Our town has greatly changed by the events of the war--business is so good, our small town is taking on a city appearance of activity. We hear the Rebels plan a retreat from Staunton. McClelland at present has control of Winchester. Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation denounced in Richmond. Some here do not think wisely of it as many abolitionists are so wild they would change our Constitution. Some of the wounded here are Masons. One who died at the home of Burnet, I read the Masonic service for his burial. He and several others then taken to the cars where they will be transported home for interment. There was quite a number already received, filling up a car. Quite a rush of females to view the deceased, there being a glass opening in the box. The crowd at the depot very large, from there to the hospital, near the jail which I visited to see some acquaintances, and perhaps offer a little help some way. To view this brings the war awfully near and deep sympathy for these poor suffering men. To my farm, find it too dry to plant anything. It will be a loss his year, for a good crop if there is no immediate rain. The engines and cars are very busy taking supplies to McClelland on the Potomac. They are running night and day.