From the Valley.
Reports were in circulation on Saturday that a body of Federal cavalry, supposed to be a detachment of
Gen. Pope's army, had made their appearance at Conrad's Store, near the line of
Rockingham and
Greene counties, and it was conjectured that a raid upon the Central Railroad was intended.
From Conrad's Store to the
Blue Ridge Tunnel the distance is only some twenty miles, through an open country.
Whilst some anxiety is felt that depredations will be attempted upon this road, there is ground for the fullest confidence that our force along its line is ample for its protection.
The rumor with reference to the evacuation of
Winchester by the
Yankees is not confirmed by our latest information from that quarter.
The enemy still hold the heights around the town, which have been strongly fortified.
The accounts which reach us of the outrages committed upon the people of the
Valley are in keeping with those that come to us from other localities where the despotic rule of Lincolnism has been permitted to have its away.
At
Winchester, after one of the battles in the
Valley, the
Yankees took possession of the boarding house of the
Misses Breedin, four orphan sisters, compelling the lady boarders to rise from their beds at 2 o'clock in the morning, and in one instance refused to give a young lady time to dress herself, but forced her to walk in her night-dress to the room of the ladies of the house.
They filled the building with wounded Yankees, and took possession of every article of furniture, save that belonging to the chamber of the
Misses Breedin.--The Yankee commandant assured them that they should be paid for the loss sustained, and appointed a committee to assess their value, consisting of three Federal officers, and two rank Union citizens of
Winchester.
This committee refused positively to allow compensation, alleging as a reason that the ladies were sincere sympathizers with the
Southern cause.
This is but one instance of Yankee honesty and Yankee justice, as displayed in the
Valley.
