The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-12-06


cal scenes and memories. Perhaps no
other section Of our country affords so
many opportunities for philosophic
thought or stirring souvenirs ;--dating
as do the events that here have their
origin, from the earliest period of our
history to the more modern, though not
less interesting period, of armed revo-
luton and political countcr-revolu
tiOn. Tho hullowed names Of Wash
ingtOn, Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and
of Clay, minglc with the names of mod
ern heroes and unite even with the dus-
kicr memories of the earlier inhabt-
ants of this portion of our fair conti-
nent. We have only to close our eyes,
mentally speaking, and we see the un-
tutorcd Indian maiden--all untutored,
save by love-interpose hcrself between
the white intruder and the descending
war-club. We close them again, and
we behold that touching "ast inter
view" between George Washington and
his aged and noble mother--worthy
mother of such II son ! Again, and we
see the Confederate flag Haunting even
within sight of the Capitol. And last.
~, proud, yet noble people, punished
worse than history parallels, or Heaven,
iteelf, DEGREES against its outlaws for
there is no crime to which God refuses
pardon.
Pocahontas, Capt John Smith, Geo.
Washington, Thomas Jefferson; the
silver tongued Henry; the toga draped
Marshall with, of later days, the boy
soldier Ellsworth, "Stonewall'' Jack
s,n; Henry a. Wise and Hunnciutt =
friends and foes, dusky Indians, and
!, honest men and villains, ali are jum-
blcd up in one grand me!ange. Like the
cards of some historical game upset
and mingled by child! Is there not
ample food for thought?
Leaving Washington in the fine boats
which carry the passenger part of the
way TO Richmond, via the Acqula Creek
, and Fredericksburg route, we first pass
to the left, on our way down the noble
Potomac, the gloomy walls ofths Arse
nal, where the conspirators. Payne, At
zerott, Harold and Mrs. Surratt were
; hung; and where the remains of the
[ assassin Booth rest, if rest they can !!
, Soon after, on the Virginia side, we see
the town of Alexandria, and above the
warehouses that line the wharfs, for
Alexandria was once quite Il CONNER
} cial place. we view the flag staff of the
, Marshall House where Ellsworth was
killed. Further down the river, some
, fifteen miles from the Capital of our ma
| ton, the poetical tribute of the toling
} bell, denotes that we are passing Mount
1 Vernon, the home of the Father of
a his country" and rcplete with his
memories.
The scenery. which has been ncreas-
ing in beauty and majesty all along,
= seems 10 eliminate in grandeur ut this
lovely spot, 50 sacred to every Ameri
a can. Here, the river is broad, and of
= that peculiarly ETHEREAL tint that has
"a gained for it the name Of the "bluc Po-
i tomac." The shore on either side rises
! iTr n hold |.
9 most bluffs sometimes; with interven-
-, ing vistaS of purplish distance, showing
where some creek or inlet runs. At thi'
y season Of the year too, when the trec'
It have put on the gorgeous robes of Au
tumn; of gold and brown, and of flash
ing red with that magic of frost, that
makes every leaf flower in hue. ant
l. every bunch of withered grass a per
- fume the scene was indescribably beau
IN tiful.
a. After one leaves Mt. Vernon the see
merry becomes tanner, especially on th'
IL Maryland side ofthe river, until lon.
n. out-jutting wharf, with the charrct
IS timbers of burned storehouses on ii
nj and an earthwork peeping out from
~ hilltop beyond, shows that we have ar
III rived at Acquia Creek Landing; ono
ed the base of supplies of our army. Her
By we find the cars of the Fredericksbur
& Richmond Railroad awaiting us, an
very glad we are to get away. For, t.
day, this once busy spot is nothing b,
ne Il solitary looking wilderness, with II
he long wharf, and without other signs ,
nd civilization than the remains of an ol
- white house, ON hill across the creel
hS perforated through and through wit
Sc shells. Even the locomotive seen
NV afraid to disturb those silent echoes wit
a.t its shrill whistle, and glides quiet
M, and swiftly away, without sign.
'uo The country still continues 10 be
zen this wild, solitary stamp, until the Ii
~ tie town of Falmouth, Il suburb of Ere
be- ericksburg is reached. Fredericksburg
,nt ] seems but yesterday that we we
~ ~.,l waiting anXiously TO hear Of Bur
AN sidc's having stOrmcd the town On of Inc
ION Sedgwck was fnring there; and y
we everything is rs quiet there rs thou;
md gunpowdcr had never been invented.
w fredericksburg was 80 named aft
VIZ Prince Frederick, father of George ii
and il, in every respect, Il piigrima
spot tn every true patriot. Near ht
.. was the Washington farm, where /
hl- hero of all future ages passed his yout
led Here too, rest tho remains of Mary, t
lily mother of Washington, under, we
.lnr grct to say, an uWRiShrd tomb. And
the peuusNlvunJn ii may I've intcrc
tua ~ hbbh tllIb wv !lfNA it- hl
Oc- iron work, ever erected in this count
ion was one built hE Governor SpotSWOC
,te- at GcrGlanna, near Fredcrichsbul
49,, General Hugh Mercer, of Revolution
o'' ~ fame; the intimate friend of Wa,
ington, and vino, although II native
yer scotland, came across the broad OcC
ar to lay down his life for American fr
o,r dom, was also Il resident of Frederic
,'' burg. MCrcer's history was one OF
lte- most romantic Of that stirring age.
IGir one of his battle, with the Indians
the Indian War of 1859, il Il related,
AXE was wounded iu the wrist Dya mus
nnl bali. Pursued by hi, savage foe he Y
''' compelled to take refuge in a holl
tree, where, although the Indians
cumpCl about the spot, he romoil
,, uudetUctCd. Escaping them he had
~ N' track the wilderness some one hund
) 10 miles before he could hope for sccur
ave or relief from The agoniAing pain of
rap undressrl wound. This he did, liv
,air ON roots, and the body Of rattlc-sni
which nc encountered and killed. q
oe- Merccr's name is intimately connec
I'M with the early history of the kcyst
,cre state, for he il WAS vino destroyed
that Indian settlement ut kiltauuing,
''"' w for which, the corporation of Phila
''h- phiu afterwards presented him an
be propriate medal.
erS' But Linden saw another sight ("
ea- And Fredericksburg has Il more II
Iuld ern and sad memory a the seen,
.g!" Bumsdcs famous crossing Ofthe Raj
49,. hammock and disastrous retreat.
w The shore ON either side here, is
zen cipitous, with this exception, that vi
no on the northern, or Falmouth side,
ON, bluffs run along the edge of the river
, in the southern, or l'rcdcrcksburgi ;
' they hollow Inward, forming kind
eye amphitheatre about the town, of
'on hill rising above the other in tiers,
liter a naturally constructed fortress, us i
, ne The morning Of the 10Th of Decen
" WAS fOrrV when Our brave bOVs ,