New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-10-31


Down through Harpers Ferry whore the ruined
wallf astonishing street-sugles, quaint old Catholic
Church percL.d upon the hill, wooden shutters and
lev stone houses half buried in the earth, recall
some ancient Mexican city. Through the trestle-
work under the railroad; by tho sentry, who exam
inca YOUR pass; across the narrow poutoon bridge,
where the dry pianks on their anchored hst-boat,
give hollow rattle under your horses feet, aud
YOU are in Maryland.
Over toe canal then sharp turn to the left, NJ
the river along the shelf road barely wide enough
for two wagons. a deep GorPe, Gu, through The
Blue Ridge 10 some primeva period, when the Po-
tonne wns an ocean torrent. On the night, abrupt
rocks, rising two hundred feet, overriding your head
"a continuous sword OF Dauooies. far mp are
great caves gaping nouths in the rugged face, worn
bv the wash q waves in those hges when deep
answered unto deep. On the summit one huge block
has somewhat the contour o. "a human fsce-tbe
! Old Man Of the Mountains.
! Diag, nally to the right, and your painting horse
climbs the sleep wagon.rcsd. over the rocks through
the derae woods.
A great open fed half way mp he popp,ain.
Here is q battery, with il bottle shaped Dahigrens,
sure % 500 yards, capable, o. their utmost eeva-
ton 81 three and lslf miles, It's black slim Par
ro,ts with iron-bsnded breeeh and lite shining how
tiers Of brass. Some are The guns which were
spiked aud rolled down the bill At fords moet
shameful evscusion others have been brought up
since from Harper's Ferry.
Esch couicai tent Of the garrison 10 set upon o
circle Of upright logs rising three feet above the
ground, "chinEed" and plastered With mud. in
The enter within IS y fireplace with one covered
trench leading in for ventilation, and another pass
ing ont on tie opposite side 10 carry of the smoke.
The occupants are well projected ag,,as! the bitter
breath Of Winter.
A third OF a mile 80 the north are the " hi.e tens
Of tho First Division Of the Twelfth Corp,-Banks's
heroes, who have melted away in ~ many 'Iying
marches and hardlought felos-sho have LEFT their
hororod dead AT Winchester and Front R0yfl, a.
! Cedar Mountain, Bull Run, ana ADiietsm. Now
TIER stricken ranks filed mp with fresh Fegi-
ments, and under Gordon, who, rising ffoa the
coonelcy Of the ID Ma a8ehusett, has wen epyiIbe
repute throughout tho Amy, they are again ready
/ for the field.
On again, up the lonely road, then TO the eft,
climbing the brow Of the ridge, over stones and
fsl!sn trces, Until the path, studded with sharp
rOoks grows impracu bic Tor horsee. Tie your
stsed 70 a siTnp and ccninrs on foot. Here, AZ
on all the neghboriDg high,s, We coyipandeT bai
ssyere attao. Of lgnomin The tre,s, of chest.
and branches arc blagnB and cracsliog, and your
eyel ere blinded With smoke. The ertire mountain
! top il burning OIL that no possible enemy mGy find
! cover for asOtlIer attack.
Here is y stoekele ana lookout, tuili ty tie Rebels
before our 6rst OcCuyson. A few bunored Yards
/ beyond ID libt long treagtwork OF Miless ulen,
where Two companies Tepulset Rebel regiment.
How high the toe OF war musi run when ia eDbiug
snd flowing waves waah this mountain-topl
| You are on the extreme summit. Here IS an open
tent Of the fgnGl cOrps labelled: DoHT 1oUcH
TIE IgsrRUNEhIs. ASK no QUESTIONS" Insde,
two operators are gazing at distant bghs, through
hxed selescopes, aud calling out 80, "i69, "Sl
&c., which q cleIk records. Zach number repro.
tents some letter, syllable, or abbreviated word.
Look through the glGss, at one Of Tie seven signa
Communicate with tbif. Yon See flag Of white
ground, with some large black figure upon the rem
ter. IL dips and risesi W Ina1y waves 10 the right
90 many ~ the left; then different flag takes It's
place and dips and rises 10 turn. There oombina-
tom ioTIa perfect System Of ,e.esrsphing, by
which from one y three words per minute se iri.ns
milted. bic operator signals 10 the one at head
quarters: 400 Rebel cavalry hiding ont OF ChsIes-
town this way; hsldpieo OIL rosd lutt this aide;
and h occupies Ave minutes.
Five miles is an easy dsiance 20 tl,;nsl bat mes
sagee can ts sent between BtatloDs twenty miles
apart. The sigT COrps keep M tie front, and theif
services are often OF great 'al1e. Oar troops, III
taking possession here . month ago, came up in line
Of battle with skirmi.hero ogi, 10 pouIoo upon any
remaining enemy. Arriving here, they we're some
what cLsg'lned 70 find the fags flying, and learn
that these teegaphe pioneers, cost upon the heels
OF the Rebels he'd been signaling from the sanInit
Tor twenty-tour hours.
You ere on the highest point " tie Blue Ridge
l,400 feet above the sea, 900 above tho Potomac,
400 above Lo1d0n HIghts. ZIP tho rOoky path by
which You Game climbs pony; On the lony's hack
q negroi On tho nepos head u bucket Of water.
Behind comes 3 mule, with a. coffee sack thrown
over be back and ia each erd q IL keg Of watOr.
TINS all burdens ara brought up.
Hero IL Iyramdsl lookout Of lOgs, 25fecl high,
built children build cob houses. Climbing 10 tho
Top, you have an unObetFneied view. In tho carly
morning here yoa could only took cut upon @ cold,
whie, sboreless sea OF fog. Now, what a grand
psnJsu9l ioa look down iato all Tho country