The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-07
What May be Seen Between Rich
mond and Baltimore.
Correspondence OF tho Richmond Dispatch.

BALTIMORE, September 80.
/ arrived here after most delightful
jaunt by the Richmond and York River
railroad, leaving your city at O'Clock 4
NJ. The train glided rapidly in the dircc-
ton of Fair Oaks, and after running iiC
teen minutes through hill and dale, was
on that widely famed battle ground.
looked for marks Of that terrible conflict,
but there was nothing to Indicate hostile
meeting between two great armies save
some obscure rcdoubts, and they Of the
most temporary nature, and looked as If
designed for some agricultural purpose.
They were partially screened from view
by clusters of impcnctrablc jungle, and
even scanning eye could see but little Of
them.
4 few miles south Of this, in a field
called Seven Pines, not less distinguished
| for prOwcsS, may be seen the national en-
sign floating in honor of the gallant dead
who fell there and at Fair Oaks, while en-
dcavoring to capture the Confederate cap
ital. am hurried hastily on, and the
next point Of interest is Savagc'S station.
That once attractive and hospitable man.
sion favorably known for good cheer stands
no longer as an inviting oasis in dreary
waste, like hundreds, nay thousands, of
other charming and antiquatcd abodcs in
| the South, has been consumed by flames.
At this point was established one Of the
most extensive hospitals for McClelland's
army while he was menacing Richmond.
After being rcpulScd on the north side Of
the Chickahominy he was necessarily COM
PEELED, in his prccipitatc retreat to Harri-
sons landing, to abandon his sick and dis
abled, which resulted in two thousand of
that number falling into Confederate hands.
\ vast quantity OF military stores was col
lected here and estroycd-remnants Of
blankets and requirements can still be
seen strewn over fields and woodlands. |
was borne on swiftly from Sarage'S to tho
celebrated Chickahominy, and in crossing
essaved through the car window to obtain
a glimpse of the sluggish and turbid wa
tiers, but the little stream around which
cluster so many historical associations, was
concealed from view by willows and other
small growth, that passed over without
seeing it.
Two miles south of the river is the Dis
patch station, which l believe is named
in honor Of your very popular and widely
circulated journal. Here old Stoncwall's
advance bolted and gobblcd up some "boys
in blue" after making q most terrific at
tack on the right wing Of McClcllan's
army and driving it across the river at
Grapevine bridge. Very few dwellings
are left standing in this vicinage. CHM
news and blackened walls OH the south
bank Of the Chickahominy loom up heaven
ward as if imploring the wrath of the AL
| ;rI+ +hat - Hacpnp1 thn
heads of the perpetrators Of this black and
cxccrablc deed. The country lying be-
tween this and Tunstall's dep6. presents
broken and sterile aspect. Agriculture
is apparently languishng in every direc-
ton; small and inferior patches OF corn,
with fields Of scrub oak and pine, are all
that greet the eye Of the traveller. Upon
Black creek bottoms and the fertile and
productive lands of the Pamunkey valley
can be seen magnificent crops Of corn for
the area under cultivation. The crops arc
generally good from the White House on
both sides of the river TO Hanover Court
house.
! observed no improvements of dcscrip-
ton after leaving Richmond until larrivcd
at the White House. Here General w. II. +.
Lee, the proprietor Of that princely estate,
has erected a number Of attractive and
commodious out-buildings, and is now con-
structing upon the site Of the old mansion
an Italian villa, which for comfort and
architectural beauty, when completed, will
far exceed the one destroyed while Nc
Ccllan occupied the Peninsula. Formi-
dablc earthworks are still visible on many
portions Of the farm but Judging from the
| - tS II, n
will very soon be erased by the plough
and other implements; for General Lee Is
one of the most industrious and enter
prising farmers on the Pamunkey. found
the splendid steamer Admiral awaiting the
arrival Of the train, and after the trans
fer of passengers and freight, She moved
oil gently from her moorings down
the river, opening to view bcauti-
full scenery and many places of historical
interest, such as Indantown, Fish Hall,
and Cumberland !; all of which have been
places of considerable note, but have now
fallen to decay. 1t is remarkable fact
that there is not town Of any Importance
upon the Pamunkey, which is narigable
sixty miles or more, traversing, too, one
among the most productive regions in
tidcwater. The same stream III New
England would TEEN with lovely cities,
towns, and villas. There is an extensive
and lucrative field for capital and enter
prise, and ere another quarter of i cen
fury passes, the banks of the Pamunkey
will be greatly improved by the artisan,
and the merry hum of more numerous
and energetic population will perhaps be
heard. There is a bright page in the lu-
ture history ofthis portion Of the State.
For horticultural purposes, the soil and
climate can scarcely be surpassed by any
in America. Yet persons living in this
section only grow sufficient vegetables for
their own consumption. West Point still
wears somewhat the air of town, and
may be said to be improving slowly. No
wharf has been constructed there, and
passengers and freight have to be sent
ashore in yawls.
MeSSrS. Treat, Cooke & Co., of WiScon-
sin, have a large and excellent saw mill,
and arc extensively engaged in getting
timber on the York river and its tributa-
ries. They have been very successful in
their operations, and always find ready
sale for their timber in northern markets.
was greatly surprised, in descending
York river, to find in the short distance Of
eight miles, between Biglow's and York
town, fifteen hundred men in small boats
of every model actively engaged in
dredging the native beds or rocks for oys-
tcrs, and as removed they are put on
board Of sl0ops and Schooncrs and con-
va ..1 70 p1n in.