Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-03-23
ON THE w1NG-BY HANK.
STONY CREEK WAREHOUSE,
SUSSEX Co., VA, Mar. u, n.


STONY CREEK WAREHOUSE,
SUSSEX Co., VA, Mar. u, ~
Left Washington at 8 a. m, bound for
Richmond via. Gordonsville. 1t was at
Alexandria where first saw the effects of
war. Here beautiful national cemetery
is laid out, over which the national colors
float. After passing many familiar towns,
the train stopped at Manassas, and near
where the Bull Run battle was fought.
Breastworks are still visible in great
many places. The country is not inviting
in any sense; even the railroads are great
ly behind the times; the station buildings
are very much like toll-gstes along the old
plank road to jefferson. After leaving
Gordonsville 1 expected to find better
farming country, but instead of that,
more desoIate and poverty stricken land
can hardly be found; small, siekly looking
pines oaks are visible the greater part OF
the way; the soil has the appearance of pale
tan-bark, and is, judge, about as produe-
tive for raising crops. At Hanover juno
tion and Court House, was pointed out
the position of the two armies, and further
on was the Chickahominy Swamp, within a
few miles of Richmond, where Mcclellan
displayed his soldierly qualities in digging
the bottom out of the swamp, and crying
for more men. As the train approached
the Capitol of the Confederacy long lines
of earthworks and rife pits we're visible
though time had leveled some and covered
them over with green turf. The city is
now reached at 4: 80 p. m. The buildings
on the outskirts are almost wholly given
up to the negro population, where, in
northern cities, the Irish dwell and -four
ish. 1 took quarters at Ford's Hotel, near
the State House, and improved what day
light was left in visiting it and the other
points of interest. The State House is
rather small, old fashioned building; in the
rotunda is Washington, cut in marble; on
the base is a patriotic sentiment; Of course
this was inscribed before the average Vir
ginia Democrat was born. Outside, in the
Capitol grounds, another life-size statue Of
Washington on horse back, presenting a
very good appearance; near by is another
statue-that of Stonewall Jackson, of Con-
federate notoriety. In less than year the
citizens of Richmond intend to erect one to
the memory Of Gen. Lee. in the same park.
The next place was Libby Prison, down on
Crosby street, near the river. 1t is being
used for the same purpose as before the
war-a tobacco factory and warehouse. As
l gazed upon its walls, and in the damp
cellar below, feeling of sadness stole up
on me, and il was hard to shake off.
need not tell you why, for my Democratic
friends would accuse me of rekindling the
old fire of sectional hatred. The old sign
of Libby Prison" is still nailed to one cor
ner of the building. in large Roman let
tiers, and the iron CRATES across the win
dows still remain. Castle thunder, another
Yankee prison, is bat short distance off,
but did not visit it. Up town, on fine
looking street, is the building in which
JEFF Davis resided during the ''late un-
pleasantness." 1t is large, roomy build
ing, but now the sign over the door says
Central School"
The CITY, on the whole, is good looking
one. The older portion Of it indicates that
many of the buildings we're built hun
dred years ago. Business is not very brisk
but business men are now looking fol
better times, since the Presidential ques'
ton has been settled. Leaving Richmond
at a. M, it was not long before was il
Petersburg. The mine which Gen. Burn
side touched off during the war, is yetpre
served by the owner of the land, who
charges % cents admission to the grounds
From this he has realized, it is said,
handsome fortune. The short stop herr
would not admit of any rambling about thu
city, so l came on to this place, % mile;
below, on the Weldon railroad. Here
! found my friend Samuel Piekett-you
know Sam? He is lord Of the fowl and thu
brute. and his right there is none to dis
mite. He lives in house which in ante
} bellum days was occupied as the residenc'
of a slave-driver. Hard by are negro dwell
, ings: most of them are occupied by ne
/ groes-now tilling the soil on shares, prin
, cipally. The residence Of Sam is Of tn
ancient order of architecture-put togethe
by nails made by hand, and the sidini
sawed out by whip-saw. Sam says "tel
my friends that my house is abundant
cool in the winter, and sufficiently warm Il
! the summer" The land hereabouts, l an
: forced to say, is rich and valuable-th
| best in the State, except the Shenandoa
Valley. never saw finer fields or bette
5 soil to work than this. The productiyenes
Q Of the soil is good, they all say; water
t fruit and climate unequaled. The Offse
is high railroad tariffs, occasionally chill
: churches and schools scarce. Bulldozin
e is below par, and northern men cannot d
d better than to look at this part Of Virgins
: Land from "a to 10 per acre. all ready fc
n the pillow. Two negroes raised last yes
e 9, 600 bushels of corn and bales Of cottoI
9 with the aid Of one little mule. Timb'
4 chiefly pine, oak and the gum tree; as (
y game, one old hunter starts to-day for W.
n oming Co., n. Y, with $3.50 worth OF fur
n His pack consists Of beaver, otter, mini
: &c. | shall bid adieu to the old cabin L
!, ,norrow HANK.