Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-07-05
Democrites Down in Dixie.
Especial Correspondence Of the Sentinel ]
WASHINGTON. D. G. July 2, 1878.

WASHINGTON, D. G. July 2, 1878.
Tt is often pleasant to revive memories of
the past when they are fraught with interest
ing incidents, and under such an impulse we
recently visited Lynchburg and Danvlle Va,
that we might note the familiar scenes of SOL
dier days, during and subsequent to the war
Taking train on our "alphabetical railroad"
the Washington City, Virginia Midland and
Great Southern, we ran through that portion
Of Virginia, which during the whole war was
one continual scene of marching aud fighting
and there is hardly station between here and
Lynchburg but what has many war reminis-
cences connected with it. At Manassas still
appear some of the forts and earth that
were thrown up in 81 and 81, which though
dismantled ana with broken and crumbled
faces and ditches reminds US Of the exhaust
ing marches in the mud aud cold and wet of
those winters, and recall the inevitable hard
tack and tough beef melted out to us by the
Commssary Department as well AS the faces
and voices Of many comrades of the llth
Corps, who long since have spread their silent
tents on the eternal camping ground of the
other world, and Of those who were spared to
life, Schurz is Secretary of the Interior Dew
ems is Attorney General LeDuc is Commission
err of Agriculture aud Segle and many others
are doing life's duty in private walks. We
could not help fervid "Thank God that the
sword of civil war has been beaten into the
pruning hook of peace" Here where grim
visaged war had one vast slaughter house, the
husbandman has reappeared with all the para
phanalia of comfort and tranquility, and the
contrast between present indications OF shift
and amity and the Gevastatons of war times
is simply sublime. Nothing then was spared
The bullet, the fire and the soldiers stomach
swept out of existence everything which could
~ 80. IL. 49, I1Ia k,,
stituied the only building al Manassas at one
time when we there, but now town whose
number of freshly painted and new houses al
most rouse the query, Wae war ever here p
Everywhere T ON Washington to Gordonsvlle
horses, cattle. fences, ard cultivated fields have
supplanted the tent, the corral of army wag-
ons and mules, and the wastes made by an
army show rs with most indisputable signs
that this afflicted portion of our country is
now entering upon an era of progress and i'm
provement which will make it one of the
grandest spots of the nation. We predict that
this railroad will ere long be one of the most
favored routes for tourists, because every por-
ton Of its surroundings will ever figure most
prominently 10 the annals of our country
Starting from here it touches ancient Alexan-
dra where Washington landmarks will ever
keep it alive, few miles west OF that city il
reaches Manassas and from there to Char
lottesvie; it touches or is near the great
battle fields of Manassas, Bull Ban. Brandy
and Bristow stations, Cedar Mountain, near
Cupeper, Chantlly and Centreville and others.
Every foot of the country has been occupied
by troops and for warfare and no one to whom
the rebellion has any interest can resist the
inclination, at some time or another, to visit
these historical places. it TANKS the foothills
of the Blue Ridge mountains, and touches the
great Piedmont Region, which extending from
the Potomac river down through Virginia,
Tennessee and Alabama, will be eventually
the greatest agricultural centre of the United
States. From near Alexandria to Charlotts-
vile the road runs through an immense plain,
as susceptible Of Improvement and OF grain
growing, as the famous tennessee Valley,
of New York State. Grass, the great desider-
ratum Of the farmer, grows luxurently every
where. France does not surpass it for wine
purposes, while the mild Winters render stock
growing an easy matter in comparison with
the rigorous climate of Northern fatitudes -
The fine markets of Washington and Bati-
more will always enable the farmer to dispose
of products and we know of no place East or
West which offers SO many inducements to the
immigration as this Pied mont region. Char
louisville with its Monticello and University,
the legacies of the immortal Jefferson must
ever be place of resort Here the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad debouches into the plain
from the mountains, and from this point dis
tributes its immense frieghts of lumber and
minerals northward and to Richmond We
feel assured that Alexandria and Washington
will yet become through there interests great
ship markets and that from here to Charlotts-
vile will become as thickly settled, thrifty
and wealthy as that between Albany and Buff
falo on the New York Central, and that, too, in
very few years. immigration once turned
southwark will quickly seize upon these plains
and foothills and enjoy their superior advan-
tages of soil and climate. We spent nearly
four years among these hills after war as an
army officer, and can bear witness through
such extended personal observation 10 the |
many attractions and advantages the Piedmon
region offers to the immigrant and to the
tourist. We grew attached to its climate and
to the grand scenery of the mountains and
landscapes. II is worth tourist trip South
to go upon "Colege Hill," at Lynchburg, and
look upon the sunset of some fair summer
evening. The Peaks of Otter, the highest
mountains South of the Potomac will stand
out boldly limned against the Western horizon
before him, and no grander picture can be
seen 10 all the country than that given by the
sun as he slowly sinks to rest between their
peaks. Rough and rugged as Lynchburg is,
owing to its being built upon a steep river
bluff, yet it has its compensaiions to the beau
ty OF its picturesque surroundings, and we
commend its rare scenery to all pleasure low
ing tourists. Lands are cheap all through this |
region. The best of farms can be bought for
one-haf the price asked prior TO the war, and
though impoverished somewhat BY slavery,
yet they readily respond to the labor of free
men, and no better country can be found in
which to make true home, one surrounded
with all the luxuries of fine climate and fruit
DENOCPITES