Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-07-01


{Corrhspondencs oi the Beacon.)
80 = LeosAnDTowx, June ~. 1880.
MEssRs. EDIToRs:-AsouF heatedterm
is holding over, feF-a short time, will
take advantage Of the intenm aud give
a description Of my flying visit TO Win
chester, to witness the unyeiliag OF
the monument to Maryland's dead,
/ who fell In the beautiful Shenandoah,
| fighting for .Sonthern Rights" under
/ the Bonnie Blne Flag" We LEFT the
city OF ''magnificent distances, June
4 5th, 7.30 a. M, on the Metropolitan
Branch Of the r.. q o. Railroad, with
several hundred visitors. We gathered
many by thawayside. Rockville, Gath
ersbuFg and Germantown. sent large
delegations to do homage TO our Mary
land Boys. I am sorry TO say that ST.
Mary's was poorly represented, only
three beside myself atleastl did notsee
or hear OF any more. ] am surprised that
those wins used TO run up and down the
Valley, with the "unconquered Jack
lson," did not 90, as The cost was trGing.
II was worth thousands more than the
actual cost 10 witness the feeling. SEN
ttment and true zeal that animated those
brave yirginians who welcomed US with
open arms. One would suppose from
what We see here at home that patriot
ism, sentiment, lofty aspirations. ius-
tice, truth and Christina clarity had alI
died out, but such Is not the case with
those when Isawin the Stonewall Gem
etery. They aciedas people ofthe olden
| time-so much heart in all and alis-.
When saw their devotion 10 the dead,
was lifted out Of myself AMI felt like
iegciaifnitzg There assssLsEs e tiaz osd
land yet fhave digressed somewhat.
f'il moi apologize. as youknow | always
say as I feel. r'
81 We arrived-at Harper's Ferry about
cen o'clock, a. m, crossed the elegant
bridge which spans the blush Potomac
and gFeenish Shenandoah rivers. The
scenery around the ferryis grand be-
yond Imagination. Many have seen,
all have heard ol the grandeur of this
Swiss gorge of America. The train
went laundering down the Valley. We
followed the Shenandoah river in its
zig gag course some distance. The
picturesque beauty and fertility Of this
valley is noted. No pen of mine can
do justice 10 its beauty, the tumbling,
loaming- cascades below The frowning.
rueoedfocks above, glimpses ofthe tow :
| ering Alleghanies on our right, The
hszy misty Blue Ridge on our lei,
broken here and there by the gaps made
memorable during our great civil war,
through which passed and repassed
hungry, weary and ragged soldiers, are
sights that caused the pulse TO quicken
and the eye grow dim. After leav-
ing the river on our left, we came 10
Chaflestown. The place where poor de-
luded John Brown was hung. Here, as
in all the towns after we crossed into
Virginia, were crowds of people at the
depots. Little girls. dressed in white,
with flowers and banners, boys with
flags flying, greeted Us and eheered as
on. The coIored people gave US shout.
Everybody seemed happy and glad to
see Us. Many q ruined homestead by
the way, the only evidence saw ofthe
terrible destruction OF that most terrible
Phil. Sheridan. sAhl hlittle Phil" il
you were 10 visit the Valley you laid
waste seventeen years ago. you would
think God u above the-----and Phil.
Sheridan too. AS far az the eye can
reach. rnpwnifcent fields Of wheat, ready
for the scytise. large fields of corn, acres
of clovsE that scent the aiTl for miles
with it, fragrance, Comparable looking
dwellings,, fine cattle and bcantilul
horses. Welt wooded, Mell-wasefed,
nature, aided BY the hand of man. has
usade tbs valley an agriQn hsassl para
disc. There Is no tobacco raised IN this
section. AS The train dashed IN the de-
pot al Winchester, about III o'clock, a.
M, we were saluted with salvo Of ar
iilleFy. Thousands OF people were
waiting for ths trains 10 come IN. par
ticularly the Baltimore trains which
were 10 convey the fiith regiment, Gov
ernor's, Towsontown, CatonsvslIe ana
Bond Guards. The military, which was
close on behind as, soon come in.--
Such bosmiag OF cannon, firing OF guns
and cheeringg / ueveT heard. The
| Maryland eelaliers were met at the de-
poi by the Winchester, Siaunton, Wood
stock, Marlinsburg and Moorfield ceal-
panics. al were dressed in grey ani-
forms. with diliereHt Trimmings, red,
buiI. white aud black. Soon the troops
began 10 move towards Market Street,
The dense crowd following. the bands
playing national airs. Gags flying. Ev-
cry place was decked IN red, white and
blue. Evergreens and flowers were
twined around pillars and posts 81 por-
ticoes. Beautiful green garlands we're
fesiooned and looped from the Windows
and cornices. The tops oi houses. bali
comics, windows. doors and every avail
able place uere packed with people.
some waving handkerchief, some tly-
| fnsr HAS "a singing mass IL the Streets