The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-02-06
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.

tune to accompany party OF ladies and
gentlemen-visiling sight hunters at the
National Capital-on an "omniuus excur-
sion to Forts Washington and Foote, of
the Potomac river Notifications, ali account
of which may be intel esling to your readers.
Fort Washington, on the Maryland side
of the river, is three miles higher up the
Potomac than Mount Vernon, at the mouth
of Piscataway creek, aud twelve miles from
! Washington. This fort has been men,
toned in history so often that every one
must be familiar with its name, if not with
its location. 1t is in very good repair, but
is not garl isoned. Fronting the river it has
massive stone wall that has the appear
ance of great strength, but we were IN
formed that it is not impregnable, and will
be entirely rebuilt. The scenery about the
fort is enchanting and the view command
ing. The buildings have a neat appear
ance, and the country an air of thrift.
Fort Fuote, further up the river, is on a
hight overlooking Washington and Alex
andria cities and the Potomac river for
since that time it has been left to go to
ruin. The earth works have been fire.
quently repaired. and again left to wash
out, and until the late appropriations. no
permanent improvements have been made
Back of the entertainments there is being
made carriage beds of granite, where the
guns will be mounted, and readily trained
in any position. We saw here the fifteen
inch Rodman guns, weighing twenty. five
tons. They were in perfect order, and S"
thoroughly painted they never rust, Ac-
cording to the official report, these guns
with thirty degrees elevation, and one
hundred pounds of powder in blocks one
inch in diameter, will carry the immense
balls or shells $500 (tifty-eight thousand
two hundred and twenty yards (?). The
magazines under the earth works arc of
solid concrete. The works laid out and
the improvements planned. if carried into
execution, will make this fort both grand
and formidable.
The little folks in our party were much
interested in the brilliantly polished gun
that wakes the sun up aud announces his
departure with a loud aud prolonged rever
beration morning and evening.
Along the landing, near the embank
ments. there is railway for bringing build
ing material. etc, up the steep grade t."
the fort. We climbed up to the highes,
mound, over which the stars and stripes
CALAMITY tloated, and proudly owned our
loyalty to the cold flag
There are about fifty men qnartered at
looking over the fort, we were shown
through the buildings. The gentlsmanly
stewart, escorted us through the hospital,
library. dispensary, dining room, and kitch-
en-, as also through his tastefully arranged
apartments. The most interesting relics
we saw here. were the brackets under the
counter in the dispensary of the hnspita
department., which We're brought from the
shot. There were five of them ornament
ing the projection of the counter.
We saw but two patients. Formerly the
chills and fever have been prevalent, bu,
the past season it has been remarkably
healthy. The officers attribute this to the
powers Of the sunflower over this disease
There were large plats Of them growing
about the grounds. planted as preveuta
tive of this dreaded maarial fever.
Large flower gardens, easy swings rustic
summer-houses, winding stairs down the
picturesque banks to the river give charm
ing air to the fort, while the FURNISHED
guns standing like sentinels in orderly pre-
cison, and the mortars behind them with
pyramids of balls between them, made a
formidable and war like background be-
tween the quarters Of officers and the river
front.
The buildings are undergoing repairs
The houses where the officers and their
families reside are plain and yet attractive
We were shown through the entire apart
ments of some of these, aud have seldom
seen more tasty and elegant rooms. Artis-
tic skill and love for the beautiful me. us
at every turn. Ornamental roses, brack
cts, and beautiful paintings adorned the
walls; and books, music and flowers added
grace these only can give.
Along the river front where the steamers
land passengers, there are large trees and
trailing vines interspersed with evergreens,
and up the banks is winding staircase.
Following the carriage drive a short dis
lance and turning into thickly wooded
enclosure, we entered the cemetery on a
slipping hill side laid out in beautiful ter
races.
There are over fifty acres included in the
fort farm, a large part of which is highly
cultivated, and produces abundanrly.
OBSERVER.
q The Illustrated Peoples Honhly, pub
lished at Pittsburgh, Pa, though rather