The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-05
A VIRGINIA LETTER.


political Affairs, Etc. Etc.
Froyn our OtUn Correspondent
RICHMOND Va, April g. 1869.
Taking the steamer Admiral, Captain Kir'
wan commanding, the Richmond and York
River Railroad line, at Baltimore, is the CON-
mepcement of one of the most delightful excur
sions OH the continent. The chesapeake DN
itself an inland sea- probably ahords more ulVer
sitv of scenery than any other Dody OF sSit
water on the western continent; ana the suaVe
manners and kindly spirit of the officers OF the
hoat maker the journey, which otherwise would
he monotonous, one constant round OF pleasure
Dsshing down the bay, the eye wanders TO the
familiar landmarks of war times. There stands
Fort Federal Hill, frownng, as usual over the
streets of Baltimore, but now trimmed OF us
"bull-dogs of war;" and doing duty as peaceful
signal station for the merchants OF the town
Abhtte further on, and Fort Marshall carves
It's outline against the horizon. Like its COM
panion on Federal Hill, 1t is now but mark of
the times gone by, and the cows and goats
now pasture onits green bastions and parapets.
Directly opposite stands old Fort McHenry,
grim and savage looking as OF old, but without
human being in sight, Four short years ago
thousands of armed men trod, drilled, aud
maneuvred on the parade, which to day Is as
Gliding gently along, the next object which
meets the eye is Fort Carroll, a massive
structure of solid masonry, rising, spectre like,
from the middle of the channel. 1t was com
menced many years ago, but since the war has
developed the fact that such work is mere
pie-crust when attacked by the iron monitors,
the Government has ceased operations upon it,
and 1t now stands about twoihirds done. In
answer to question, / was informed that the
Government had disposed of the concern to
Baltimore capitalist, who intended turning il
into sort OF foster home or refuge for INDECENT
men and women. If this be a fact 1T looks as
though the pbilanthropc gentleman has put
himself in possession of a very large elephant.
Passing on, old Sol gradually hides his brazen
face behind the dense groves of pine which line
the shore, and then the numerous lighthouses
commence to flash aud glitter from the different
promontories which juC out on either side
and the shore Is hidden from vieg. Supper
is served; the freshest hsh and oysters |
grace the tables, and with appetites whetted to |
2 keen edge by the a salt T. sea ar, one scarcely
on he has almost made @ gourmand OF himself |
The evening wears swiftly away, and at length
nothing is heard except the groanng of the ma
chinery enllyened occasionally by the squeak
of some weary loon, VINO is DISTURBED from his
bed OF foam by the pat!erng OF the wheels and
the swash of the boat as she dashes along, guided
the bay MS the farmer is with his gar
den paths. Sun no, the next morning finds
us Do Wing up the York river, AMI by O'clock
we touch at York to4 4n. Here, for the first
time, we find the peach trees IN full bloom, aud
the very ar laden with the sweet perfume OF
thousands OF wild flo Wers, There are few or no
people, except those who have business with
the boat, to be seen, and no traces OF the rava-
ges OF the siege OF Mcclellan remain to tell the |
tale of sickness and death, save slOplng earth
works OF the water battery, rendered memorable |
IN nur nh n m n , n IL
ments, and the parapets OF the tort, which f.own |
from the bluff above Touching at Gloucester, |
We again pass on; aud alter hearty breakfast |
we visit the deck to find ourselves within sight |
OF West Point where our journey by water |
ceases. Directly opposite the Point is a fiat
surrounded on three sides by dense woods, aud
lanked in the rear by the Pamunky river This
place is no doubt fresh in the minds of many
Pennsylvania and New Jersey veterans, Tor it
was the first place that Franklins provisional !
division smelt The smoke of war. 1t Is called |
Brick House (Heston | believe, errOueously |
called it The Baltic OF West Point) aud while
the main army, under Mcclellan, was fighting
at WILLIAMSBURG Franklit's division went 40
the river on transports, and landed. They were
only ten miles in advance of the main body of |
the enemy, and had they moved directly to the |
front would probably have succeeded in cutting |
Mapruder of, presented him from gCing to |
Richmond, and ultimately have bagge1 his |
''eight thousand" AS it was, the troops laid |
qnlet all night and in the morning were attacked |
In their own camps by Ranking corps OF the |
enemy, and engaged long enough to give the
main body an opportunity to pass. Oar troops
aid some fine fighting under Newton and Slo-
cum, but the enemy having succeeded in pass
ing us, suddenly decamped from our front, and
left us to await the arrival OF the main army.
/ happen to be thoroughly familiar with the
Circums tances, and therefore mention it thus
particularly to correct the many erroneous
statements which have appeared from time to
time concerning 1t.
Once landed, we step Immediately on board
the train in waiting, and 10 few moments are
whlrling through the pines towards the Rebel
capital. AT a cross road about three miles from
the depot we halt for moment, to leave n fine
looking young fellow oh, who stalks through
the woods, with a ham under one arm, and
shad suspended to garden rake flung over his
shoulder. Who is he? That is Robert Il. Lee
the youngest son of the Rebel leader. He,has a
farm OF some four hundred acres here among
the pines, and while 1t is true that he is little
wild, yet, like his father, he attends to his bust
ness, and leaves politics to take care of them
selves So he should On we 60 through a
country wild enough TO suit the most fastidious
tastes, until, crossing the PamunkeV we halt
for a moment at the White House.
Seven years ago. within three months
/ saw countless thousands of dolllrs worth of
Government property destroyed on the broad
acres which are now grown over with rank
weeds or turned over by the hand of the
ploughman. The mansion itself has been re-
built, and looks the same, with eXcep ion of
the color, which is now dusky brown, as it
did before The war. The outhouses have also
been rebuilt, many of the rifle pits leveled, and
things generally put on peace footing"
Passing on, here and there an earthWork is sLill
visible, but further than that there is little to
remind one of the days and scenes of blood aud
suffering which took place during the Manassas
campaign of Mcclellan, or the stu ubbornly con-
tested raids OF the cavalry of the Army of the
nh n mil nr ad