The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-07-14
The Williamsburg Excursionists.
WHAT THEY sAw-THE RETURN TRIPPING
DENTS on THE VOYAGE.

WHAT THEY sAw-THE RETURN TRIP-INCr'
DENTS on THE VOYAGE.
IFor the Dispatch.]
During the stay of our party In Williams
burg they made tour OF the town, almost
every spot of which is connectedwith some
fact of historic interest; indeed, Williams
burg and its surroundings has been thu
theatre of lively action both during there
cent and Revolutionary wars.
THE INSANE ASYLUM
was visited, and while it presents much thai
is interesting and not little that is laue ha
bic beyond measure, one is inVoluntar1ly
filed with sad reflections upon contempla'
ting the variety Of causes which have inter
posed to prevent the natural workings o1
one or other faculty OF so many OF oui
fellow creatures. What food OF thought fol
the philosopher; and would he not eXclaim
after careful study OF such place: All
poor creatures; were just estimate made
OF the faculties OF all mankind your com.
panions would be so numerous that the
world would furnish one large asylum
How many did we see unusually bright in
many respects, yet devoting the whole OF
their lives to some foolish and absurd mo-
nonlania.
One patient imagined he had swallowed
the American eagle. and walked about
coughing violently in fruitless attempts tc
vomit him forth. at the same time looking
up to see il the bird had flown.
From the asylum our party Chat Is, with
the exception Of the MILDLY, who remained
behind, fearing that he would be retained
at the asylum) visited William and Mary
College. The ancient seat Of learning did
not present a very lively picture, it being
yacation-time, but there was much to inter.
est the visitor.
THE TOWN OF WILLIAMSBURG
Is much like the average struggling and
long-drawn-out country village, and to
visitor upon his first entrance Especially tc
a pedestrian) seems to be dull, inactive
place. Such is not the case, however, fol
its Inhabitants are hospitable, genial peo'
pie, and though not over5urdened witt
the steam-lightning fever OF the age, art
sufficiently alive to their own interests, anc
ever ready to bestow generous attention
upon stranger in their midst.
The .tdctotum OF the place is Mr.. n. r
Harreii He owns the hotel, the stage-lines.
and extensive property in and around the
burg. Above all, his genial and affable
manner OF dispensing hospitality was ell
chanting, and our party are indebted TO
him for many kind attentions. 1t should
have been mentioned that we dispatched
the largest vehicle we could procure for our
attenuated Captain r., who had been left
by the wayside the weighs only 260 pounds),
and it was our great Joy to see him re.
united with the flock in time to partake OF
dinner. .r. ...
THE RETURN TRIP
uS,I, ofFo faI no
felicitously to all parties than we had ex-
perienced on our advent. We were trans
ported in one of Mr.. HarrelPs comfortable
stages. Oh /! that we could give that gentle
man some title, such as major, colonel, or
general. But he will not accept them, and
that is one Of the few ways in which poor
man can be generous.
At huge spring about halfway on the
road the commodore called halt. Our
navigator took an. observation, and soon,
with an eXultant expression beaming from
his countenance, pointed to the side OF log
near by, and exclaimed, A." It is there !" We
repaired to the spot and found hid beneath
the leaves what we at first took to be one Of
his instruments Of observation, but it
proved apon closer inspection to be several
bottles of claret, which beverage the afore-
said navigator thinks panacea for all evils,
and an indispensable auxiliary to the sue
cess of astronomical observations.
1t should have been mentioned that the
majority OF officers of this expedition Ghey
were three in number) were members Of the
MARION RIFLES,
a company OF the Fifteenth Virginia regi-
ment, which figured very extensively at the
beginning of the war in that section OF the
country. 1t was princip' .ly this fact, and
to visit their old camping-grounds, that in
duced us to make the excursion. AS may
be well imagined, each point at which the
Marion Rifles had staked their tents was
pointed out, many anecdotes connected
herewith related, and their marches de-
scribed. :rs.
TIE CoMMoDORE's STORY
OF their march and approach to Williams
burg was filled with thrilling interest. Said
he :" Rumors had reached us that the en-.
emy were at or near Williamsburg, and
skirmishers were to be deployed to advance
before the regiment. I,with four others, vol
unteered in that capacity, and We advanced
cautiously, singing at the top OF our voices
not to frighten the enemy, nor that we were
frightened ourselyes-oh, no but we sang
Just from feeling Of good-felloWship.
It was in the dead waste and middle OF the
night when band OF armed men
las we thought) appeared before us.
Halt! Who goes there cried l;
and simultaneously the regiment pre-
pared for deadly combat. Oh, comrades,
the cool perspiration stood upon my
forehead in large lrops. Would the answer
be my death-kn' II! Imagine my relief
when chorus of feeble voices responded,
Eve are little boys come to see the soiers.'
Never were ambassadors received with
greater attention. They were introduced
to the regiment, and assisted no little in
filing canteens, carrying knansacks and
such like, until the foreign conversation OF
our dueutchess filled them with consterna-
tion.,s They soon one by one disappeared
from our midst, and shortly the country
around (much to orr Inconvenience was
rife with rumors of the Yankees are COM
ing.' So we were taken for the enemy, and
. delegation OF eminent citizens advanced
10 surrender the town. = e.. 3 s.
FRoM THE JAWS OF DEATH.
Upon reaching the wharf we enjoyed q
delightful suYfbaths the wind, and conse-
luently the waves, being very high. Our
little craft was dancing violently to and fro
b IL impatient for the voyage, and 1t was
With difficulty we boarded all the party With
The exception of our captain, who, Ike an
elephant, fearing to- trust his weight 10 q
slendeY8nd unstable pink, paced the wharf,
uncertain what he should do. At length,
up courage. he gTasped % huge
pillar, and cautiously stepped backWasds
With the view Of placing one loot upon Tho
PROV. AT shat moment wave forced the
v