Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-12-15
THE BALTIMORE ARD OHIO RAILROAD.

IhE BAL IHnUhE AMI uhlu RAILhUADs
One of the most delightful routes of
travel eastward is the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, which runs from Wheeling and
Park rkersburg, West Va, to the cities of
Baltimore and Washington. The road is
now in fine running order. the cars are
spacious and comfortable, and the scenery
through which it passes is grand, majes-
tic and beautiful The splendid view
from Altamont-the summit of one of
the Alleghanies-is alone worth the price
of trip, for there is no finer scenery in
the old world or the new than that spread
before the traveller at that point The
road, too, has its history-its own history
of the war just tclosed-reminiscen of
the conflict, as Harper's Ferry Monocacy,
Martins burg, North Mountain, Sir j ohn's
Run, Cumberland, Hancock and Grafton
can testify. Thousands of passengers
can remember the rebel raids upon this
road to their sorrow, and employees can
not forget those dark nights of danger
and trial, when the rebel forces proWled
around Martinsburg and the road west
toward Cumberland. Property was de-
stroyed, miles upon miles of rail and
track torn up, locomotives and ears
burnt, bridges fired and blown up, depets
and warehouses laid waste, and train
hands fred upon; yet with all these dis
advantages, the energy of the men who
owned the road never tagged, and aided
by the government, they repaired all
damages as fast as they were made
Millions of dollars have been expended,
and toe day the Baltimore g. Ohio Rail-
road stands as high intthe estimation of
the travelling public as ever it did, and
certainly deserves unlimited patronage
from all travellers.
Taking the Central Ohio Railroad from
lOlTT hTTe 6a Ralf
more & Ohio Railroad at Wheeling
From Wheeling you pass through bro
ken country, with not much scenery, un-
til you arrive at the pretty town of Graf
ton, whose covered bridge still bears the
marks of rebel bullets, fred during a
skirmish between an Ohio regiment and
body of rebel troops, in July, 81. Here
the gradual ascent commences, and here
the traveller sees those powerful locomo-
tives, yctept pushers. which aid the train
| to surmount the difficulties of mountain
navigation. And now the tunnelling
commences. Passing through Tunnelton
and Rowelsburg, you arrive at Cranberry
Summit. At Altamont you are on the
| highest point which the railway reaches
on the dividing line between Virginia
and Maryland. Here the scenery is glo-
rious Mountains rise upon mountains,
as 'Alps on Alps as far as the eye can
reach, varied by the landscape, present.
ing rich eolors painted by the finger of
God on the sky. Below all are the val
leys, with their neat farm houses, while
here and there deserted buildings and
stacks of ruined chimneys speak of war s
desolation. On one side, Cheat Noun
tain rises majestically, while far below
you, beneath the waving pines. rushes
| the beautiful Cheat river, its limpid
waters sparkling in the sunlight, as they
rush confusedly over their rocky bed,
like so much silver sheen. You GO on,
as the story book says, and look and won
der, and wonder and look, until you seem
| lost in the contemplation of such an
abundance of rich and varied scenery
| Seventeen miles further brings you to
! Piedmont, in the vicinity of which are
| the immense machine shops of the COM
pany, with their coal mines, either of
/ of which deserves special notice. New
! Greek brings to mind "reminiscences of
| the first year of the war. This was a
great starting point for our troops. Gen.
| Fremont remained here for quite while,
and it was at New Greek where Blenker
started out with his division of bully
/ Dutohmen" The next point Of interest
| is Cumberland, which is beautiful town
nestled in among the mountains, and for
| a long time was an army depot and the
| headquarters of Brig. Gen. Kelley, after
wards taken prisoner by the rebels while
in bed, and carried into the rebel lines
The mountain scenery decreases as you
i go towards Martinsburg, yet the whole
| country bears marks of the great struggle
which has just closed, and their historical
/ associations are very interesting to all
/ who pass over the road. Martinsburg is
now improving, and the road is beginning
to look as it did before the rebellion, the
debris of burned locomotives and cars
having been removed. .Harper's Ferry is
rich in historical associations. Maryland
! Heights tell of the siege--the ruined Ar.
senal buildings tell of wars destruction
The burned bridge, however, has been
rebuilt, and is now splendid structure
Scenery wild and grand is found at the
| Point of Rocks, and when you come tc
the Monocacy bridge the river banks
the trees, and the rocks, could they speak
/ would tell you of the thunder of artillery
the rattling of musketry, the groans Of
the dying, and the shouts of victory
j The scenery from Monocacy bridge tc
Ellicott's Mills is very fine, and there is
less that tells of wars destruction
Leaving these places rapidly behind you
an hours ride or less brings the traveller
to the terminus of his journey, either al
the National capital or among the pleas
ant denizens of the Monumental city
g T,,,,...,<,T 81. -, d n -