[correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
incidents of the War — skirmish — visit to Staunton — Outrages under Pope — Pope's character — description of Monticello, &c. Camp, in Orange Co., Aug. 4.
I will commence this paper with some minor matters expecting to be able to close with more important ones.
Take, first, one or two trivial, but pleasant incidents connected with the late engagements near Richmond.
A certain gentleman, (who, by the way, had passed the pickets by showing a receipt for his year's subscription to a newspaper,) returning from one of the battle- fields, and going through the estate of Maj. Allen, happened to get into conversation with one of the negro men belonging to the place.
During the interview the gentleman saw President Davis and General Lee approaching.
Said he to the servant, ‘"would you like to see President Davis and Gen. Lee!"’ ‘"Yes, massa."’ The gentleman, then, at some length, and with great simplicity, endeavored to explain who and what they were.
He told the negro that the President was the head man of our whole Southern country, and that Gen. Lee had planned and superintended all the late battles.
When all this had been done, the negro inquired, ‘"Does they belong to my master's company?"’
The next story is of Jackson, of whom they tell a legion.
He is said to be, under ordinary circumstances, inclined to take "cat naps," and before and during the late battles around Richmond he took little regular slumber.
One evening, as he was riding with a single companion, he was observed to be asleep and to be nodding.
His companion wondered, but did not wake him. Presently they passed a man lying on the roadside, who cried out, ‘ "Hallow, where did that man get that liquor?"’ This woke Jackson, who said, ‘ "Well, I think I'd better keep awake now."’ I tell the tale as it was told to me.
Well, I have waited some days since writing the foregoing, and the important matters expected, though constantly promising to unfold themselves, have not yet transpired.
I conclude, therefore, not to delay giving you what I can. For more than a week after reaching this upper country again, Jackson rested and drilled his men, and had them paid off and clothed, all with the happiest effects on their spirits, which had already been visibly improved by getting in sight of the mountains.
Could there now be some improvement in the Commissariat, it would add much to the cheerfulness and efficiency of the men. But I speak the truth when I say that they are anxious to meet Pope and his minions, and confident of inflicting the chastisement so richly deserved.
For some days past there has been prospects of an encounter, and on Saturday last, as you have heard, a brisk skirmish occurred at Orange Court-House, in which only our cavalry were engaged, and which, owing either to mismanagement or to that bad luck which sometimes attends the best schemes, resulted unfavorable to us. On our side there were about 10 wounded and 15 taken prisoners. It is believed the loss of the enemy in killed and wounded was not less, at least, than ours.
The enemy were in ambush, and greatly outnumbered us.
A few days since I made a flying trip to Staunton and the surrounding valley.
I found none of the apprehension which one of the Richmond papers represented to exist there.
On the contrary, never were people more quiet.
It was delightful to exchange for a season that sense of scarcity which one has about Richmond, and even in this region, for the sense of plenty which prevails in the Upper Valley One there can eat butter and eggs, and tenderloin, and vegetables, and milk and honey, without feeling guilty of pecuniary suicide.
The crops of Augusta are magnificent.
Never was there such a grass year.
A lady, who thought Ashby's cavalry had ruined her hay, told me she would make a splendid crop.
I don't wonder the Yankees would like to get Augusta, and that the people there don't want them to do it. The people about Staunton heard the firing of the fight below Richmond — heard it as distinctly as they did that at Cross Keys, which was only 16 miles off — and, what is more, detected the retreat of the enemy by the change of direction of the sound.
The sound of the cannon was also heard at McDowell, some 30 miles farther west; but it was not heard at Beaver Dam, in Hanover.
How do you philosophers account for this?
I will give hypothesis.
The sound tends upwards to a plane where the atmosphere is rarer and more favorable to transmission.
On this plane it travels horizontally, thus passing above the lower country and approaching the earth as it reaches the higher lands.
Perhaps you have heard enough of the doings of Pope.
Certainly enough has been told to fire every heart.
But let me place on record one more item.
A party of his men, going to the house of Colonel Taliaferro, and failing to find the object of their search, proceeded to pillage and insult.
They stole bedding and female clothing, they derisively put Mrs. T.'s bonnet on one of their horses, and finally took the rings from her fingers, which they distributed among the negro women, retaining for themselves a valuable diamond ring.
And against such men Pope will grant no guard!
Aye, he will set them on, and give them license to their foul deeds!
By the way, our old U. S. officers, who have always been ready, till lately, to defend McClellan as a soldier and gentleman, at once say that Pope is neither.
In the old service, he distinguished himself on the overland route to the Pacific by sinking artesian wells and Government money to the amount of a million dollars. One well was finally abandoned incomplete, and afterwards a perennial spring by other parties in the immediate vicinity.
But, doubtless, the General made a good thing of it. He, in a letter to Jeff. Davis, then Secretary of War, urging this route, and the haring these wells, made himself the especial champion of the South.
How strangely this letter would sound now. I have not seen the fact stated, that his grandparents' family lived near Frederick Hall depot, on the Central road.
I have just paid a visit to Montpelier, the home and grave of Madison.
It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.
The dwelling is of large dimensions, but of such exquisite proportions, and in such a magnificent park of stately trees, that till one enters it he regards it rather as a modest cottage.
Covered with cream colored stucco, and the porch embowered by running roses, it presents a truly lovely picture.
It has none of that mouldering air of age which are so pleasing and painful at Mount Vernon and Monticello.
Such is the nature of the grounds that you do not see the mansion till you are upon it. Then, from the front a wide and glorious panorama bursts on the view.
Woods, fruitful fields, and the encircling Blue Ridge, combine to make a scene of exquisite beauty and grandeur.
Within the dwelling nearly all is modern.
The present proprietor is a Mr. Carson, from Ireland, who lately came here under a pass from old Abe, and now proclaims strict neutrality, and claims the protection of the British flag.
The grave of the patriot sage is situated in the midst of a large field of luxuriant corn, is imperfectly shaded by five tall locusts, and is surrounded by a low brick wall, which also encloses several other tombs.
The stone which covers Madison's tomb is a simple granite shaft, bearing only this inscription: ‘"Madison.
Born March 16, 1751: Died June 28, 1836."’ In letters almost as large, just below, is found the name of the artificer, ‘"J. W. Davies, Richmond," ’ which, under the circumstances, does not strike us as in good taste.
Immediately in the rear is a smaller shaft of white marble, containing these words: ‘"In memory of Dolley Payne, wife of James Madison.
Born May 20, 1768: Died July 8, 1849."’ How little did the great statesman dream that in a quarter of a century after his death Northern and Southern armies would be confronting each other near his grave.
Massanutten. 