The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-07
Signal Stations.

The correspondent of the WorM thus wre
of the signal stations along the Potomac trou
Harper Ferry to Chain Bridge
Signal systems have been used in warfare h4n
time imnemorial, but suppose the rebels gave
our leaders the idea OF employing them along
this wild river line. At least we heard Of flag
and torches waving by day or night on yondet
Virgin la heights long ere any such means o.
exchanging comfort and warning Were devised
for our own benefit 1t is only during the last
month, in fact, that our occupation OF the en-
tire Maryland shore has been 50 connected aud
complete that We required or could perfect
chain of signals. Now we have pickets or sen'
tinels stationed at every hundred yards from
Great Falls to point near llarpers Ferry
look-outs observe the country from IL height
and sections OF artillery defend the dangerous
fordS.
Three signal stations have as yet fallen with
in my notice, VIZ: one at Seneca Mills. three
miles or more from Darnestown, one at DaTnes'
town itself, and one on the very summit OF tHe
noble = Sugarloaf' mountain. This solitary
beautiful elevation, SIX hundred feet IN he5ht
" stands up and takes the morning long before
Aurora smiles upon thirty leagues Of PLAN, i'F
est, and valley, which the pine girt monar'N
holds in tealty of prospect The loyal water
men on this height are twelve miles distant, IL
the eagle flies from the DarnestoWn VA
ton yet so clear are the October skies OF Tax
delicious climate, that they can almost Ie@>
with The naked eye messages lluttereQ lrom Tux
snow-white flag of the valley.
The Seneca Mills station, visited yeeteIS&t
though not SO tar above the general world 4
romantic enough for talrer purposes than .hVS'
for which 1t Is established. Right among I1'
pines which crest a rugged forest hill! ho1'
old chestnut tree rises clear and far above 'I'
lesser giants surrounding. lis trunk, II II Nt''
only hollow, would hold several Mcrllns uhdCs
the spell " OF woven faces and ofwavlng ma as
tor several ages Longer also, should thIHA'
than all the oak in the wild woods OF broee4'
andS. But tins tree is healthy and vigorous,
and therefore fifty strong for the lighthouse us'S
to which ea-tarlng Yankees have devoted II
a ladder OF untrmmed cedar poles and cross,
bars, nifty feet In height, reaches to Inc ms
lookout platlorm-a room fashioned ana Moe
ed among the lower limbs Of the monster, aNs
larger than the topmast of the largest lna'lo
war. Here are glasses permanently nAtu "
bear upon the stations at Jamestown AMI ~.
garloat Still higher, another ladder reat'~
to platform among the topmoSt 8rAnc"ILj
which have been trimmed off to give it toot!lyN
ana vision range. The watchman, percLcd I.A'
II haw upon this ariel footing (and the pat,
form looks for all the world like the ospTc's
nests, (which crown those mouldy old cedar" L,
long Branch), waves his messages by nlsnlaI"
day, oyerlooks the rebel-hauntGd Virginia his
lands, and when great storms come on, ana '",
autumn gales howl and roar through all 'nos t
tesolatc hills, clings with both hands to the Lu'
Of the chestnut top, and wonders was ever I iaa
Finer or lighthouse keeper exposed to HE I''
dis.