Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1865-08-25


MouNT VERNON etAyTRn TnB WAn-=PRRsHsr
CospITIox OF THIS Paorsnrv4-Thc National fatel-.
hgepcr gives the. following account Of the condi-
tion OF the Washington home and grounds at Mount
Vernon ~ uFis- -. - is,aqa7 k--.g ~
The library room, In tho south end, is occupied
by Miss Tracy the accomplished and faithful agent
'afthe Mount Vernon Association. A bust Of Wash
|ingion cast in plaster by Houdon, aud another Of
Lafayette facing each other high on the walls are
the only observable relics. The bookcases, built
into the ya with glass doors, fully occupy one side
of tue large room. Over this apartment, ina small
bedroom, the great and good man died. A bed
stead, said 70 be exact copy Of that on which he
died. is the only article in the chamber. The fani
lily pictures weie nearly quite all at Arlington,
and were taken to Richmond by General Lee. The
celebrated pitcher portrait upon the Gack OF which
inscribed tile beautiful eulogy and left in the
mansion by nm unknown hand, was carried away
by John A. Washington, and is in the possession
of that family. 'S' e''5..
The long row of brick quarters still stand as they
have for Thirty forty years, since they were par
TALLY destroyed by FIRE. In this row Washington
had his blacksmith and carpentering establishments,
and here now live the two old colored servants OF
whom mention has been made as the servants that
came here sixty years ago with Anne Blackburn,
the wife Of Busfrud Washington. -'H' .-.'+ -''-.
The Ladies' Mouft Vernon Association, II Is well
known, made their purchase in 1858, pnd had made
the last payment of 81 900 upon the eve of the re-
bellion. The association had expended also S2Qo 600
in improvements in addition to paying the 200 900
purchase money. Much still needs To be done and
the large amount Of funds at this time arcumnbt-
ting from the throngs Of visitors, who pay an en-
trance fee each Of twenty-five cents, win do mitch
for putting the National Shrine, and preserving IT,
! in proper condition. Il s.'-r h'
The scoprge Of rebelon'staycd its desolating tide
At the confines OF these sacred acres The tomb OF
Washington was held sacred on both sides. ~ =
| Pohick Church where Washington worshlppel
till the close Of the Revolution, has not escaped SO
well. The last discourse in it was tenipeshious
disunion harangue by an itne1nt Methodist preach
er on a sabbath, near the opening of the war. rhe
ancient edldce is now SHE'LL not window door
or the smallest fragment Of the pcws pulpit, OF
floor are TO be seen. II was used csuly in the Wal
by sOlcers for shelter, and later was turned into
stable, The ancient tombstones Of the abandoned
graveyard are lying and leaning around, and desc
atOn is painted in all its saddest forms upon the
scene. The old Pohick Church was erected near
this some one hundred and ftty years ago fhi;
was erected in l772, and Washington was the chic
contributor in its erection. To this church Wash.
ingon for years regularly repaired, some sever
miles, allowing no company to keep him from The
sabbath service The pew doors Of Washington
and the great George Mason had been carried away
as relics Before the war. The brick walls alone
now remain.