Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-02
HIGHLAND ECHOES.
ruE.ExcEssIvE FALL OF RAIN AND
THE CROPS.
The Hay Haryest-A visit to Aiie-
ghnny Mountain Battie-rie
~.a,.cted soldiers Grnves-Scars OF
War stin VisibIe-Personai'

MONTERREY, VA, August l.-Iopeoia"'
~ re summer OF 1896, win be long
remembered as the most remarAaOie IA
noint Of rain and rain-storms in the MS
tory of Highland county
According to the weather report
Gently issued, the rainfall IN hlshiuii'
exceeded that Of any other secuoh III
the state during the month OF June inc
report placing it at 7sO inches, nearly
an inch more than was reported from any
other county; and, although the fact may
NOT have been made known to the Wea-
thor Bureau. the remarkable feature OF
the case is that this immense quan'i'S
Of water fell in the shape OF showers or
sudden downpours. there being compare
lively no settled rains" during the
month. or. in fact, during the summer.
A clear. bright morning, or q beautiful
cloudless sunset were frequently followed
within four hours by regular gully
washers" and such electrical displays
have never been witnessed in our noun
famous country before. However, but niue
damaga has thus far been done by light
ming. "a .ho
During one OF the worst storms OF the
season. a few nights ago. 2-year-oid
steer. belonging 10 B. II. fleisner, Oh
This place was killed In his pasture, near
town. Mr.. William II. wilson nao TOUR
lsheep killed during the same storm, they
being under a tree, which received
heavy charge OF lightning.
THE HAY-HARvEST.
The season for hay-harvest. the most
important harvest with our people, Is
here. and those who began as usual have
been forced to abandon the effort, on
account of the daily showers. The nay
crop is not considered hrst-class, owing
10 the damage done to the sod by the
three successive dry seasons. The pas
ture fields were never better, and the
Highland s. and 4-year-old cattle VIII
most likely register the highest ngure on
the scales this fall than for many sea
sons.
Your correspondent, as one OF partS
of ten, made a trip a few days since &c
the celebrated battlefield on AlleghanS
mountain, sixteen miles west or Monte
rev. and sixty miles west OF Staunton. Ih'
hattie OF Allegheny Mountain took place II
early autumn, 1862. but, notwlthstandins
the lapse OF nearly thirty-four years, tn'
breastworks and entertainments are pam
ly TO be seen. Rifie-pits and hun
dredS or rude stone chiuliltJs 'oio~.O-
with a view to making that point win
ter quarters) are yet standing. and VII
likely be visible for fifty years longer
An occasional minie-ball can be foun'
by scratching in the barren places Il
and about the old battle-ground. Hunt
ers often chop into the adjacent timoe
and find many battered bullets. wnicl
. are melted and remoulded to DO used 10
: the rife OF to-day.
SOLDIERS GRAVES.
l Just northwest Of this battlefield.
few hundred yards. TO the rear OF an oil
{ church, are G. goodly number OK unkep
e soldiers graves, overgr6wn by the green
Z brier and the laurel. II Is not definitel
4 known whether those who lilo sleepin
: there are sons OF Dixie or OF the NORTH
whose better nature would not b
9 aroused at seeing these unsIghtly dc
= presslons. wholly deserted. and wher
!; Memorial-Day - unknown? Do nc
y these fallen braves deserve better care
; Thousands who pass 10 and fro owe
the staunton and Parkershurs pisa On