The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-08-22

Correspondence Of the Nashville Union-l

DEALS ISLAND, Aug. 10, 1865.
In accordance with a long establish
ed custom, the civil employees of the
Government at Washington are usually
allowed four weeks leave of absence
during the year, without loss Of pay /;
and feeling weary of the dust and heat
of the metropolis, I concluded to avail
myself of the benefits of this custom
by seeking a little quiet repose in q
region where would be less likely to
be disturbed than any where else.
OF course the eastern shore of Mary
land was my place, and acting upon
that conviction, the first day of August
found me quietly gliding o Ter the bosom
of the beautiful Chesapeake Bay, on
board the schooner Ann Maria, of
Deals Island During the two days
and nights that l remained ON board
no event Of interestoocurred, and if Z
enjoyed the alienation of calm and
fury in which the Bay presented itself,
together with the magnitude of the
scene generally, l did no more than
any novice would have done under
similar circumstances.
Somerset county, in which 1 have
been Tusticating, is an exceedingly in
teresting section or country. Bearing
out from the Chesapeake Bay is an inn
mense body of water known as Tangier's
Sound, lapproAched from baltimore
through Hooper's Straits. On the
northeastern margin Of this sound is
Deals Island, or in. better EDgiish,
Devils Island, SO called by way of com
pliment, owing to the great size and
number Of the mosquitoes that abound.
This island is a nominal port Of entry,
and has thereby become, theoretically,
the local habitatiOn of the thousand
and one vessels Of all sizes that ply be-
tween the Eastern Shore and the vaFi-
Gus markets Of the North and East
Leading out from Tangier's Sound are
marvellous number Of small rivers
or creeks, which ramify all sections OF
the country, and at high-tide are nayi-
gable for small 'crAft, by which means
transportation is brought 70 almost
every neighborhood, and the surplus
products Of the soil find a ready mar
ket in Baltimore, Washington, or Phil
adelphia.
Peaches, cherries, and other fruits,
grow luxuriansly and abuRdantly, and
are sources, Of handsome revenue TO
,ths iarmsfalI q3 iass seem ineredi
bic that q man should gather ming barrsL
Of cherries from single tree, ht Z
single gathering, but have tbevouch
er an extensive and highly credible
farmer for it, and after looking at the
magnitude Of some Of the trees in
this locality. I am prepared to bsliSyl
almost anything in the shape Of :
cherry story. Ounces, melons, canta
lopes, etc, also grow abundantly, and
thsro is 10 lack Of potatoes and
vegetsbIeA
\ The land is very low and very level
the soil Is light and sandy and notvery
rich, but produces fair crops Of corr
and wbsak Some Of il has been il
cultivation ever since the foundation o
the Colony, and Is much worn. Fertil
izers are used to 4 considerable extent
The timber Is small, mostly pine. TIT
wells. which ssfsrd tAe only supply Q
drinking water. are only from SIX z
twelve feet deep, hence there isn suel
thing here as drink Of eolR wuter, IN
less ice Is brought into Fequisition, an'
tbat i not always 70 be bad, ss yer
I little 4 procsreds owing to the scareir
/ Of fresh water eaatAa --
Almosta third Of Somerset souns
consists of rasssh land, thiclzly studdel
oss- wifh nsEiA grass, ard When tboe
sasda q aese y thh fAlI unass g