A monument to the "Union."
The town of
Suffolk, in Virginia, once one of the prettiest places on the now war-trampled only of
Virginia, is a standing monument of the beauties of the "Union." This noble little town has been under the rule of the
Yankees for several months, and here is a picture of it as it now looks; furnished by a correspondent of the Petersburg
Express:
‘
At the opening of the war the number of inhabitants was 1,500, with five houses of worship and as many ministers of the Gospel stationed here with their flocks, a weekly newspaper, seventeen stores, four or five schools, a Lodge of Masons and Odd-Fellows, and a Division of the Sons of Temperance.
Everything seemed cheerful and looked prosperous.
But, alas!
what has the war and Yankee invasion done?
Now about 350 persons, of all sizes and color, make up the whole number of inhabitants; two of the churches have been rendered unfit for use, and the others greatly injured; not a minister resides here, and there is only service occasionally in one of the churches; the newspaper establishment has been entirely demolished, and no association of Masons, Odd Fellows, or Sons of Temperance meet hare, and only one small school, and there are only two stores open and but few goods in either.
The yards and gardens have all been destroyed, and many of the most beautiful family residences are ruined.
Look up and down Main street, and scarcely a person can be seen moving.
Nearly all the servants and free negroes have moved off with their hypocritical sympathizers, and the white gentlemen and ladies do all the work heretofore performed by servants.
’
For miles around
Suffolk scarcely a tree has been left standing, and not a house or fence or any thing, save old fortifications, rifle pits and small brush wood can be seen.
All, all have been destroyed by the accursed invaders of our soil and destroyers of our homes.
At least half a million of property was destroyed by fire in one week about the time
Longstreet retired from the vicinity of
Suffolk, in May last.
Many before comfortable and even efficient were sent forth in the world homeless and penniless.
But in spite of all their losses and their present condition, the citizens of
Suffolk and
Nansemond are true to the
Southern cause, and suffering has only increased their love for Southern institutions.
Only a few having any claims to respectability have sympathized with the
North.
It was indeed a motley crew that left with the
Yankees when they evacuated
Suffolk.
For the information of refugees, I subjoin a list of the names of all who left
Suffolk and vicinity with the
Yankees, viz:--
Jordan Parr and family,
Mrs. N S
Cowper and daughter, Wm T
Wells and wife,
Sabry Duke,
Fanny Duke,
Elizabeth Duke, Mary E
Whitley,
Caroline Dildy,
Elisha Dildy and wife,
Nathaniel Duke and wite, Fletcher Still,
Martha Holland,
Geo W
Singleton and family,
Sarah Holland,
Elizabeth Sunch,
Nancy Harris,
Columbiana Lassiter, Mary J
Brown,
Sophia Lassiter,
Washington Luke and wite,
James Joyner and wife,
Chas H
Kelly and wife,
Mrs. Dean and daughter,
Elizabeth Nelms,
Jane Lawrence, A T
Adams,
Harrison Willis and wife,
Capt Tyler and family, and A F
Leggett and family.
With the exception of two or three first named in this list any virtuous community would be glad at any time to get rid of the whole batch.
The future, in some respects, looks gloomy indeed to the people here; but all seem astonishingly hopeful, and I can but look upon them with all their oppressions and sufferings, and feel ashamed for many respondents in other sections.
Four companies of Yankee cavalry are stationed at Bernard's Mill, four miles below
Suffolk, on the
Portsmouth road, and their pickets are at
Jericho Run, two miles from town.
Little thieving squads frequently enter the town and steal whatever they can find, and arrest soldiers and returned citizens that may come in their way. Every one has some tale to tell of wrongs perpetrated by the
Spears's 11th Pennsylvania cavalry.
The Confederate commander that will capture this regiment of cavalry, and bring up the head of
Col. Spears in a charger, will immortalize himself in this community.
Several refugees were in town last week, among them the pastor of one of the churches, who, to avoid arrest, stayed only a short time, and was not permitted to meet the few remaining members of his charge in worship.
