Year: 1862

No Danger Of Starvation at the sOuth.-'


Crops and Stores in Virginia


As the cold FAN nights are upon US, thC
great question among the officers Of this


army is as to the probability Of going into


winter quarters here. All hope TO be or


dered forward and to see this rebellion
crushed out before another season, bat
/ judging from the way in which matters


are managed just now, the war is likely to
/ last for an indefinite period Of time. Nc


person who has ever had any experience


in Secessia, supposes for amoment that the


rebels can ever be starved out, as some per
| sons predict while seated about their COM
! Portable fresides in New York True, the


rebels are out Of coffee, tea, salt, sugar and


other concomitants which 20 to make a


meal Of victuals attractive, but Of beef,


bread, pork, corn, beans, and all the other


substantials, they have an abundance. In
fact, the army Of the Union has been pro-


tecting this kind Of property for the reb-
el government. It is a mistaken idea that


Virginia is barren waste. Away from
the tracks of the two armies, the crops are
as large and the farmers as prosperous, to
Gll outward appearance, IS they were be-
fore the war. l have visited, during the
last two weeks, all of the principal lOcali-
ties in the valley formed By the Bull Run
and the Blue Ridge Notwithstanding
for the most part with small forces over
unfrequented routes. To one who hss here
tofore formed an opinion Of the condition
Of affairs in Virginia by following the
Worn-out track of the armies, the change
in the appearance Of things forms a re-
markable contrast The valley to which I
have referred, is one Of the richest grazing
sections of the State. The hills are cover
ed with cattle, and stacks Of hay and fod-
der are everywhere conspicuous. Large
hoeks Of sheep browse on the side hills, and
the woods and farm-yards are filed with
swine. Corn, wheat and oats fill the gran
aries to overlooking, and instead Of there
being any indications. of the people starv-
ing, they are, on the contrary, sleek and
fat, and talk treason boldly. In this one
valley alone, an immense crop of meat and
cereals has been and is now being raised
for the rebel army, and the Union army
commanders are as tender about its being
disturbed as they would be if located in
the State Of New York. Within a few
weeks all these supplies will be removed
Richmond-ward, and then the authorities
at Washington will open their eyes proba-
bly,, and see the great mistake that has been
made. In q word, our soldiers are now
acting as a guard to the commissary and
subsistence department Of the rebel army;
and unless there is a speedy change in the
management Of this war, they will begin
to feel that they have thankless task be-
fore them. General Lee, it is well under
stood here, is only holding ont at Winches-
ter till he can send south the immense pro-
ducts of the valley of the Shenandoah and
its sister valleys, and then he will have no
further use for his present position. For
the last few weeks the rebel supply trains
have been running regularly and full to-
ward Richmond, instead of Lees army, as
is generally supposed; and it is about time
that the government condescended to learn
something from the management Of affairs
in rebellion. A p lion Of the army could
be probably, and should be at once, en-
ployed in gathering all the grain, cattle
and horses within reach. Ninety-nine
Of it all is now in rebel hands
and viii eventually go to sustain the rebel
army, unless the Government is aroused
to the importance of preventing it. Such
a blow as this would make treason unpro-
6tahls RmOnG the farmers near our lines. !
and would be thrust at the vitals Of the
which would be permanently
felt"