National Republican., 1881-08-01
AT WINCHESTER.
An ola Town win Many Historic Mem
Orlss.


Special c,orrespondence Of TnE RErupucAS.
WINCHESTER, VA, July 3l.-At this place
the Shenandoah Valley Is thirty miles WIDE and
nestled costly among the low hills, midway between
the mountains, thirty.two miles west OF Harpers
Ferry, Is situated the ancient and battle-scatreu
town OF Winchester. II was an ola town Wnen
Braddock marched his army through IL rom Alex
andria then Belle Haven) to his disastrous Gu
counter with the French and Indians near fhps,
burg then Fort Duquesnc) His army eneampeu
here long enough to build fort and dig well
ninety feet deep. The well and traces OF the fort
arc still in existence, and Braddock street Is ono
ofthe main thoroughfarcs Of the town Winches-
ter Of late years ha become
QUITE A SUMNER REsoRr
for wrshnstonians and Baltimoreans. Situated as
II is twenty-five hundred feet above the level OF
the sea- there is always delightful breeze OF pure
mountain air stirring. and the hottest days are
generally succeeded by cool nights, requiring one
to sleep under blankets to be comfortable. II Is
here passengers leave the cars and take the stage
Tor Jordan's White sulphur, six miles distant;
Rock Enon, seventeen miles; Capon, aud other
springs this part OF Virginia Is noted for There Is
q atelephone from here to Rock Enon Springs, aud
we were informed to-day that the hotel there Is
crowded to It's utmost capacity, orders having been
sent down to bring no moro passengers to the
springs until further ordcrs in fact all the springs
in this section
ARE CROWDED WITH VISITORS.
The valley is very rich soil, and generally well
farmed In this section, and produces wonderful
wheat and corn crops. No wonder tho rebels
fought SO hard to retain the "granary of the con-
federacy," rs they called the Shenandoah Valley.
The citizens claim that Winchester was taken and
retakcn eighty times during the late war, changing
hands twice in one day, and she shows her scars
ypt In ha foria rth IN
the surrounding hills, muny houses partially torn
down with shot dshcl and with hardly house
In the town without q bullct-hoe through II.
Belmont cottage, on the Bcrryville pike, about a
mile out of town, now owned by cyan Jones, was
used rs
HOSPITAL BY sHERlDAS's TROOPS.
On the 10th day OF October, lSGi when that terri.
BILE battle was fought and Sheridan sent Early
whirling up the valley the house was pierced sew
e'al timeswith shells. A mimic ball still remains
I'm the headbonrd OF bcdstead In one Of the
rooms In the front yard there is mound several
feet high, composed of solid shot, she !, m uskct.
barrels, and bayonets, picked up on the place.
Lead bullets have been found aud turned up by
the peaceful pillow in such quantities that when
sold in town by the colored help supplied them
with tobacco. Now and then the ghnstly skeleton
OF soldier Is plowed up. Three were found this
year ON this place. They were taken TO the ma.
uonal military cemetery, near by, and buried,
where lie the remains of one thousand brave boys
In blue, moro than five hundred of whom are un-
known. Adjoining the national cemetery is the
confederate cemetery, containing nearly two
thousand soldiers It Is called
sToNEwALL CEMETERY,
and contains two beautiful monuments erected by
the States ofVrginia and Maryland. The ono
erected by Virginia is white marble shaft forty
feet high, surmounted by n confederate soldier at
rss heroic size. on the base is carved the seal OF
Virginia and the confederate States, on the oppo-
site side cross.swords and confederate flag, with
camp and tents In the distance will not give the
inscription on this monument, as 1t Is shame and
disgrace to the State and enough to bring the blush
to every patriots cheek. E.LG