Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-01-22


fords hazardous. The piers of an iron
bridge and single section still remaining,
indicate once beautiful structure and a
pontoon substitute shows the presence of
troops. An occasional canal-boat suggests
a still continued effort at traffic, and
transport rail-cars prove action in the
Quartermaster's Department. The noun
tains are high and hard to climb" The
jagged sides of slate rock rise vertically,
in many places to lofty heights, inducing
the sensation of fear lest they should fall,
while riding along the road which winds
under the threatening cliffs The noun
tains are crowned with batteries, "like d.
adems across the brow" and the Hotten-
toty- -Sibley tents dot the ridges like nina
ture ant-hills.
While looking at the town from the
Maryland Heights opposite, it seems like
requiring too much of friction to expect
the horses not to slide down the steep side
hill into the water The first story in
rear is the second story in front-so that
the housekeepers can 60 down one story to
another without going upstairs The
principal street winds up the side hill to
a depression near the top, and then leads
down on the other side until it reaches the
adjoining town of Bolivar. Maine, Mas
sachusettts, New York. Pennsylvania and
Maryland, are we'll represented by troops
stationed here, and the cordiality existing
among them is pleasant to see.
Bolivar Heights, in the immediate vi.
cinity, are the scene of Col. Miles surren-
der 1t is easy to see how untenable they
would be with all opposing force on Ma
ryland Heights; for guns in position there
could sweep the country for miles. Bay
onet scabbards, old cartridge boxes, and
parts cf equipments. still strew the fields
and indicate the great destruction of prop
erty incident to battle That more en-
gagements may take place here, seems
probable
Practice at the heavy guns is required
by General Kelly. "Dalhgrens'' and
4" PARROTS are mounted at the mountain
tops, and the firing is often quite exciting.
An amusing incident occurred a few morn
iDgs since A Parrott was tried for the first
time. The gun was directed toward Low.
den Heights, opposite, and the ordinary
elevation given to the piece All present
watched for the striking of the projectile;
but, to the astonishment of every one, it
went entirely over the mountain. Itmust
have caused sensation on the other side.
A visit is anticipated from Brevet Briga-
dier General W. w. Morris, who is chief
ordnadce and artillery for the Eighth Ar
my Corps. This distinguished officer is
of the old school, having served forty
years in the regular army, and is we'll
known as having been the commanding
officer for long time, of Fort Hamilton,
New York. He is sixty-two years old
an age which many officers are glad to
avail themselves of to enjoy the luxuries
of the "retired list" as they may in
most instances be regarded as having out =
lived their usefulness
The battle field of Antietam is about
twelve miles up the Potomac. The road
leads over the mountain, and is not ex.
actly suited to buggy riding. The hous.
es are frequently miles apart. Some two
miles beyond Sharpsburg is the often de.
scribed cornfeld, where the hardest fight
ing occurred last September, and where
General Mansfield was killed. An old
church is near, and we counted thirty three
cannon-ball holes through it. The trees
around are also much torn, and some of
the trunks had more than dozen bullet
holes in them. How any one could have
been there and escaped is marvel. The,
fields around contain thickly scattered
graves, officers and soldiers having been.
! ,,e,o1Iv h,,r;ad NH oro tLo,, Gil m.