Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-05-18
EDTTORTAE C0RREaP0EDENCE.
EANEYTOWN, Carroll Co. Nd,
Nav 9th 1866

IulB Is GlGAGUN EUMLA4 anu U1G u EAAG
Oldest In this section Of the State, but Is
in a good state Of preservation, and being
situated in a beautiful country Of great
fertility, possesses many attractive fea-
lures, and is a very pleasant place Of resi-
dence. Its location is 40 miles west OF
Baltimore, % miles north Of Frederick,
13 south h-west of Gettysburg, and about
from the Pennsylvania line The Wes-
tern Maryland Railroad, running from
Baltimore to Union Bridge, and soon to
be extended to HagerstOWn, is distant
about miles on the southeast. Among
its cherished "reminiscences of the remote
past Is the passage of General Washing
ton through the town, where he spent a
night and received an ovation, while on
his journey from Philadelphia TO Mt.
Vern on at the close of his Presidential
term. Of more recent events, those most
dWelt upon and which will ever be remem-
bered by the present inhabitants, are
those connected with the late rebellion,
especially the battle of Gettysburg and
the exciting scenes connected Herewith.
During both rebel invasions, though they
overrun the country and for a time held
possession of towns on the east, west,
north, and south, this place was fortu-
nately exempt from their dreaded vista
tions, and the only rebel feet that pressed
It's soil were those Of thousands of prison
ers who were marched through after the
battle Of Gettysburg 1t had, however,
Its full share Of false alarms, panics and
stampedes. A large portion of the Army
of Gen. Mead, about $4,000, concentrated
here, and remained from the afternoon Of
the Ist of July to the evening of the
I'd, when it moved forward and BY
a rapid night march reached the
field of conflict in season TO partici-
pate IN the terrible struggle of the
ID, and earn the imperishable renoun
which attaches TO the dead and living he
roes Of that glorious victory, one among
the most important of any achieved du-
ring the war. During the time the
army remained here the head quarters of
Gen. Mead were on the farm of a relative
short distance north of town, and it is
a well known fact that when the army
concentrated here it was with the expec-
tation that this would be the scene of the
battle. Gen. Meade told several citizens
that he expected the battle to come off
here or In the immediate vicinity, and
stated that the conformation of the coun-
try was such that better battlefield
could not be desired or found He an
ticipated being able to compel Lee to at
tack him on ground of his own ehosing.
and had his forces admirably disposed TO
secure that object but the unexpected
and unpremeditated Inauguration of hos
tllities with our advance corps at Gettvs
burg changed the programme 1t is a sin
gulaF fact that the advance of the army of
Gen. Meade was utterly unknown to the
inhabitants OF the town till the advancing
columns on three different roads leading
south, east, and southeast were seen
decendlng the slopes leading into the
town, and within ten minutes from
the time the first soldiers were seen
regiment after regiment and division after
division filed through the town and
sought camping ground on the fine farms
adjacent. The gallant 4th Ohio was en- /
camped IN the western suburbs-ComDa- /
ny Y. Capt. DoIbear, occupying a beauti-
tIfuI knoll, commanding a fine view of
the surrounding country. For three or
four days preceding the battle the inhab-
lCanGs were Wholey cut of from cOmmu-
nlcatlon with other places, and not only
entirely ignorant Of what was transpiring
but without any knowledge a.
to where our army was or what it was do
ing. In this state of anxiety and alarm.
the JOY and gratitude caused by the sud
den appearance of the boys in blue in
almost countless numbers may be readily
imagined. During the progress of the
battle even the discharges of musketrv
could be distinctly heard, and the heavy ]
booming of artillery shook the earth and
caused the windows to rattle as though /
gItated by an earthquake When the
LTIng ceased after the last terrible charge t
I the enemy, citizen who occupied an '
legation in the vicinity with good glass, t
aid he knew the day was ours, because @
ne nag OF beauty and glory" which he
aW waving over Round Top when the l.
nslaught commenced was still there C
hen the smoke caused by the terrible I
onfiot cleared away, n
rms being my native place, have been /;
luch interested in revisiting the scenes a
I my youth, revising of course MANY t
leasant "Reminiscences of boyhood davs. n
Tut the pleasure is not unmixed with a
am, for to return to a once familiar o
lace after long absence, and when for ii
lerIy every person encountered was an G.
'quaIntance, to ind their places almost
2 lUlrely occupied BY trangers, foroihly illus
'ates the great and rapid changes effected
= time, and necessarily has q sadden1ng
nd depressing effect upon the spirits,
reat as has been the change in theinhabi Il
departure from here. the al
lange Ia the country has been nstill greater. II
lQeeQ mad been enjoying a Rim Van "a
'inkle sleep during the years that have te
apsed since | left here to take up nv IL
)ode IN the West and without having Z
zen appr1sed OF changes being made. &C
10 on aWaklng been set down on one of q
q neighborhOod elevations. 7 sbould ca
we utterly failed to recognize in the B
untrZ spread out before me that with
lIch 1 had been so familiar in former II
vs. The change has been as remarka- sti
as 1t is gratifying. Then a consider r.
Ie portion of the country in this i'm 81,
9dlate vicinity, was owned by a few vo
93lthy pFoprletors, and, by long culture
Deen reduced to a state of non-prO- SCI
etlVeness that was distressing to behold. Ne
l while hundreds upon hundreds oPE bu
es were so utterly exhausted as not to sti
at all, the best lands pro- AT
'ed very light crops, all seemed rap MI
tending to utter WorthlessRess; and the
prospect for the farmer was diseour- wa
ag IN the extreme, Those large estates ant
e since been cut up into small farms.
the sterile expanse covered with Re
sEs. mSaiiiens and stunted growth of ted
ge- grass, which everywhere met the act
4, are now beautiful and productive JON
ds, covered with rich verdure the use
rly constructed and uncomfortable for
king log house, with its dilpidated Fai
roundings, has given way to fine and 1
sious mansions, with large and costly app
rs, and all the other improvements of way
character. The face of the country Siel
ecul1arly attractive-long and gentle tor
)es, with beautiful valleys intervening aut
studded over with numerous and con
dsome improvements, with a noun Stat
range not far distant on the west, the anne
Drama spread out before the beholder tenC
a any elevated position is extensive bell
most attractive. Much of the soil aid
IS what is known as red land, and is telel
color of Well-burnt brick. This the
however, apparently exhausted by poin
sslve culture, is easily improved. be- the
IS exceedingly fertile, and is the yerv Mr..
OF an lands Tor wheat culture. The Com
9L Improvement IS lime, which seems Spea
euIapIe IN lts enects, but guano and quirC
15rI4l41ers are 9Is0 used to a con was