Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-06-10
W Washington Letter.
DECORATION DAY.
WASHINGTON M

WASHINGTON, May 81.
Edjt0r Harald,-The exercises and ere.
monies OF Decoration Day at Arlington on
Saturday were very interesting and impos.
ing, and were witnessed and participated
IN by IA large number of people. | should
say that 10000 would be but a moderate
estimate of the number of men women
and children in attendance. At an early
hour IN the day, pedestrians of every rank
and condition i'll life, as well as of all the
various shades of complexion. together
with vehicles of all sorts, shapes and
sizes were seen vending their way thither
some going from the city by the Long
bridge route, and some--and by far the
larger portion-going by way of George
town and the Acqueduct Bridge. The
weather, which the day and evening pre-
vious had threatened rain, and was almost
nncomfortably cool, was on Saturday
morning good deal warmer though still
cloudy. But about noon the clouds clear
ed away, and the sun shown intensely hot
during the remainder OF the day until
near the close Of the afternoon, when we
had shower of short duration, followed
by several showers during the night.
To 20 to Arlington via Georgetown
from the Capitol building, you take pas
sage IN street car, and ride up Pcnsyl-i
vania Avenue, a little to the north of west,
some two and a half miles to the termin-
alton OF the railroads in Georgetown. I
Then You go due west a half mile or more
t. the Acqueduct Bridge, then turn south
and cross the bridge into Virginia, and
follow the road which bears off a little to
the east of.south about mile and a half
when you will have reached the Airing
ton gate, which is on your right, entering
this, You find yourself III u fine grove of
large extent and a smooth carriage path
winds up and around the grounds from
tho gate to the mansion
And this is Arlington. Here. amid
these beautiful surroundings, Robert E.
Lee pondered long and anxiousIv the
question as to whether he would stand by
the old flag, or forsake it and follow that
of the South, deciding at last that it was
his duty-or for his interest-to draw his
sword in defence of the slave confederacy.
had that confederacy succeeded, he would
undoubtedly have been the foremost man
In 1t, and its next President after Davis
Whatever his motives We're he no doubt
expected that the South would succeed
remember a conversation | had one
morning near the close of the war with
an old colored man at Arlington-one who
had been slave to Gen Lee. and had
belonged on the estate since his infancy
and the account he gave of the depart
ure OF Mrs. Lee and daughters for Rich
mond, In obedience to a summons from
the General. He told what directions
Mrs Lee gave him and the other ..ser.
wants for them to follow during her alb
sence "Poor things" said the old man. :
they expected to be gone only about 9
three weeks, and [ have not seen ,em {
since" The old mansion and other bu;Id.
lngs ON the place, and the fences, gardens. |
&c, wear an appearance of neglect. and
seem to be fast going to decay. The ceme- '
terry only seems to be cared for, and that is
more and more improved and beautifed P
every year. a
The exercises on the grounds on Satur-
day were well ordered and arranged, and, b
as a whole, exceedingly well carried out. a
Inc main stand, which last year was i'm !,
nedlately in front of the mansion, was "
his time short distance in rear of il :,