Life in old Virginia; a description of Virginia more particularly the Tidewater section, Narrating many incidents relating to the manners and customs of old Virginia so fast disappearing as a result of the war between the states, together with many humorous . inflamed, andstill oozing wounds. Very few of the wagons had even alayer of straw in them, and all were without springs. Theroad was rough and rocky from heavy washings of the pre-ceding day. The jolting was enough to have killed strongmen, if long exposed to it. From every wagon as the teamstrotted on, urged by whip and shout,
Life in old Virginia; a description of Virginia more particularly the Tidewater section, Narrating many incidents relating to the manners and customs of old Virginia so fast disappearing as a result of the war between the states, together with many humorous . inflamed, andstill oozing wounds. Very few of the wagons had even alayer of straw in them, and all were without springs. Theroad was rough and rocky from heavy washings of the pre-ceding day. The jolting was enough to have killed strongmen, if long exposed to it. From every wagon as the teamstrotted on, urged by whip and shout, came such cries andshrieks as these: Stop. Oh, for Gods sake stop just one minute; take meout and leave me to die on the roadside. I am dying. I am dying. My poor wife, my dear chil-dren, what will become of you? ^ Some were simply moaning; some were praying; andothers uttering the most fearful oaths and execrations thatdespair and agony could bring from them, while a majority,with stoicism sustained by blind devotion to the cause theyfought for, endured without complaint unspeakable tortures,and even spoke words of cheer and comfort to their unhappycomrades of less will and more acute nerves. Occasionallya wagon would be passed from which only low, deep moans. Residence of General R. E. Lee, Richmond, Va. Now occupied by tlie Virginia Historical fociety. MISCELLANEOUS 3l9 could be heard. No help could be rendered to any one of thesufferers. No heed could be given to any of their and duty to the many forbade the loss of a moment inthe vain effort then and there to comply with the prayers ofthe few. On, on, we must move on. The storm continuedand the darkness was appalling. There was no time even tofill a canteen with water for a dying man; for, except thedrivers and the guards, all were wounded and utterly helplessin that vast procession of misery. During this one night Irealized more of the horrors of war than I had in all of thetwo preceding years. The last voll
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