Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-11-22
Letter from a Northern Soldier.

a month or Two ago MI. Onas- NJ.
Smith, of Worcester, Mass, who was
formerly corporal in Company E,
First Massachusetts Cavalry, spent a
couple of weeks visiting this part of
the country and going over some of the
scenes made familiar by his war expe-
riences. He and Col. VIM. A. Morgan
struck up an acquaintance and a cor
respondence between them has fol-
lowed. From Mr.. Smiths last letter
we are permitted to make the follow
ing extracts, which show that he is the
right sort of a man-an enemy who
could be respected:
was very much pleased with my Wis
it in West Virginia, and the treatment
received there. The station agent al
Shenandoah Junction was four years in
the Confederate service, and was gen
uine old soldier. had long and in
teresting talk with him. And my expe
rience has been everywhere have met
an old soldier who was opposed to me
during the war have received hearty
and cordial welcome.
Across the street from my home here
lives a man, Benz c. Jaques, who was a
member of the famous Washington Ar
tillery and staid drought to Appomattox.
He was formerly from Charleston, South
Carolina. He is of French extraction,
of hot temperament and quick blood, and
was no doubt genuine fire-eater. But
he and fraternize like brothers. Any
thing that he has that wish to use is at
my service. His children and mine play
together, study together, and in every
respect he is my best neighbor.
There are great many old soldiers
here, and some who were Of high rank
and were very conspicuous in the army.
In Boston, AZ miles from this city, are
many cavalry men. If you can make 1t
convenient to come this way sometime
think could make it very interesting
for you, and would be very happy to
take you around and show you Boston
with its many historic surroundings,
among which is marble slab under a
wide spreading oak at Cambridge, and
on the slab are chiseled the words: I'm
der this tree Washington took command
of the Continental Army" l presume
it was in this vicinity that the one hun
dred Virginians who drank your spring
and then marched here to Massachusetts
met Cen Washington.
The country along the Potomac in the
vicinity of Shepherdstown and up the
Shenandoah valley is very delightful, and
looks rich and productive. Fair as the
Garden of the Lord" was suggested to
my mind as rode through the country
and looked over the landscape.
wish you would write me the value
of farm land per acre III your vicinity
and as far up the valley as Winchester.
And what is the rate oftaxation per $1,000?
I believe if Iowned one of those farms,
we'll stocked, 1 could spend the remain
der of my life very happily there.
Icould but note the general intelligence
of the people whom l met, and was es-
pecially pleased with Professor klmler,
the principal of the Normal School at
Shepherdstown. He is very enthus1-
astic man in his profession, and he in
| formed me that there is growing inter
est in educational matters in your State.
| That is good We have great country
| rich in natural resources, rich III the elias
tic and irrepressible enterprise of its peo-
ple. and | believe if we can cultivate
| general education, and can teach the
rising generation the early history and
traditions of our country, and so awaken
a national pride and get the people OF
the various parts of the country to come
to know and understand each other,
sectionalism will die and be buried be-
yond resurrection. l wish 1t might be
| SO.
At Shepherdstown we were very conf
| fortably and we'll entertained at the I'm
tier House, and the elder Mr.. Rentch is
a very interesting man. He has lived
through the most important period III the
| history of our country, and personally
mingled with men and affairs pertaining
| to that period, and so is more interesting
and entertaining than book. For after
| all the best books are MEN who have had
wide experience and observation, and
| have made good use Of the same and can
| give il expression.
I send you my experiences of prison
life and escape. Although there is some
very severe and trying experience given
l think you will say that l have put no
bitterness into it. The war was cruel,
as all war is. If could impress this
upon the rising generation SO that they
would abhor war and avoid it 1 should
feel that had not lived in vain. If any
man attempts to talk war or stir up en-
mity to that end say "shoot him on the
SCOT" do not care whether he lives
in Kansas, Virginia, South Carolina, or
Massachusetts, and know you will JOIN
with me in saying to this sentiment
amen"