The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-08-17
Correspondence of the Lancaster Ledger.
WEST POINT, July %, 1859.

: VIM, 5u'y 80, Ioc''
As everybody knows, this place is or the
bank Of the Hudson River, 81 miles above
New York. 1t can be reached either by the
Hudson River Rail Road, or by Steamers.
Our party unanimously decided in favor Of
the boat, it being the more agreeable mode
of conveyance, and the one to see and en-.
! JOY the lovely romantic and beautiful scene
ry which on both sides overlook the river.
At o'clock, A. NJ, with n crowd of pas
| sengers our boat, the Armenia, showed Off
from the Pier at the foot of Harrison street
aud was soon in the middle of the broad
and majestic Hudson. At few moments
before 10, Jack the porter, black negro,
with his musical and stentorian voice, sung
out, "Passcngcrs aft for West Point"
! The Hudson is named for n Dutch naviga.
tor, HeDdrirk hudson, who discovered it
/ in 1907. 1t is often called the North Riv-
er from the fact that its course is chiefly
from North to South. Its entire length il
near 800 miles. 1t is navigablc for steam
\ boats 10 Albany, $50 miles, and for ships
TO hudson, 100 miles. Some places il is
! from to 5 miles wide. II is fall of steam
boats, briggs, sloops and other sailing craft.
! From the city to this point am satisfied at
any moment from 10 to 30 sailing craft
could be seen.
! never sail on the Hudson without think
ing about Robert Fulton-he who first as
cended the Hudson in Il boat, propelled by
steam. When he was building his boat (thr
/ ClcrmonO his friends and the public rcgar-
ded it as altogether visionary scheme it
was sncered at and called the Fulton Fol-
| ly," and when he had asccndcd the River to
! Albany, it was doubted if it could be done
! again, or if it could be made in any case of
any great value This has been only about
/ fifty two years since. Now the River is
ascended and descended by steam; steam
boats run the river at Il speed Of 20 miles
! per hour, and the cars are whirlcd along
| the Rail Road on the bank al the rate Of
80 miles an hour. How different would be
the sensations of those who had no conf
dence in the success of Fult,En from the
feelings by which they were animated on
| the first .yrcrim,n,ol vovo,,o In, still
Infer dov ,pd ,imc ,h,. nroarcc, ,f L,iII-
! ing a Rail Road along the banks Of the
! River from New ok 10 Albany, was deem
ed visionary and impracticabIc. The fala-
cv Of this notion has been piainIy shown.
Soon after The boat starts-Wcchnwk
is passed. This is the place Gen. llami.
ton MAS killed by Aaron Burr. in a dnrI. In
July 1904. The next object is the paIi,a.
L.s. u HIGH mouutain of Rnrk. extending
for several mIles a,ong ,ho River and f,om
two TO five hundred feet high. The ruins
of old Forts, WASHINGTON and Lee. are bc.
low. The former fell into the hands Of the
enemy IA l71G. and the wholr harrison of
over 2OOO men were taken pri,on,rs \
few days art.rward. Cornwallis attacked the
i~..-. r'.. -.i.---, ,,'o",t, a'iv OF the Riv-
er anI II was gwen up without rDurh rcsis-
Ance' the Ancric"na falling back 10 the
main army not great way of under Gcnl.
washington his head quarters then being
n lappan, some 20 miles ab'v" New York.
1t was ut 1apPan that Mayor Andre was eN-
ecntrd' ana nj larry Iown' " few miles
above IS where hc was arrested. Sing
Sing' The State prison, - about 80 miles
above Ne" YORK. an" was "nili about l629,
by The c"h''cts chiefly OF The Auburn
prison.
There are many places of Interest all a.
long the RIvcr-many incidents OF The rev.
oinI'"n' Tins place West Po'nt' was the
Key OF the kNer IN the revolutionary war
ana was III command OF Arnold. The XIV
er Is narrow here and no vessels can now
pass without passing immediately under the
guns oi The place. lhc BATTERIES would
soon riddle any vessel attempting to pass
without Leave West p"'nt Is altogether 1"
romantic and beautiful spot but with the
Military Academy added and ITS associations
II Is more than 6e"ut'fn. The Cadets are
| now, as ~ their custom IN July ana August,