American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-08-26
MIDSUMMER GLEANINGS.
r ON our regular correspondence

MUD y IL NEh ULEA NlAUOs
r. ON our regular correspondent
WYTHEvILLE, Va Aug 81.
For those who, in this fiery season
Of the year, seek health and cool
,epose, rather than fashionable dis
play; and are not beut on squande-.
ing the years savings in m,dsum-
mer dissipation, the many cosy
little summer resorts in the noun
tains Of southwestern Virginia have
peculiar attractions. There are
many OF these on the line of the
railroad between Lynchburg and
Wytheville, as the Blue Ridge
Springs of Bedford county, and the
White Sulphur, Yellow Sulphur,
and Allegheny Springs of Mont
gomery county; some are sought
for the healing qualities of their
mineral waters, but they are.majnly
sought for rest, and that subtitle
ministration to body and mind.
worn and deceased, which drug
stores and quackdom arc powerless.
to bestow, and which men are be.
ginning to learn can be attained
only in absence from the work and
care of the busy mart, or combining
Office. Wytheville. the town from
which I write has become by natural
selection, and without advertising q
place of summer resort. Situated
on the line of the Va. & Tenn. r. B.
in the midst of the grandest noun
tain scenery, and at an elevation Of
2, 800 feet above the sea level. it is
continually famed by sea breezes
that have swept shrough the foliage
Of oaks and pines ON mountain tops,
but have never been profaned by
malaria and stencil from marsh or
city. To ill the lungs with this
atmosphere. for q few weeks, is, to
the jaunsl ced denizen Of the city,
AN experience not unlike the renewal
Of youth. Springs Of pure water.
that require no ice, gush from the
billsides, while near them are
mineral waters much used, and
highly esteemed for their medicinal
properties and all these may be
enjoyed with board, in good hotels,
for twenty snvc dollars per month.
and no extras! This may seem
miraculous but it is veracious.
Wytheville has q population of
1000. of which, perhaps. one third
is colored /; six churches, four hotels.
two newspapers, wide street, and
the town is supplied with pure
water By pipes from Q spring and
reservoir on an adjoining hill.
/ was in this part of the State
before the war, and being personally
acquainted with many of the citi-
zens I am persuaded that they have
not only long since in good faith
"acccpted the situation," but are
entirely satisfied with it, aud have
never regretted the exchange.
During the war this town was an
important military post, and it suf-
fered from both friend and foe. 1t
was the scene of q sharp fight
between Col. Powell, with about
I.5O0 U. 8. cavalry, and a few Con-
Tolerate soldiers, at home on fur
Tough on the other side. The latter
had no more discretion than to at
tempt to defend the town against
this greatly superior force, and they
made q savage fight, firing from
the windows Of the houses. They
were. however, soon overpowered
and q number of the houses were
But there now remains |
Renaissance of those try
ing times, only the charred and
fallen walls on Tazwell street which |
mark the spot where Capt. G's. fine
residence once stood, and. ON Main
street, a portion of the debris of the
Presby terrain church blown up on
,he occasion of the above mentioned
cavalry raid. The basement of this
,hurch had been profaned by the
Jonfederates, who had made of it
IN arsenal for the deposit of tons of
hell, and the cavalry in their haste
o destroy the shell, blew the church
o atoms. The shell continued to
explode during the entire night and
he bombarded unhappy citizens
;ept as far from the sacred place as
,ossible, while an outlying detach-
nent OF Federal cavalry hearing the
apidity of the explosions, supposed
hat the Confederates had been
reinforced and beat q
asty retreat. h
Here and there may be seen an
Id caisson, or other relic Of the +:
'ar. and still may be exhumed some ,
( the shell from the old church !
asement, and they may also be
shed from the public we'll which {