The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-09-06
Mount Vernon After the War.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY.

The National Intelligencer gives the fol
lowing account Of the condition Of the
Washington home and grounds at Mount
Vernon: 9fa III
The library room, ia the south end, is oc.
cupied by Miss Tracy, the accomplished and
faithful agent of the Mount Vernon Asso.
citation. A bust Of Washington, cast III
plaster by ifoudon, aud another Of I,afa.
yette, facing each other high on the walls,
are the only observable relics. The book
case, built into the wall, with glass doors,
fully occupy one side Of the large room.
Over this apartment, in a small bedroom,
the great and good died. A bedstead said
to be an exact copy Of that on which he
died, is the only article in the chamber.
The family pictures were nearly or quite all
at Arlington, and were taken to Richmond
BY Gen. Lee. The celebrated pitcher por-
trait, upon the back OF which was inscribed
the beautiful et!ogy, and lett iu the mansion
by an unknown hand, was carried away by
John a. Washington, and is in the posses
sion Of that family.
The long row Of brick quarters still stand
as they have for thirty or forty years. since.
they were parti lily destroyed by fire. In
this row Washington had his blacksmith
and carpenterlny establishment, and here
now live the two old colored servants, of
whom mention has been made as the SER
wants that came here sixty years ago with
Anne Blackburn, the wife Of Bushrod
Wa shington. 81
The Ladies' Mount Vernon Association,
it is we'll known, made their purchase in
1858, and had made the last payment Of
$4,000 UPON the eve Of the rebellion. The
Association had expended also $4,000 in
Improvements ID addition to paying the
$500 ,0o8 purchase money. Much still needs
to be done, and the large amount Of funds
at this time accommodating from the throngs
OF visitors, who pay an entrance fee each Of
twenty-five cents, will do much for putting
the National Shrine, and preserving it, III
proper coalition. = Id
The scourge. Of the rebellion, stayed It's
tlesolatating tides at the confines OF these
sacred acres. The tomb Of Washington
was held sacred on both sides.
Pohick Church, where Washington wor
shipped till the close Of the Revolution, has
not escaped SO well. The last discourse ia
it was u tempestuohs disunion harangne BIZ
an iiuerant Methodist preacher on u Sab
bath, near the opening Of the war. The
ancicut cdfce ia now she'll; not window,
door, or the smallest fragment Of the pews,
pulpit Or floor are 20 be seen. It was used
early in the war by soldiers for shelter, and
later was turned into a stable. The ancient
tombstones of the abandoned graveyard are
lying and Leaning around, and desolation is
painted in all its saddc:t forms Upon the
scene The old Pohirk Church was erected
near this some one hundred and fifty years
ago. This was erected in l772, and WASH
ington was the chief contributor in its
erection. TO this church Washington for
years regularly repaired, some seven miles,
allowing no company to keep him from the
Sabbath service. The pew doors Of Wash
ington and the great George Mason had been
carried away as relics before the war. The
brick walls alone now remain.