The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-05-12
RIcHMoSp LETTER
Prom our moundsyIIle Correspondent on
His Way South.

Prom our MoundsyiIle Correspondent on
His Way South.
RICHMOND, Va, May 10, 1880.
EdIlon 1nlsllIEsnea;
After writing on Saturday from Wash.
ington 1 spent the time until bedtime
taking in a view Of the Capital City by
gaslight, and / must say that it was much
pleasanter, as the intense heat Of the day
had given way to the cool Of the evening,
always felt there, 50 the inhabitants say,
in the hottest season. In our stroll we
visited the Blaine headquarters, where we
found quite number engaged in discus
sing the situation, but found no one who
would risk positive assertion as to which
Of the two champions would win, though
as matter Of course, they profess TO be-
lieye that Blaine will be successful in the
end. But few more days will tell the
tale. 1 notice in the calculation made
that West Virginia is counted solid Tor
Blaine.
Ileit Washington on Sunday morning
and arrived ut Richmond at about ll:SV;
Happening TO form the acquaintance OF
one Of the employees OF the X. X. company
VIM nv the way Is very intelligent gen.
tIeman. i had pointed out to me many
nIsces Of interest. This though is all that
can be said Of the country 70 max MAX. y I,o ~
tractye, for Of all the poor, iorsaKsn lo q:
ing countriesI ever saw, TINS takes .. Lte
lead. "A poor soil covered WIN sCIIo
pines, dwarf-oaks dogwood &c. ID Wnas
ereets the eye on either side Of the racK.
Il fhis is relieved now and then BY TIMBER
Of a larger growth, such as poplar, syca'
more and maple, but this only happens
along the narrow valley oil the little
streams, which we now and then cross.
Around Fredericksburg there is quite q
change and II seems as though we sudden
~ enter an entirely different world. For
miles around It the land Is good and the
scenery ia delightful. Here we saw the
historic battle ground on which Eight
invO Joe Hooker was so feariully defeat.
ed' Az the train moved slowly along, l
had pointed TO me the position OF the I'm.
lion forces on one side Of the town, and
Ithe Rebels on the other, and to one who
lis acquainted with the history OF that
battle, could almost see the bloody
carnage re-enacted.
The place where the devoted band, who
made the fearful charge on the heights,
the field in which the dead lay go thick
that, as was said by one who witnessed 1t,
they were almost touching each other,
could all be seen from the car win
dow, and yod-msy judge that 1t was
keenly realized On the heights repose
the bodies OF the gallant dead who fell
there. The old flag waves gaily above
them, and the cause for which they died
survives, and will survive as long as long
as an American breathes. We cross the
Chickahominy too farup to see the swamps,
4 or 10 view the battle ground OF Mechanics.
vile, Cold Harbor, and therefore We miss
seeing these places, made historic because
baptised with the blood OF friend and foe.
But to return to Richmond, was pre-
pared to see fine city, but l must &C
knowledge was not prepared to see such
beautiful one. True, in the few hours |
have remained in it, have been permit
ted to see but little Of 1t, but ! have seen
enough to convince me that II is now a
beautiful city, and bids fair in the near tu.
ture TO become one OF the most beautiful
cities in the United States.
They claim now $1,000 inhabitants while
at the close of the war the population did
not number $1,000. Among the places oil
interest I visited might mention the
Capital square and building, Libby Prison
and Libby Hill, while several other
places were pointed out to me, such as the
places OF the rescue OF Captain John
Smith by Pocahontas, State Prison, Castle
Thunder, soldiers monument, jeff Davis
mansion, &c. There is no trouble in
getting all the information you want by
inquiring OF the people, for they all love
Richmond and love to talk about 1t.
l am stopping at the st. James Hotel,
one among the bestin the city. The land.
lord may be pleasant gentleman, but /
know there Is not, even at the Mcclure
House, a more clever clerk than Mr.. O. W.
Henderson OF the st. James.
i l met here Messrs Weber, Thomas and
Thorn, OF Michigan, and Witherell and
LOsie, OF New York, all on their way to
Charleston, s. O., TO attend the Supreme
Lodge K. OF H., and we go from here to-
lgether. The weather still continues ex-
iremely warm during the day, but the
nights are cool and pleasant. Vegetation
does not seem to be much in advance Of
what 1t is in Wheeling and vicinity. They
have the advantage OF the climate here,
but you have the advantage every way In
the soil. The land between this place and
Washington is worked TO death, and few
Dutch farmers. are needed to bring it to life.
y.