The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-07-16
THE WEATHER YESTERDAY was clear and
The Travels OF Ego and Alter.

would not trespass upon the patience OF
the Dispatch Juntil we reached Alexandria.
But we could not leave Fredericksburg
without few farewell lines. We do not
intend TO say anything OF this historic
place. and we hope your readers will deem
an occasional reference 10 1t as an incidental
and unstudied tribute to tins ancient seat
OF good morals. and gentility.
Under the guidance OF the good Presby.
terian pastor of Fredericksburg, we visited
the famous Chatham, 4 remnant OF "ye
olden time" situate upon commanding
hill opposite the town, and built OF brick
brought from "merrie England" nigh
two hundred years ago. Here the Father
Of his Country paid his addresses to his III.
ture wife, and here General r. E. Lee wooed
and won Miss Gusts. The names Of men
made happy by the coy assent Of silence at
This old county-seat have for the most part
long since passed into "oblivion's uncata-
loeued library" but it is beyond question
established that Virginia's two great cap
tains-Wasbington and Lec-appeared as
suitors ct Chatham. During the battle
around this town General Lee occupied a
prominent point, now bearing his name,
where he anXiously observed the advanc-
ing columns OF the enemy, and, with glass
in hand, sought to divine their every move
ment. He ssid himself, contidentiaIly, to a
lady OF Fredericksburg after the war, that re-
peatedly during the awful conflict OF arms
he turned his telescope towards Chatham
TO descrv, if possible, a certain old walnut
tree near the house, in a quiet and retired
nook, which recalled some OF the tendercst
recollectionS Of his life. 81 looked in vain
for the old tree" said he, "though knew
exactly where it stood. / wished earnestly
. sop hnr n,tl, Re Il ,l, I
won Mrs. Lee.'' He was told that the tree
had been long since cut down, and now only
the stump marks the trysting-place OF the
departed hero. Our guide, whose happi-
ness was likewise consummated at Chatham,
pointed out to us from its elevated position
the place where tradition says the youthful
George so rashly flung the Ratchet, and
hard by the ferry, now much narrower than
OF yore, where he tossed the rock across the
Rappahannock. The old people about here
tell some curious things OF the mother of
Washington. They say she was a strong
minded woman, that pursued without fear
the suggestions OF wish and resentment.
She was wont, they say, to take her mug OF
beer direct from the retail yender when
she drove to town. On one occasion, under
considerable provocation, she was seen to
take her whip and, on the public streets Of
this town, fog her coacbman well. She is
said to have been an ardent tory, and spoke
Of her son George as 4 rebel who ought to
be-well, she would not say hanged, though
off so uniustly and disloyally his allegiance
to the King. When the noontide Of glory
and success fell upon herson, and declining
wears upon herself, she is said to have abated
much of her indignation: but to the last she
retained a decent respect and affection for
his Majesty OF England. H. .'. Il '.'
After leaving Chatham we visited /" Brae-
head" the home OF r. r. HoWison, Esq,
who is known and loved by SO many in
Richmond. Here, on commanding emf
ncnce, we. fought over again the battles
around Fredericksburg, and had pointed
out to us localities which were named with
anxious interest during our infantlle years,
but as TO which we were far better acqnaint.
ed With SalamiS, Marathon, and -Platea.
Under the kindly interest OF Mr. HoWison,
however. we'soon learned the places Of at
tack and defence, followed them through to
consummation, and ended with pride and
pleasure the eventful campaign OF which
so much has been said and written. To
the accomplished owner Of Braehead we
are indebted For a day in which pleasure
and instruction were delightfully."- recon
ciled and mingled. With, the shades OF.
night we returned to Fredericksburg to-
visit certain friends, and, may add, we.
were received With that cordial hospitality
and native grace. which seem indigenous TO-
this dear old place. -. .<'tJ5::
On Friday the ;l1th Instant we started ON
d detour into the Wilderness," making
Ellwood, the home Of Horace Lacy, Esq,
our objective point. We had met the auto
<rot ~ in tnu ivxyn ~
refuse his pressing inyitationto increase his
audience in the WILDERNESS. Ellwood be-
ing only fifteen miles distant, we conld
easily return by Saturday afternoon. So,
with our feet in the best order and our ap-
petites undiminished, we struck out for the
ridges above Fredericksburg and "the
dark, lugubrions, sombre, impenetrable
iuneles Of the Wilderness" We marched
our fifteen miles, but, to our diSappoint-
ment, we saw nothing particularly "wild,"
"weird," or ss bowling" about the Wilder
ness. 1t was not the most interesting coun-
try, to be sure. But the blackberries were the
finest we bad eaten, the green-apppes the
sourest: the houses were whitewashed ana
neatly kept; flowers were tenderly reared
by even the poorest and piainest OF the
people; the crops were diligently and sue
cessfully cultivated; the countrymen po.
lite and well-dressed, ready to supply all
information and not oyer-inquisitiye; the
road, good; and all things wearing a
thrifty, peaceful, and happy aspect.
!. Behold yon bord'rinc fence OF sallow-trces
Is fraught with fow'rs; the flowers are fraught
with bees.
Tho br,y bees with soft. murmuring strain,
invite to gentle sleep the lab'ring swain,
While from the neghbring rock. with rural SOL IS,
Ihe pruner's voice the pleasing dream proi9tnSS'
Stock-doyes and turtles tell their am'rouS pain,
And, from The lofty elms, Of love complain"
At Charlottesville we found nothing
but a house. Without Knowing, we had
rather expected to see'a neat little village
with hundred villagers to tell the dread.
full tale of war. But there was nothlng OF
this. The remains Of large and preten:.
tavern comprise the far-famed
Charlottesville. AS we walked upon tne
porch we spied what was once the recep,
lion.room piled high with shehed corn, ana
at our modest knock female peeped
through the side-lights, and with tones more
short than sweet directed US. to the pump,
not asking us In or offering q drinking.Ves-
set. But wettook our lunch at Chanceilors.
vile notwithstanding, and under the grate-
ful shade OF spreading oak, by the l1ght
Of subsequent events, corrected Joe HOOK.
er's egYegious mistakes. As evening passed
we wended cur way to E|lwood, and
after q satisfactory bath IN the Wll..
ierness run, where we also Washe'.
opr socks fas is our wont once dayn we
up gaily and 1auntlIy TO our I:!end,