Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-05-14
CORRESPONDENCE
Cumbsrlaad-OA Fort WsshiagiOns House
-NatiOaal ROad-SesRsry-Fort FrsssF'sk
--Harpsr's Ferry - NilstsTy : PataPseo -
Manu6astoyies. &c.
R,rr,nonr. Nav 5th, 1850.

MdHuJ4StoIsee1 w
BALrlMORr, May 5th, 1860.
Cumberland is beautiful city Of some ten
thousand people, nestled in lovely valley just
at the eastern commsnes ment OF the Allegheny
range of mountains The basin is barely large
enough to hold the city, which is surrounded
on all sides BY rim of bills, some OF them
cultivated to the top, and others rugged ana
wild. The gorge in the mountain through
which the POtSmaC tumbles upon Cumberland
is the roadway of the Baltimore and Ohio line,
It was opened by aOme terrible convuialon oil
nature, and the viSta through the narrow ehasm
is one of the most charming imaginable. The
town is historic. Here was located old Fort
Cumberland, one Of WashingtOn's OutPOsts for
the protection Of the then western frontier
The site is now occupied by Church. Near
by stood the House occupied by Washington
humble loR-cabin Of heWn timber, which one
of the old settlers Of Cumberland has with
reverentiAl regard removed and preserved
everything in its proper place, even to the old
mantsl- piece, rude specimen of carpentry, on
which Washington rested his elbow while in
social converse with friends, or grave cOunS,l
with his fellow officers.
Cumberland, before the era Of railroads, was
one of the principal points on the National
Road constructed by the Government over the
Allegheny range The MeAdamized turnpike
was founded by Thomas Jefferson, and was
completed mainly through the efforts OF Henry
Clay. 1t was the great National Route over
the Mountains between the East and the West
as the Baltimore and ohio Is now the Great
National Railway connecting the same distant
regions by the swift and powerful agency Of
steam Cumberland is also famous in its coal
location, and owes much of its prosperity to the
vast trade it enjoys in ''blaek diamonds" "
Eastward from Cumberland is a succession
of wild, picturesque, and often exquisite views
Tue railway traces the generally narrow valley
of the Potomac, the locomotive often rushing
around craggy preeiPices an hundred feet oI
more above tho foAming water. Anon the
train enters some deep ravinS and leaves the
river for time, then suddenly darts in agair
and winds for miles on q solid way cut in th'
shelving bank, now CROSSES wales and widened
plains on an elevated road bed, then agar
careering along mountain side rushes through
dark tunnel or oyer grand viaduct Of enduring
masonry, and thunders its coming to fresl
scenes of subIimity and beauty, made stillmOr
! memorable by the triumph of Man over tn
barriers erected by omnipotence.
: An object of historical interest and antiquit,
on this rou'e is found in old Fort Frederick
near the town of Hancock. The view Of
} from the elevated track in the bluff bank Of tn
, river is fine one. The Fort was built unde
direction Of Gen. Washington, for the defenc
j of thu then extreme western frontier of Mary
} land and of the white settlements Allegheny
5 ward. What marvellous changes less years tha
a century have wrought
& Here the road leaves the Potomac for tim
B taroug ID towering gateway cut in solid rOcE
and running over an old settled country pas
the town of Martinsburgh, made somewha
famous in the John Brown raid as the stoppin
5 place Of the suspected by Virginia soldieTy
Harper's Ferry The approach to this nOtabl
> spot is singularly wild and picturesque, an
Il The scenery at tie Ferry Thomas Jeferso
a pronounced worth voyage across the Atlanti
:, to behold. Hele the mountain rivers ShenaI
doah and Potomac unite their waters to fore
a way though the stupendous gorge OF th
. Blue Ridge They rush and tumble from roc
a to rock, and, shut in by peaks on all sidei
i nestles the pretty village with its Arsena
workshops, bridges, railway tack, and lOvel
9 islands Hig gh up among the beetling craig
c the eagles still reae their young in safety. a
e Harper's Ferry the brave and true hearted job
D.. Brown, of OssaWetomie, and his handful
infatuated followers dared for a Cause "to
J and die" and the marks OF bullets are plainl
II visible. How so weak force could produC
o such panic, is only equalled by the marv
n that men of the experience and practical SEM
of Brown and his comrades should have enteTf
upon an expedition so utterly hopeless an
Is lndefensible. Pick-axes, ShoVels, iron bal
and captured spears are still exhibited
:, strangers as trophies of the war, though assu
:" ed that the "pike" you hear offered for sale
y the very last of the John Brown lot. tt
II chivslry understand the art of turning penn
d. in very nearly the perfection of Yankees.
I, Here, as at Martinsburgh, the Excursions
'' were welcomed with q salute, and witnessed
fine military display. The John Brown raj
aroused the martial spirit of the ehiValry, an
the new and tasty uniforms and glittering bal
is onets of several companies of well drilled vo
of unteer milit:s, evidenced that the "gener
training" Gov Wise got up at an expense of
quarter of million of dollars to the Old d.
ut mninion, has been fruitful in the progeny
le Mars. At Harper's Ferry young Americl
d was also in the field, and made g handson
n military aPpearanee
et The union of rivers grestly widens the W
ID ters, and from the HtuPenduoqs mountain gorE
ID opened by some great throe of nature, 4
a, railway route becomes less rugged and Il
ID country more inviting for the homes OF me
AZ The valley of the Potomac is in due time e
at changed for the Pataps,o, and at Frederick al
n lis vicinity we have rich, fertile old eOuntT
v Some bold decliviGies and many smiling vale.
10 are seen along the PatapscO. and for consider
IN bic distance in approaching Baltimore are mi
Id and manufactures with all the indications
an industry and thrift. The stream and its SD
a roundings put on New England aPpearanC
Il and in the vicinity of EllcOtt's Mills cott
ot factories which consume annually about for
n thousand bales of the Southern staple. FlOu
. ing mills are numerous, and the busy scel
of presents q striking contrast with the immen
water power running to waste ell along t
railway line until reaching the Patapsco'
Through a region of more than three hundr
miles, abounding with the best Of ''mill sites
.er scarcely g wheel is turned The country pI
in sents all of New England rOughness, and b
X, little Of New England enterprise and progre.
n. Out of the principal towns school houses al
ss churches seem to be almost unknown.
u> The Relay station is soon reached after pas
or ing EHicott's Mills, where the choice to Was
o in9ton or Baltimore is offered. This comPlet
OF the panorama Of wildness, beauty and sublin
Us grandeur, we have hastily and very imperfect
as ssetched. To be fully appreciated it must
n, seen, and we counsel everybody crossing t
IS. Aleqhsnies on business or pleasure, to take 4
r. Great American Central Route Of the capital