The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-29
! For the Union.
SKETCHES OF A TOUR THROUGH THE
GREAT COAL AND IRON REGION, AL
LEGHANY COUNTY, MARYLAND.
No. Iii.

The town Of Cumberland is located on the Poto-
ms river, near the junction Of the three great States
of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. II is
built upon the site of old Fort Cumberland, which,
during the French and Indian wars in 1855, was
one Of the extreme frontier British outposts, and
the safeguard Of the coonists against the ncursons
of the French and Indians. We were shown, with
feelings of ordinary interest," the site of this VEN
cradle work. From it's walls issued that splendid
army, under the command of the rash but Inflated
Braddock, which, after weeks of toll, privation, and
suferings, found massacre and bloody grave on
the borders Of the Ohio. We were shown also the
spot where one year ago, stood an humble log
house, sanctfed as being once the head-quarte Of
George Washington, then a lieutenant colonel COM
manding the provincial troops at this post This
interesting relic Of frontier history has only lately
given place to an elegant mansion; but we were
pleased to learn that, previous 10 its demolition.
sketch preserved, which will probably ere long
be in the handle of the engraver, and lie saved TO
posterity.
To this spot Washington returned in 1894. during
the whskey insurrccton as chief magistrate Of the
country he had released from British oppression.
Who can conceive the feelings of the patriot and
statesman, when again seated by the freside of the
humble building in which, in youth, he had unused on
those visions which, in AFTER years, led him and his
country to greatness and renown' Forty years be-
fore, his most extravagant ambition had never con
ceived such termination to his labors but, as the
future was then dim and uncertain, So in the exec
utive chair. even his great and noble conceptions
never imagined that in another span forty years.
the land Of Washington would have reached an
emnencc,. and achieved renown, to which the at
tention OF all the world would he directed with won
der and admiration; and on the very spot where,
eighty-hve years anterior, the hut Of the Young
officer Stood were to be the indications of i'm
provemcnts and enterprises Of the most stupendous
character.
We were also shown the traces of the military
road constructed under the direction of the indicate
gable Washington, through then almost impcne-
trablc wilderness, the exploration of which was
pursued under prvations Of an extraordinary char
acier, to the very lines Of the French and Indian
out-Poss Il is remarkable, that this identical route
was afterwards selected by the United States enpi-
neers, for the construction Of that great work, the
national road; thus showing the wonderful skill of
the young hero.
The town Of Cumberland is rapidly increasing in
prosperity IL has recently received the charter Of
city. il contains, at present, over Eve thousand
inhabitants, and there are now more than one hun
dred buildings in Of erection and every year
viii make important additions. Its one of the natural
outlets Of the products Of the great West and look
forward 70 the period, At distant day, when the