National Republican., 1881-09-06
FROM OUR FAT MAN
At FAuouIsR WHITE SULPHUR.
lie wanders Along the Rappahsnnock and Talks
with an Ex.Confsderate Cavalryman--
Wild Riders Under Rosser,
Stuart, and Ashby.
Special Correspondence of THE RErupLrcAS.

Special Correspondence Of THE REPUBLICAN.
FAUQU1ER WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, Sept
t.--Afler one Of Tenney's famous breakfasts
this morning your correspondent strolled down to
the banks Of the historic Ranpahannock and took
a somewhat extended pedestrian tour along its
tortuous course While during the recent war
this upper section Of the river was not the theatre
Of any very heavy engagements, yet 1t was the
point Of contact OF the right flank of the Federals
and the left flank of the confederates, and the
ceosoless and horassing activity which neces-
sarily prevailed brought into full play the cavalry
and light batteries OF both armies. The brdgeand
ford, which are distinctly visible from the veranda
ofthe hotel, were the scenes Of many hotly. con-
tested shirmisn wherein was refutcd that old sar-
oasm in regard to a dead cavalryman, for many
stout trooper on both sides ofthc stream.
GASPED OUT HIS LIFE
in the tall grass that skirts the rivers brink, or
found his last couch on the fragrant clover that
covers the adjacent meadows. As leaned against
the rail Of the bridge and watched the minnows
dartng in the shallow depths below the clatter of
hoofs brought me 10 attention, aud looked up.
The rider was bronsed and bearded man, APP
parently about forty years OF age, and from his
scat, the style Of bis saddle, and the cut Of his
whole rig II was evident TO me that he had been
one Of those wild riders who followed the pennon
VI Ellpptu III lllc luuN uhsHch
OF RosseT or Writ Ashby. We saluted, and the
stranger reined up to ask light for his briar-
wood" then, finding our route took down the same
eros. road, strobe at his stirrup while our talk
dritod through the crops and the drought, until
asked II he had been an actor In
THE SCENES or EIGHrEES YEARS AGO,
that had made these hill.tops historic. With a
quick glance he scanned me over and then asked
abruptly Are you Yankee2n without replying
| I a
barbarlans OF the North long enough to warrant
his Inference. "Yes," he answered, taking up my
question, &c was non commissioned officer in tho
| - Virginia Cavalry, and saw considerable SER
| vice just about here. That house over yonder wa.
the headquarters Of our brigade, and in the will
| lows down there burned many a cartridge ant
found out the fallacy of that old assertion that on,
southerner could whip half a dozen Yankees
From the hill just ahead Of us Sicgel had u fashioI
of making his Dutch arillcrsts give us lessons ii
gunnery whenever the time hung heavy on oil
hands.
ONE OF HIS SHELLS
put lieutcnnnts stripes on my collar by killlnI
the captain of our troop and mastering out tw,
lioutcnants who were permanently disabled. TIL,
cavalry, too, had q habit of moving around oi
our side of the river In style that kept alway
in hot water. While we never had anything lik
| pitched battle, there was a number of New York
Pennsylvania, and Illinois cavalry regiments oil
the Union side that did some pretty lively worl
and made things generally pleasant for us at ever
attempt we made TO investigate the condition o
things on the Fauquier side Of the water" "D
you reside in this vicinityT l inquired. mo;
live In Clarke County. / have partner In witt
me, an old soldier, and native of New York.
WE BucKED AGAINST EACH OTHER
down here on the RappahannOCS aud now we ar
farming together, and have made some none
since 'GS.' Just here our roads diverged, and tn
ex.lieute nant mechanically gave a semi. militar
salute and some directions as TO my route AM
cGntcrcd off, sitting his thoroughbred as squarcl
as have no doubt he had done years before, ,whe
he rode straight at the ranks of blue in the will,
melee ofthe charge. Breaking of from the road
] rctraccd my steps, following the river bank. A
short intervals came upon traces of the days O
| 'd3-first a pit close down in the willow
copse, where n huge sycamore trunk and piles o
stones Ind formed n rude but sure defense
AGAINST THE souTHRoS's BULLET.
Digging into the decaying sides Of the log will
IA pcnknifc, dozen souvenirs in the shape o
Mimic. balls were eXhumed, their peculiar position
| in the timber demonstrating conclusiyely that til
rebel sharpshooters meant business. Passing b!
many other relics that marked the footprints Q
h0rridd BoiOnd, again drew near the famou
sulphur Spa. As I stood amid the debris tina
marked the site Of the old hotel the sun In
slipped down behind the purple. rimmed hills an,
the gaslghts were cleaning at the pavilion al,
along the facade of the new hotel. The band o
the yeranda
WAS PLAYING "DixIE,"
and II required but slight effort of fancy TO trans
form the loungers about the spring into the burl
Teutons who fought init Siegel," and change tn
hum ofthe night. beetle into the deadly whiz OF tn
MIME. Back further into the past and the broa
brick walk leading down to the pavilion was peo
pied with the men of the olden time, stalwarts q
the icst0l board and tho forum. whose ashes hay
long since been inurned in the bosom OF the /" ol
Dominion" on the veranda the scene Is OF th
present retired United States army officer hol
nobs over his cigar with one who was a might
captain in the
HOSTS or THE CoNFEDERAcY,
and stately matron from the Quaker City promo
madcs arm In. arm with an +. +. ", q lncal dt
: scendnnt of Randolph Of Roanoke, whose pride
} race would match the proudest ofthe PlGntagenet
/; So doth the old gent with the scythe and hou
glass smooth away the acerbitles of n bitter pas
!; The season here may be regarded as at It's helgh
1t being the purpose of Tenney x Co. TO keep Il
/ hotel open until the 18th Of October. As to IL
hotel and the propnctors thereof II will be meet
less TO say word to those who have once enjoyc
/, the hoSpitalities ofits able managers To say tn
TuR HOUSE Is WELL KEPT
is but feeble expression of It's excellence In th
direction. Colonel Tenney and his able assistai
and manager, Mr.. l.. l. Britton, are par e1celep
the king Of hotel men, and the manner In whic
they look after the comfort and pleasure of the
guests leaves no room for the slightest murmur
dissatisfaction OF the bill Of faret sufices to sa
that your fat correspondent has tested 1t and re
joiccs that his lines have been so pleasantly cas-
In the language Of an enthusiastic Washingona
who was my vis.a-vis at dinner yesterday, 9Th
Is the place long have sought, and mourned b.
! cause found It not" More anon in regard to Il
, crowd assembled here from Washington
DYAs.
Death OF Mr. Perry.