Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-06-21
The Wiley from Ashby's Gap.


Literary Messenger We extract the following:
The beautiful region in which be thus took
10 hi, abode was eminently favorable to the
pursuits in which be loved TO engage. A
hospitable and refaed society surrounded the
little village Of Milwood, at the distance Of
a few miles; the ighborIng mountains were
filled with pheassnts, turkeys and other game;
but above all, tie atttueut gra,e and beauty
OF the noble landscape appealed 10 bis most
cherished tastes and instincts as poet and ar
dent lover Of the sweet aspects" and wild
charms of nature Much has been written
touching the delightful character of this re-
gi9n. Mr. Irving, in his life of Washington,
speaks Of its magnificent forests" and Mr..
Smms, in his delightful Southwark lIo,
which we regret is not before Us, says that 10
the Shenandoah valley poet may find his
most perfect realization of the charms OF Az
caiy. The good Burnaby an English trav-
el!er, who crossed at Ashby's Gap in 1893,
deyotes glowing page to the attractions Of
the landscape, as seen from the summit OF
the mountain.
when | was got to the top" he says, 81
was nexpre5sibly delighted with the scene
that opened before me. lmmodatel y under
the mountain, which was covered with cha.
m@laphnes 10 full bloom, was most beauti-
full river; beyond this, an extensive plain
dverslGc with every pleasing object which
nature can exhibit; and at the distance OF
fifty miles another ridge Of still more lofty
mountains, called tho Great or North Ridge
which enclosed and terminated the whole"
"Thc Shenandoah" be continues, "se1ceed.
in ,ly romantic and beautiful, forming great
variety Of fails, aud is so transparent that
You may sec the greatest variety of pebbles
i; the depth Of eight or ten feet. ~ | could
no: but reflect With pleasure on the situation
/ Of these people, and think, it there is such q
thing as happiness in this life, that they en-
Joy it. Far from the hustle of the world,
/ they live in the most deli .htful climate and
richest soil imaginable; they are everywhere
surrounded with beautiful prospects and syl-
! van scenes, lofty mountains, transparent
streams, falls Of water, rich valleys and mys-
. tic woods. Xxx They live in perfect liberty,
and possess what many princes would give
/ half their dOminions fyr-heath, content and
/ tranquility of mind"
/ The Vineyard" tho residence Of the poet,
is Il handsome ed!fcc, aud stands on aspccies
cf table land near Ashby's Gap, in perhaps
/ the most beautiful portion Of the entire val
ley--that just described by Burnaby. We
| shall net soon fyrget morning in the sum
mer OF 1913, when we accompanied him to a
/ point near at hand, from which the varied
/ beauties of the exquisite landscape were
/ plainly discerDed. Immediately to the left
stretched the baulcments of the Blue Ridge,
running far away to the South. and disap-
! pcariugin sllvery mist which fell overt bill
Owy hcadlands like q veil Of gsuzc. Against
| the cunical peak called the "Blue Ball, with
its dark crowding pines, dense white por,
/ rising from the Shenandoah was visible; and
/ through this yapor the purple rays Of sunrise
| plunged like the spears OF an embattled host,
/ routing and driving it before them. 10 front
a rolling country of green hills and wooded
wales stretched away TO the great North
/ mountain, blue against the Western horizon;
and in the middle of the valley. at the dis.
lance of about twenty miles, the imposing
MassinuttOn range scared into the sky like a
mighty wave of the ocean--its summit Gov
cred with light feecy clouds which resembed
foam. From the foliage of the forests rose
the white walls of many country seats; and
over the whole landscape of bill and meadow
mountain and river, lowered that impid
haze, II we may use the expression, which 80
temyers the clear sunlight of the region,
rounding every beautiful outline, and COM
municatlng to the face OF nature an enchant
log warmth and soffnpss.
From the lofty elevation upon which we
stood, we're visible more than one spot made
memorable By the presence Of great names
aud when not seen Tor the intervening forest,
VIC still knew that they We're near at hand -
"Greenway Court" the residence of the &C.
centric nobeman. Lord Fairfax, who left the
spIeudors OF the English Coart to come and
spend the rest OF his lIiC in the wilds Of Yir.
gInla surrounded by his deer hounds, still
slept, with its old belirles, under the great
trees bat d lew miles distant; and here ii was
that young surveyor, crossing The ford of
the Shenandoah IN the neghbOrhood. had
tdrricd tor season IN the month of March.
las, one hundred years be.ore-a young
Surveyor only sixteen years of age, whose
name was George Washington Across the
hills to the night was Soldiers Rest where
he had often slept his weary head resting
upon his kGgpsack; and in the distance was
Winchester. the border sentinel OF old DAYS,
where the same boy at twenty-three went
through the terrible ordeal OF the Indian mas.
.acro,-braring the woes and sutierings of the
frontier on hi, yoI'hiul shoulders In front
- end eur cuumeratlJu just beyond the VII
age Of Miiwoci was Saratoga" the resi-.
derce ol General Daniel Morgan, the hero of
Quebec. and Saratoga, aud the Cowpens, who
came here after long and stormy life to rest
from his toIi. a hundred spots were thus
suggestive of the past and It's great names;
OF thousand stirring deeds and moving ac.
c!dent> Indeed the valley OF the Shenan.
doan Is everywhere eloquent OF the past The
"OeautIluI and abouHdIus river flows through
history aud romance, as well as through tall
woodlands aud green fields; over legends
and forgotten thugs. as over the bright sands
aud pebbles N IT. bed. The old days Of the
last century and the centuries before saw
toe Dela"ares and Catawbls clash together
in toe Wild sol:Uies; the Blue Ridge and the
Na,snuttoI echoed with their savage shouts,
and the limp! streaTn was often dyed with
blood Tor authentic history tells Us that this re
slou was IN former years the battle field tribes
and nations. Now II Is tranquil and smiling
the blood and terror are lorgotten but every low
er OF tne great past will hope that the glory OF
the place will stay Not stone should fall
not footprint disappear. That dreadful disn
i-sraiIon when Preys upon the foundations,
however durable they may be, OF the most
splendid monuments vi tie Old w orld should
never be- permitted 10 invade these places and
memorials. Tney speak more clearly than all
else OF our heroic age.
VI Lar IA. a Il