Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-09-20

omac, there arc many oolccts ana remlnls-
cences Of interest in this locality. ! have
recently visited ono Of tho first, and I will
alec refer 20 one OF the latter.
The ruins Of an ancisn. beautiful man.
sion, built in the old Saxon style. is the
first. II was erected before the revolution.
and the grounds magnidcrn,ly laid out.
The site Is one Of the mos. commanding,
taking in It's range Of vision much OF the
scenery Of this portion Of the val.
ley Of tho Potomac. Tho estate wa. for.
merly owned by man named Dalecalia, q
Swcie, and I. s,ill called after hi, name
E" The Dalccalia." Ahou, twenty year.
ago. while |, was owned by Clemen, Smith,
R,q.. q mos, excellent citizen, and Pre.i.
den, Of q Georgetown bank. IL was burned.
and only the walls. which were two fee, or
more in thickness, (made OF mixture OF
brick and mor,arstone,)' In blackened ruins
wero lei, OF thi, magnihecn, family man
sion. From tina, time tho estate has 70.
cei,cd but indifferent, husbandry and whils
the ivy and woodbine cling TO the walls
which still survive, and crou N hon rs II
fondly 20 cherish their miserable supporter.
Brars and no1ious weed. rankls In tho
walks and among tho arbors, often hiding
entirely the mode-, Box which still 90 beau
,ifully retains IL. symmetrical form, and is
glossy green foliage. In all my life have
never met with anything Of the kind, 80 in.
tsn.ely interesting a. this ruined mansion.
Bu, ono thing more must he told oft Tho
beautiful, ancient and wile.spreatipg oaks
and locu.,.. tina, stand directly in from, Of
the ruins, have been. within Few days,
Gu, down. cleared away. and heavy bat.
terry Of ,S,y-eigh, pound coIumbiai. plant.
ed in their stead. This expresses well tho
difference between peic. and war.
will snelos, in ,hi. letter 'pris OF box
which | plucked in the garden. oh, II !,
could speak. wha, a lesson /, would utter
upon the mutation. OF time
The "reminiscences Of which proposed to
sprak 10 this; twas just over the " Chain
Bridge" and opposite to our eneampmsns.
thu, the two distinguished orators aud
statesmen. John Randolph and Henry Clay,
in 1906 or 90, Tough, their duel. | do nos
remember the particulars, and have no his
tory in my ten, TO which to refer. | have
the fac, from a gentleman of this vicinity,
who pointed OIL, to me ,hespO'. Bot those
illu.,riou. men have gone 20 the spirit land,
although both survived the duel. and,
thank God. with the generation they repre-
.entcd, has passed almost away the prac.ics
Of duelins.
l-uppO.c you desire me to cay what |
think Of the prospects Of the army, and how
like my pre.cn, duties. Well. am sure
the army !. improving, and perhaps rs ia.,
as We ough, to expect. The citizens Of the
FREQ States Of America have 80 much indie
pendcnce, so much .ldiriduGsSn. that they
break into the proper di'dphne OF the -ol-
der not at once. assure you. Do, when
,he northern citizen becomes thoroughly
transformed into soldier without breaking
his spirit, there Is no nea soldier elsewhere
on the facs Of the earth.
Our brigade consists OF tho 9Th Regiment,
Of Maine: the 81 and 81 Regiments. Yer.
mont; tho thir,y.third Regiment, y. Y;
u battalion ofFlying Artillery, and asquad
ron OF regular cavalry, and is under the
command Of Gen. Smith, late Colonel Of the
81 Vermont. lie Is q West Point graduate.
and was Captain in the Engineer Corps
80 hav. been informed. think he /. an
Efficient officer. Gen. Mcclellan ha. review.
cd the brigade; and ~o were bouOred BY
tho presence Of the President and his Cabi-
net. Our regiment !. good one, and will
do itself honor IL ever called 10 TO battle. We
have good officers, and the men are OF the
true stamp.
Tho enemy are close upon our lines. Al
most every day our scouts fall IN with scouts
Of rebels within four or Eve miles OF our en-
campment, but always. Of course, on the
Virginia side Of the river. We frequently
pick up their spies. creeping about in the
bushes, and take them into camp. We have
several Of them now under arrest.
Lately I volunteered to 50 over into yr.
GINA with body Of cavalry, about thirty.
five In all, in connection with detachment
Of artillery with brass bowitzer. and about
four hundred infantry. The artillery and
infantry were stationed at '" four corners
. little village called Lucasvilis. abou, six
miles from the Bridge, while tho squad Of
cavalry, with two brave Yankee volunteers.
viz: the Quartermaster Of our Regiment.
Isaac Strickland. E.q.. Of Bangor. and".hi'
individual" proceed further on into the
I" enemies country" We dashed through
fields Of corn. lsapsd over bitches and fences,