Year: 1864

writer in Yankee paper gives the following
sketch of the noble women of the Shenandoah Valley:
The faces that lock down from the windows of the
Valley have, in maLy il ances, strange and fascina
ting beauty Between them and ore who glances up,
that glamour fatal to Pyrrtus rises to cheat the
and inform the heart with the most persuasive lies
There Is 10 tenderness in those faces. Their charm is
far different from that known to Ncrthern couuriea-
1t Is a steeEcod arguor, to witness which is chilling
to the soul. One who commences speech with these
damsels finds himself wondering what sort of beings
have arisen on this soil in place of the children of Eve
Here are smies and courtesy and refa 4nt but ab!
how very like symbol is the hollow something in the
SQUAD OF all !! These women have suffered. War is
nearer their hearts than Il is steiner thing by
far. Their hearts in it, buried, some Of them, in
graves that thcken. every day uDon the soil.


Along this valley, in which, from the Potomac to
Stauntop, there is law safety, the scourge of bat


tie is monthly episode. ALI the horror, all the sac


hce of knocks at the doorofevery mauson on the
way. Property and life things of chance. People
make few plans for the future. To morrow may shat
ter than forever. Marriage is little thought Of All
manageable men under arms apd manageable
women let them 60 with little murmur There is no
in murmurng. War is the one great passion to which
both sexes are alike devoted, and for which both
ready to make any sacrifice. These women seem to
have tacity epted the fact that until the
c2urshp is mockery that had better not be thought
or The maiden who says good bye TO her lover makes
up Ntr mlnC ZOE Tue WORST llaG can DS!a. Uedtn Is
the rival Of love- and death, nine times ont of ten is
coEqueror. Is it strange then, that who seek for
tenderness in the hearts OF these must seek deep?
Wrong as is the cause, ihas more widespread and a
bltterer deeper devotion among the masses IN this
gion than ours,


One of the most beautiful OF any woman in the VAL
ley who visited the North before the war; and WIS
belle at several watering places during the summer
menths refused last week to take the hand of old
freLd in Federal uniform, who presented himself at her
| how hear dpol |. t1onh halt IC1 r,,aIc
say in oneof perfect calmnes that they had rather
have every friend they have killed. and die themselves
than have the South submit to Grafton with those
whom they esteem to be its enemies. believe they
meant what they said, and would abide by it to the
letter. Such as these are Influential enemies,
and it will be said by many that they deserve all the
insult and harm they have received I return for their
enmty.


L do not think so and, fer as am from defending
their devotion to cause wicked in its inception,
not refrain from much wonder as admiration of the
few among the many in the valley who preserve like
devotion to the sacred cause of the Union. One Incl
dent will always be grateful aud thrilling in the memo
ry of this army While the troops were passing through
Winchester, on their return, three young and acccm
pshed ladies, wearing the colours of our flag upt
their breasts, and waving the banner borne by
the marching regiments, stood N front of single dwell
ling, smiling welcome. 10 the ficers who stopped to
greet them they expressed heartfelt at the presence
of our soldiers, and to those officers they bade farewell
with trembling voices and eyes swimming in regretful
tears


THE PRISONERS OF WAR


The New 1ork Times says:


The duty Of the military authorities s surely clear.
Exchange the white prisoners man for man at least if
no better can be done for the negro troops now their
time will come anon, unless the South is to have mo-
nopoy OF the capture OF prisoners 1t is doubtss true
that the maddening torures and ex posures our men
have to endure fern parts of the rebel scheme to
pei us to make an exchange. What if it is They
will have the odds in their favor in any case a that
is most savage in this But let authorities
see to the release OF our brave and patriotic soldiers.


GRAND FINANCIAL SCHEME.


The following superb Muncnansenism is sent from
Washington to New York


proposition has been received by tie Secretary Of
State from emirent bar ker of Hamburg, to take
United States loan OF one thousand millions Of dollars
to be paid into the Treasury, seventy per cent in
standing bonds, ten per cent in United States paper
currency and twenty per cent IN con the loan to
seventy five years. at interest of three per cent per
annum, payable half yearly in CON- The whole amount
to be disposed OF among the people of the continent Of
Europe on the principle o! premium l0aLs The prin
cpal to be reimbursed to the holders during the last
tortyfVe years OF the term in equal semi annual in
salments, the Government paying the current interest,"
premiums and principal, which would require bat fifty
millions per annum during the seyentyfve years. The
sum OF these payments covering the thousand millions
of principal eleven hundred and seventy-fve millions of
premiums, and thousand five hundred and seventy
five millions of interest. 1t will be observed that this
annual payment of fifty millions is, in fact, 10 more
than the interest of thousand millions at five per cent
Whether the proposition shall be accepted not the
oHer indicates the confidence of the German capitalists
in our solvency and in the.issue of the war.


The Philadelphia Inquirer of the 3Oth under the head
of g the Military Situaton," says:


There is but little add to our yesterdays reviews
OF the campaigns near Petersburg and in the Valley.
Sheridan is advancing, and there may be conflict
somewhere up the Shenandoah, but it will hardly as
sumo tie dimensions of pitched battle between the
entire forces OF the hostile armies in that direction.
Early by bis eint of crossing the Potomac ta doubt
less gained sufficient time to get his heavy column well
advanced On their homeward march. Hence the fight,
if any shall occur will probably be affair between
the guard of the rereatng entmy and the advance
guard OF the pursuer.


We feel fortified in the opinion that Lees offensive
campaign In the Valley is at end. 1t is drama chat
nearly played out Skilul Lee s he has not only
met bis match but bis in General Grant, the
drama would have bcen tragedy with most serious
den0uement.


1he danger, we belive, is now finally over. But the
sense of relief of Immediate border carries with it the
consideration that peril may be increased elsewhere AS
Lees army melts away he must resort to rapid concsn
tratos and desperate attacks unguarded points
places where be may be nom ntary 10 a numerical su-
periority.


All these matters of COURSE engage the constant at
tenton of military authorities, and their movements
will be shaped to the eXlgencies they are
developed just as Lees diversion under Early was
checkmated by Grants detachment of fo ces under
Sheridan his enterprise will be met by prompt coua a.
ter movements. But the people do not always per
ceive what is going on n this way and their apPrehen
sons of peril become unduy excited 1t is we'll, there
FORE to remind them that it Eariy continues hs march
to Richmond to swell the columns of Lee, there is
vigiant eye his track, and ready hand TO confront
him with sufficient force when he l.ve


The Indianapolis Journal of August 25th states that
Col r. W. Thompson, Provost -shal of the Seventh