Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-06-08
"0N TO RICHMOND. J"

Upon Decoration day, taking advantage of
the Inducements offered by party OF OK
eursionists from Washington to Richmond,
we grslifsd a long -standing desire to visit the
latter city. While the day has been set apart
to honor the dead Of tho war By decorating
their graves with flowers, it is gradually re-
cedng from its original purpose and develop
ing into a national holiday for individual
enjoyment. II is true that the custom TO some
extent still exists, and while many repair 10
different cemeteries TO decorate the tombs of
fallen warriors, many seek soma noted place
to spend The day ia pleasure. Such seemed
the object OF the thousand that visited Rich
mond. Except now sana thon as some ons
pointed 10 the vesligss of war watch appeared
along the routs no allusion whs'ever was
made TO the late unhappy strife. And per
haPs it is wiser that such topics should lie
undisturbcd, aud in peaceful silence until the
generation which participated in the shock of
civil combat has passed away. Their asita-
ton only serves 10 open afresh those wounds
not yet completely oicatrizcd, and fan into
cord. Let US leave The battered banners OF
civil strife folded away oay to be brought to
gaza by future generations 10 display how
battle worn they arc when American meets
American on The field OF war
The eycarsioa trsin left Washington at six
o'clock A. NJ aud proceeded over rairoa d
lately opened passing Qnantico Frederieks-
burg and Milford Perhaps the most noted
place along the route is The city Of Fredericks-
burg, around which some of the severeet
battles Of The war were fought From
the railroad can be seen the remnants Of the
Notifications which were thrown up for the
defense Of tho city, not now frowang with
loaded cannon, bat In the enjoymont OF peace
nourishing upon the Geping sides of The
breast-works the vegdure OF spring. Bat VIC
were afforded little time to enjoy the object,
of interest along the road, catching only Il
glimpse Of the villages aud towns and a pass.
ing view of the poverty strekeu country. II
is a sad sight indeed to view this land of 81,
''Old Dominion" once so fertile and flourish
ing, ROW SO barren and desolate. Tho seen,
teaches some slight estimate Of the devasta
ting hand Of war. Those fields which one,
loxuriated with rich and abundant crops nov
seem scarcely able TO nourish to maturity tn
seed which are cast into the bosom Of thei
soil Agriculture, which was once a pleasar,
to the landed proprietor who had but to rid
over his fields and view the wealth that bloomet
upon them, has now beeoms a stern unyisldinI
labor for the sustenance life. Along the en-
tire route, a distance Of one hundred and
sixteen miles, there was no apparent chang,
ia the view Every inch seemsl to DO stricken
With the fatal pestilence that swept over i
during those terrible four years. We hope
some day TO see the victim of the plague re-
sumo lis past health and vigor, and bloom
with us Older prosperity and beauty. "Ther,
is lie IN the old lsnd YETI and theresis a obi,
manhood, which vicisstude aud misfortune
cannot tranple out, to restore it 10 animation
We arrived at Richmond abont half past
twelve and there spread before Us. situated upon
its several eminences, was the proud old city