Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-04-25
II.nr..'. P,,pv Anil n


Pari. :" But It vas too late South Paris
va, lett far behind. and We were compelled
70 be content. for the night. With the &C
eommoda,ion. afforded by tho woOd'hcd q.
watering. place 4" No. 81
After staying here two weeks. We we're
ordered to Harper. Ferry. We take the
car. anS dash "a towards our destination.
Por some distance we follow the bank. OF
the Pa,ar.co: on one side dash the muddy
waters Of this ambitious. noisy little ,,resm.
on the other are prcc'pitous bills and J'ssed
cliffs. overlooking. almost o'srbansins tho
sinuous course OF the rad. Now and then.
through an opening between tho hills. Is
afforded 9 view Of distant farm houses and
fine plantations. the early grain jus, decking
the hslI, with green. Yet thee plantation.
always lack the neat and thrifty appearance
OF New England homes. where man i. ae-
cd,tomed to earn his bread by the sweat OF
b.. own brow, and !. no, dependen, on the
III rsquiied AMI reluctant toll OF his fellow
man
AZ length we leavi the bank Of the Pa
hr-co, pass over an open and rather ior'orn
looking section Of country, and come 10 view
OF the Potomac At Pom, Of Rocks. From
ihi. place to Harper Ferry the road follows
the lei, bank of the Potomac. while On the
right n continuous line OF hills shuts
ou, all view Of the adj,een, country. sud.
denly We whlrl around an abrup, curve.
cro.. the river on new made bridge. and
the train halts. We dl.embark and plant
our ic.t for the FIRST time on the " sacred
soil" We stand at the confluence OF the
Potomac and Shenandoah. To the lett
branches OF the road 20 Winchester. to
which " Stone. wall Jackson " lately paid
visit. rendered somewhat short by cir:um.
stances entirely beyond his control. On the
RICH, come rushing the turbid waters OF tho
Potomac. On every eide tower the lofty
hill. OF the Blue Ridge. with wooded cum.
m',s, and jagged, precipitOu. sides. like
grim sentinel. keeping guard over the vii.
lagc which nrsilc- q, their feet Whittier
we turn our eyes. and behold streets 70.
sounding ~ith the elit,er Of hOof' and the
clank OF sabcrs-hou.cs deserted or filled
with armed mcn-ehurche. turned % bar
rack.--worthle.s heaps Of destroyed arms
bli',ered remains Of once magnificent build
ipg.. Ar, IN runs and nature 10 the rough.
Such i' Harper. Ferry.
There are two principal streets, each run.
ming parallel with the hank OF one Of the
two river. and forming an seu,, angle. or.
po-i,e which. and about 100 yard. IRON this
point, rises hill in,erccp,ing the view Of
two Villages . short distance b~yond. The
street on the Shenandoah eide leads 10 Win.
chester; on the street On the Potomac side.
and near the junction OF the two, stand the
base brick wall. OF the ruined Government
buildins.. the ground s,rewsd With every
description Of machinery - iron shafts,
wheels. levers, rollers, drills, dc.,-mostly
worthless. OF course. We walk short di--
iance up thl. latter street. when our a,ten.
ton 10 arrested by brick building on the
lett. which seems to have escaped tn" cener.
al destruction. Its walls are pierced with
numsrou. small openings. This IL where
John Brown made HI. stand. and those
openings are the por, holes through which
be fred on the chi,alry. The building 10
now used for guard houss.
The different companie. Of the Tenth are
stationed at the more important point. in
thi. vicinity. AZ Ch.rlss,own. tho CJur.
House 10 which" Old 0ssawatomie Was
tried and sentenced TO death. is now u.ed nc
quarters for Union troops. Our men bring
10 rebel prisoners almost daily. Our COM
pany has already captured thirteen. Thee
gentry are mostly .tragglers from Jhck'on's
routed force. and members oi the Coofeder'
ate army who have come home ON furiouEh'
and find .heir retreat cut OF.
I would not convey the idea that oil the
citizen. have deserted IIarpers Ferry; on
the contrary. many still remain. and are
true to the stars and stripes. Capt. West,
OF Company d, has been appointed Provost
Marshal. and strict order enforced. IA state
Of thing. widely different. 50 the citizen.
say, from what It was when the Coniedera,es
occupied the place. The latter werc not
much restrained by discipline. and commit.
ted oil sorts Of atrocities with impunity.
f" They pu. no men in the gusrd.hou'e."
Gen. Ro.encrans passed through this
place Few days ago, on his way to VIM
chester. Rather below the mstSim height,
wearing q soldiers cap and overcoat, with
brown hair, = pleasan, coantenancs, and
the eye OF . hawk.-such 10 the hero Of
Western Virginia. as he appeared in the
street.
Tho recent war news Is immensely cheer.
Ing to the Union troops. In the light Of
recent events. We may confidently hope that
before another winters SHOWS sbsli have
melted. this wicked rebellion will 10 COM
plstely crushed. and we back to our homes
happy IN the consciousness that the liberties
and institutions which our fathers obtained
with their blood. their sons have retained
With blood a precious. PRlVATUS.