday hundreds of white
table cloths could be seen from one
spot spread out on the green grass and
surrounded by laughing, chatting
groups Of both sexes. The pulpit elo-
quence is Of the highest order. [ re.
gret to say, however, that very few
comparatively pay any attention to
what is going on near the altar. x
The farmers of the Valley are in
high spirits. The season is better
than it has been for ten years. The
crops of small grain have produced
an average yield, and the corn crop
bids fair to be the most abundant one
raised since the war. Material pros
perity added to their political prosper
ity and splendid health ought to be, l
should think, sufficient to make any
people happy. But this is enough.
ALPHA Pr.