Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-03-22
lizard OH Frederick sburg, -

correspondence OF the Alexandria Gazette
HEwLEIT's, March 22.-"Hard on Freder.
lcksburg" was tho text Of story toll in tho
Gazatto tcw days ago concerning two enter
pflsIDg scptenttionsriaus. who had filled their
pockets With southern gold, and while on
homewaId tramp, rather than spend a few
cents 10 decent boarding house, rendering
themselves comfortable. aud aiding somo poor
widow, struggling With adverse fortuoc, pre-
fsrred to spend the night 10 the station house.
And while locked in thu embrace of Morpheus
some lhriftess wight passing by, appropriated,
for the bere6t of the good CID town, what he
esteemed fair compensation for their lodgings.
And this ia said to be "hard on Frtdericks
burg"
1t there b, spot on earth where tho south
ern heart aud memory Icverts into warmer
sympathles aDd tendercr rtcyllt c,ions than
Fredericksburg the writer knows it not. When
all the heights OF Stafford, oil the bcsom Of The
Rappahannncs, all the streets, houses AMI
suburbs OF Fredericksburg were swarmipg With
federal soldiers, who were appropriatiog to
their own use merchandise, clothing, books,
pic urcs, household and kitohcn furniture, sou.
Venlre memontocs, keopsakes, ringP, tickets,
chains. bands, ornaments. horses. cattle and
provisions with remorsclees greed Tor gaia, it
was hard on Fredericksburg" When long
lines 1 clnnon, br sling on oil the hills, were
night and day pouring upon the helpless and
| unrcslstirg town, fulioDs storm of hot shot
and shrltkiDg, blszing shells tearing into
churches, stores, parlors and private chambers,
| whore women and children and feeble old men
| were lsuQuishipp and dying. it was 'hard on
| Fredericksburg" When for weary days and
gloomlpg nights no sermon could be pretched,
| 20 prayer could be uttered, no letter could be
written, DO soft word of Iowa or affection could
be whispered even by helpless, feeble female,
, which was not sabitc'cd to the c:u,l surveil-
lance of brutal soldicIy, it was hard on
Fredericksburg" Aud when tho note of the
last quo had died away upon tho battle field OF
Appomattox, and tho sound OF "peace,"
peace rang through all tho land, and the
corquorors gathered their bands once moro in
her streets; took possession once moro of her
| houses and pole, subjected her citizens to in.
suit and oppression, and irsligated the
| negro to arrogaCc, and outrage, and
kept Tor Six years the poor wounded,
bruised, shattered. torn, bleeding. emaciatod,
toltering skele' IN of hor former self, under mil.
it2ry oppression, 1t indeed WAS hard on Fred.
erlcksburg." And when we consider her splen-
did location, her lines Of communication With
tho great fslds Of wealth and mar? of trade her
noble rivers rud embarrassed water power and
soc The hand of industry psralyzed in her streets,
and enterprise slumberIng beside her rushing
waters. while capital and industry arc passing
by TO seek for less favored and inviting folds,
We exclsim, oh how 'hsrd on fredericksburg"
But when two northern tr8mps, who had eaten
southern bread, and whose kith aud kin had
fatLened on the blood and toll of the old town,
while misershly sleeping in her streets, are rob
bed possibly (if robbed at ally by negroes whom
they had wres!ed from rightful owners, weswssr
with mighty oath it was not hard on Feeder.
'cksburg"
Cheer up, then, game old town by the Rsppahsn-
mock this foul SANDER upon thy fair name and
fame will dio with the breath that uttered it
snd having learned in the fiery furnace of ad-
versiLy to 'loyo your enemies, to bloss them
that curse you, snd to do good to them that hate
YOU" you will ero long SEQ the lido Of prospori-
" emptying IL rich treasures into your lap, and
no one will then dare to say if is "hsrd on Fred
ericksburg" HANOVER,