The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-09-21

~, ana destroyed many miles OF the
w OK. Finally, in the latter part of June
And early part Of July, 1861, the Confed-
crates under Gen. Ear y had possession
of large portion of the road between
Baltimore and Harper's Ferry, and de-
stroyed the track for Il space OF several
miles. But, no matter how, much dam
age was done to the track, or how many
cars or locomotives were destroyed, or
how many bridges were burned or blown
up. the COnfederates found to their NOR
titication and chagrin that the road was
always rebuilt and placed in running
order in an incredibly short space OF
time, as soon as, and indeed in some
eases before, military protection was at
forded to the railroad company. There
fore, when, in July, 1864, the Confeder
ates made their attack on Washington,
they refrained from damaging the dou-
Bile track between Washington and Bal
timore, because, as Gen. Early afterwards
stated, their experience had demonstra-
ted that the railroad company could re-
build their track in less time than it
would take them to destroy it. And in
deed, at that very moment, when they
were laundering away at the gates of the
Capital, the railroad company, with a
strong force of workmen, were busily at
work near Monocacy, building the rail-
road bridge there, andrelaying the track,
which Early had destroyed only three
days before.
The transportation over this road of
the 100000 soldiers from Washington,
composing the armies which have re-
Gently been mustered out Of the service,
including 10000 men in the western reg
iments, who were taken to Parkersburg
on the Ohio river, is the last of the great
military services which it has rendered
to the Government. Of these troops,
IS, 900 embarked on board of steamboats,
at the latter point and sailed down the
Ohio river to Louisville; and by the wa
ter transportation between 100000 and
$500, 900 was saved to the Government,
being the difference between the cost of
water transportation and transportation
by railroad. The advantage of having
one Of the western termini of the road
at Parkersburg consists in the fact that
that point is one hundred miles further
down the river than Neutrality-suspicious.
two hundred miles further down than
Pittsburg. By proceeding west to Park
ersburg, therefore, about one hundred
miles or two hundred miles of water
transporta ton, as the case may be, is
saved, while Parkersbtug can be reach
ed, from the east, almost as quickly as
those points one hundred and two humid
red miles above it.
Since the end of the war the track and
bridges along the whole line of the road
have been put in perfect order, and the
equipment has been increased by the
addition of a large number Of new loco
motives and passenger ears. The latter
are superb specimens of railway carria-
ges, and are fitted up with every modern
convenience and luxury. The company
anticipate large travel over the road
this fall Indeed it has already COM
menced), and has made every prepare
ton for the comfortable accommodation
of the public. Two trains leave Wheel
ing and Parkersburgdaily, namely, from
Wheeling at II \. NJ, and 10 p. NJ, and
from Parkersburg at $50 A. NJ.
The route from this city is nearly an
airline, by the Ohio and Mississippi
Railroad to Cincinnati, and thence by
the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad to
Parkersburg, or by the Central Ohio
Railroad to Wheeling or Belair. To
say nothing of the historic interest of
such a trip, those of our readers who
have never taken this route to the East
will be surprised and delighted at the
superb scenery along the line of the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad, and at the
marvels of engineering skill displayed
in the construction of the road itself, its
bridges, its tunnels, and its viaducts.-
Twelve miles south Of Wheeling, the
traveller passes the great Indian mound,
whose origin, purposes, and history are
yet involved in mystery. The Broad
Tree tunnel, 40 miles from Wheeling,
passes under a great hill, which was
originally crossed by the railroad on a
zig-zag track with seven angles, thus:
VVVV. At Fairmount, n miles from
Wheeling, the railroad crosses the Mo-
nongahala river ON beautiful suspen-
sion bridge, one thousand feet long; and,
one mile further on, there is an iron
bridge 600 feet long, which was five
times destroyed and as often rebuilt dur
ing the war; At Grafton, 104 miles east
of Parkersburg, there IS another hand
some iron bridge, over the Tygart's Val
ley river, and also an excellent hotel
Here the mountain scenery begins to
assume those views OF alternate lowell
ness and grandeur which continue until
the traveller reaches baltimore E,iph-