The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-11-30

This place, including Bolivar is a town which
before the war contained population of 5000.
At the breaking out of the war nearly all the in
habitants left their homes, some casting their
lot with the Confederacy, and some with the
Government. The town is situated in Jefferson
county, West Virginia, at the confluence of the
Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, and at the base
of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The B. e 0. r.
r. crosses the Potomac river at this place, on
magnificent bridge, and the Winchester and
Potomac Railroad has its northern terminus
here also. The Chesapeake IL Ohio Canal is
likewise in the immediate ncighborhood. The
scenery around the place has long been celebra-
ted for its grandeur, and Jefferson has immor-
talZcd ii in beautiful description said TO have
been written on remarkable rock that COM
mands a magnificent view of both rivers and
their junction. The rock itself is a wonderful
freak of nature, and is regarded with veaeration
by the inhabitants, not only for this, but for a
tradition among them that Jefferson, seated on
it, wrote his "Notcs of Virginia" 1t is there
fore called Jctlerson's Rock.
On one side of the town the Maryland Height
frown maiestcally, and Imagination might east.
" picture them as guardian giants defending the
portals oftho Valley Of Virginia. Between these
two ramparts, In gorge of savage grandeur,
the lOrdly Potomac takes TO his embrace the
beautiful Shenandoah. This is the scenery which
Jefferson said, that sight Of it was worth a
voyage across the Atlantic, and no person with
the least poetry in his soul will consider his as.
scrtion extravaganza.
llarpe's Ferry was chosen during the admin.
istration of General Washington, as u site for a
National Armory. 1t is said General Washing
ton, after visiting it, made The selection himself.
This was in 1904. The water power is immense
some supposing ii TO be the finest in the world
1t derives its name from a Mr.. Harper, from
whom the government made its purchase of The
land. The armory was in operation until the
war broke out, when all the buildings and ma
chinery in use were destroyed, and by this de
structlon, llarpcrs Ferry received n blow from
which 1t can never recover. When the armory
was in operation between fifteen and twenty
thousand dollars was paid out every month, to
the hands employed.
Some memorable events have transpircd here
which will never fade from the pages of oul
country's history. 1t was here on the night OF
Sunday, October 10th, 1859, that John Brown
made his raid on the town. He succeeded in
capturing the government works, and for n
short time was master of the place, but was
conquered when the Marines from the Navy Yard
at Washington, under the command of Robert
f. Lee, stormed the building now known as
"John Browns Fort,n and captured him. The
ordinance of secession was passed in Virginia
on the 18th ofApril, 1861, and from that period
until the close Of the war, stormy events trans
pired from time to time, at the Ferry. The de
struction of property during the war was very
great, and even now the evidence oft can be seer
in the ruins of buildings The churches were al
| destroyed by fire, or by being used by the con
tending armies for different purposes,
The Cemetery, overlooking the town on the
summit of one of those memorable hills, i.
beautiful for situation. Thought while passing
through il, what glorious place in which tC
rest, the unti"trump shall sound" and Tho
sleeping dead shall come forth. The future o
this place is not promising unless the govern
mcnt should rc-estabish the armory, or Tho
great advantages of the place attracting somC
men of wealth, manufactures should be estab
lishcd. W. G. H.