Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-01-21
For THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
Orange County, Virginia.

Orange county, eiQhty-two miles south of
Washington city, and eightyfour miles north
west of Richmond, Va, is diamond-shaped.
and BOUNDED on The west and north by the
Rapidau river, on the south by the NorthaDs
river, aud Oh the east by au imaginary line,
and contains about six hundred square mies.
1t may not be generally known tina, Orange
county contains the birthplace of Gen. Zlcharay
Taylor Two miles south of Rapdau station,
DOW the property Of Mrs. Mildred Covell, the
birthplace Of old Rough aud Ready Moth
log marks the spot where he first saw light but
the green sward that usually fingers long after
u homestead has passed away. Gen. Dade,
many years ago, who then owned "Hare For
est" removed the stills of the dwelling aud
placed them as relics, under his immense mill
at Pcylou Ford, Rapldau river, bu: he great
frcshrt Of April, 1862, carried the mill as well
as the relics awCy
Montpelier, too, is situated in Orange county,
four miles southwest Of the Court House. 1t
was once the home Of President james Madi
son, aud is DOW undergoing transfer.
Orange Court House, the county seat, is an
Incorporated village of about seven hundred To-
habltapts. 1t has five churches, four schools,
one carriage shop, three black, NTH shops, one
newspaper, ouc hotel, five stores, and the usua
lumber OF grog shops. Were you, Mr.. Editor
70 visit our village on any public day, you
would be deeply Impressed with the uotimeIy
efforts of certain congressman TO pass ClVl
Rights BILL particularly II you desired to pup
licly revive "the inner man..
GOrdonsviie, the terminus OF the northern
arm Of tue W. g., V. NJ. l. q. 5. r. r., is III
exceedingly thrifty place, situated IN Orange
county, Virginia.
Orange county contains eleven poSt0thces
twenty-five mills drlveu by wafer, and nlueteeI
churches, besides those of GordonsviIle. There
are also three gold mines 10 Orange-one neal
VerdeersVllIe postothce, and Two Dear Germa
IA Fcid, Rapidan. Ono Of these mlDes, and
perhaps, the most valuable, is just east OF or
deersvi aud several years ago its proprietor
was offered one hundred thousand dollars tol
1t. Ii, however, has been reelected for maAy
years, aud more valuable ore than is grcedlly
sciz I'd upon 10 other localities lies exposed FOL
waut oil capital aud energy.
lu Orauge, too, two Of the hardest fought
battles Of the late war were fought-Payue '.
Farm aud the Wilderness. On the 9Th o.
November, 1868, as Gen. Edward Johnson
division was marching along the road about
half way between Bartley's Mills add Locust
Grove postof6ce it Was fired into UNEXPECTEDLY
by the skl.mishers of Freuchs Corps, U. S. A.
This was the signal for battle, and The issue
was Immediately joined. 1u this engagement
Brigadier General j. Nj. Jones, Of Va, was
wounded, as we'll as General Walker of the
''Stouewall'' brigade. "Alleghaney" johnson
had horse killed under him also. The loss
was about equal on either side, and both con-
testaDts retired at night-the Confederate dead
remaining unburied for several weeks. ln
Orange county, on the farm of Mr.. Robert
Roach, near Germaua Ford, commenced the
1864. Your correspondent was present at that
man life could only have been ordered by one
OF his men, The battle of The Wilderness was
fought only as brave men fight and in visiting
the battle field just after the din Of battle had
ceased, We wondered how any living thug es-
capped unhurt SapIings and even trees were
literally cut down by minnie bullets. ln the
streets Of Orange Court House, too, was q
fierce cavalry engagement, and "reminiscences
may still be seen by visiting the store Of MIR.
Thomas A. Robinson
| We have rather permanent court, the
clerkship having been IN Que family tor thirty
years, and our venerable Attorney for the Com
mouwealth having filled thar position for about
the same length Of time, and he is likely to re-
main our attorney.
a few days ago Aaran Minor, one Of the
most upright negroes in our county, received
| fifty dollars from son.in law living 10 Clarke
county, to aid him in paying for piece Of
land, and a close ueighbor of his named Abra-
ham Campbell, a worthless sort of Dcgro,
hearing OF his havog received the money, met
him and discharged load of shot deliberately
10 his face. The shot DOT proving Immediate
Iy fatal, Minor summoned aid by his cries, and
Campbell changed his home from his humble
hut to brick residence at Orange Court
| House, where be is contemplating giving aid
and comfort to Az all.rai between Richmond
aud St. Louis via Huntington.
The farmers were busily following until yes
terday They are now filling ice houses with
ice No. |. ARGUS.
Near Orange c. H., Va, JAM 18th, 1915.