The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-31
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch'l
YORKTOWN AND OLD PolNr,
JuIy %. 1880.

borough. and although they say II once i'm
ported goods for New York and Phlladel-
nhis. | do not anticipste that history will
rcDeat itself. Athens, however. is not the
place IL once was, and there are a number
Of dead cities elsewhere than in Holland.
Yorktown, how ever, has IFS history, as your
resders know. and II IS the place OF all
others on the continent for a battle monu-
ment. II has not one siie, but dozen,
upon which y commanding column OF gran
lie or heroic figures In bronze will be seen
along a riyer-tront that could easily float
the payleS and the merchant-vesseis OF the
world. You already know that Congress
has appropriated $4,000 FOR the proper
celebration Of the centennial OF the surren-
der Of CORVALLIS at this place, and that the
oven, 10 be commemorated occurred Octo-
her 10. lTsl. You further know that one
hundred thousand dollars has been set
,nart by our national legislators for the
election OF a monument. This legislation,
so pafrIotlc ia It's purpose. has made THIS
neld-Gay AZ Little York." for the Govern
mcnt steamer Monroe brought here at nooa
the subcommittee OF Congress in charge OF
the work and a number Of distinguished
citizens interested in IFS success.
THE PERSONNEL oP THE PARTY.
The local authorities, with DIR. Powers,
ex.Siate senator. at their head, received the
distinguished visitors aud gave them hear
ty Virginia welcome. The party Included
Senator Johnston, chairman Of the commit
tee: Hon. john G0ode, the head OF the
Hou.e committee OF thirteen; Hon. Mr.. Da-
Wis. OF North Carolina, also member OF the
subcommittee; Governor Holiday, Gene
ri Tidball. c0mmandaDt, and Major Camp
bell. St.QuaIlermaster at Old Point;
Judges Il. ". Hughes and Asa Dickinson,
Colonel Peytou and son, OF New Jersey;
Dr.. Dnhamel. OF Washington, whose grand
father was q surgeon in the French army at
Yorktown: James Barron Hope, NJ. Glen
nan. and CAPTAIN J. ;. Tucker, Of the Nor
folk press; Mr.. Wnchell, OF The New York
Tribune; aud Colonel Rodgers, clerk OF the
House Committee on Education and Labor.
Among those who were present TO receive
the party were Captain Richard Wise. Lieu
tenants Peachy aud Mercer, OF the Will
Uam>burg volunteer company lin uniformly;
Capialn Robert Bright, and Colonel X. ii.
Armistfad and son, of 1.-THE colonial capt.
tai" Colonel Coalter Cabell, OF Richmond,
and Judge Warner T. Jones, Of Gloucester,
were also present.
WHAT WAS DONE BY THE COMMITTEE.
Senator Johnston and his colleagues ex.
amned with system and industry five Of
the proposed sites for the monument and
ordered a survey OF them. This will be
done by Lieutenant Sedgwick Pratt, OF the
United States artillery, most accomplished
Officer. All OF them have merit, and that
near the famous SpOtswOod house on "the
Temple farm" embracing fifteen acres,
was offered the committee by Mr.. Henry
Hastead as a gift. He Is native OF Duchess
county. New York, and one OF the most en-
terprising citizens OF the lower peninsula.
THE PLACE FOR THE CENTENNIAL ENcAMP-
MENT.
There is an immense plane, now in grass,
around the SpOtswOod or Moore house, and
grazed by herd OF Alderneys, which will
be used as a campiDg-ground during the
Centennial celebration. Its owner, Mr.
Halsiead, promises not only to have 1t in
good trim, but TO add to it large area OF
land now IN cultivation. The Moore house
is almost rs historic rs the old Nelson man
sion. for within its spacious rooms Gov
erDOr SpotsUoOd entertained, tradition
saws, his cOurtly guests, and under It's shade
trees planned with his knights OF the
Golden Horseshoe" his expedition to the
mountains OF Virginia. When your CORE
spondent announced that be intended to
participate in the Centennial rs captain OF
"the Governors Guard !" he was promised
the best quarters in all this historic region.
There is nothing like speaking early-in
fact, many man has lived dreary bache-
Ior's lie for failing to do this.
The MILITARY INTEREST IN THE CENTENNIAL
The military officers met at Old Point
and here are as eager 10 make the ceebra-
ton success as are The civilians. General
Tidbal, who gave the committee the benefit
OF his experience, Is near kinsman OF
the Winchester Tidballs, and Major Camp
bell, who brought the party here in The
Monroe, and entertained them as Hospitality
as Governor SpotswOod or any colonial
knight could have done, is native OF Ohio
and a nephew OF the Hon. Lewis d. Camp
bell. lie goes 10 Texas this fall on I'M
portant public service; but the Quarter
masler-General. hear, at the request OF the
Congressional Committee, will order him
back in time to give the Centennial the
benefit Of his valuable services,
TIE PARTY UNDER FIRE.
As "The Monroe" left Old Point this
morning the guns Of the fort fred Il splen-
did salute in honor Of the Governor OF Vir-
sinia, and on its return was welcomed by
a salute in honor Of the congressman of the
psrty. General Tidbail says "all behaved
well under tire"
HOW LONG JHE CELEBRATION WILL LAST.
Those who have the management OF thu
Centennial intend TO make ii grand affair
and in every way worthy OF the closing scene
in the drama Of the American revolution
They should have the active cooperation OIL
the State Of Virginia and IFS citizens, and
have promised that Richmond will do lis
whole duty. Some think it should last {
month, ana a that il will take several weeks.
Colonel Peyton, who was prominent in con-
nectiOn with the Philadelphia Centennial
is most enthusiastic, and declares that it eau
be made one Of the big events OF the cen
fury. The French, he says, will send Z
feet, regiment Of soldiers, and their bes
martial music, and with them will com,
Count Roehambcau, grandson OF The
French naval commander who assisted
Washington and Lafayette in capturing
Cornwallis and his force.
IHE MOORE HOUSE,
i do not see why some enterprising cor
p0ralion shOnld not get possession OF this
historic place and make it the resort Of peo'
pie from all parts Of the country during the
Centennial. The grounds offer great in
ducements. and will certainly be occupied
by the military. The Moore house il on
what l. known rs "The Temple" farm,
which takes its name from "The Temple"
which was erected by early settlers upon il.
The remains Of this building can be YET
identified, but nothing IL known by people
here In regard TO II further than that tradi
fiOn GAYS IN was a church fortified apainsl