Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-09-23

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ty the sky above.
The sun had climbed some distance up the
horizon when we reached Old Point Comfort
This place has for years enjoyed an enviable
reputation as popular summer resort. The
accommodations are upon an elaborate scale,
the sea bathing is fine, and the tables are
perhaps unsurpassed in the country. The
greatest deicacies they have, and in great
abundance, are the hog and spot fish, soft
and hard crabs, and the celebrated Hamp-
ton oysters, we think the finest in the world.
Fortress Monroe is located at Old Point
Comfort, the ground on which it was built
was ceded to the General Government by
the State of Virginia. 1t was constructed
for the defense of Hampton Roads and the
the water approaches to Norfolk. 1t was
commenced in 1917 and was designed TO
mount 317 guns. The entire fort covers an
area of 80 acres and there has been ex-
pended upon its construction over two and
a-half millions of dollars The enclosure
contains within it number of detached
buildings for officers quarters, stores, &c.
The grounds are beautifully laid off, and
we'll shaded by what is known as the live
oak, tree which we were informed does
not grow further north. The fort is sur
rounded by a tide water ditch feet deep at
high water. This work was designed by
Gen. Simon Bernard, foreign engineer Of
eminence, who was called into our service
at the close of the war of 1912. This post
has been an artillery school since 1867
composed of one company of each regiment
of artillery. Every officer below the rank
of Captain has to serve two years at this
point 1t is practical school for artillery
service and is under the command OF Capt
George w. Getty. 1t will be remembered
that it was in this fort that President Davis
was imprisoned after the fall OF the Con-
federacy. Whilst here we made the ac-
quaintance of Major jerome Titlow, who
put the irons upon Mr.. Davis. Major Tit
low was of the Third Pennsylvania Heavy
Artillery, and was the officer of the day on
which the order was given to iron Mr..
Davis the duty fell to his lot.
Leaving Old Point Comfort, preferring to
go the balance of the way by land, we
passed over three miles of road, which was
the best we ever saw 1t was made of oyster
shells brought from Baltimore City at a
cost of q cents per bushel. 1t required 1884,
600 bushels to build the road, and we were
informed that the heaviest wagons passed
daily over it, and the cost of repair was
trifling. After q few moments ride our at
tention was called to the residence Of the
late John Tyler, ex-Presdent of the United
States 1t is small plain frame building,
uninviting in appearance, and situated i'm
mediately on Hampton creek. The en-
closure appears to have long since gone to
decay, and not shrub, tree or flower was
to be SEEM the most dreary and desolate
| looking place we saw during our ride. Our
attention was next directed to a large one
story building in the shape Of "a cross This
building was known as the Ben Butler
school house, from the fact that Gen Butler
willis. in command in this section, had it
built for the contraband children. 1t serted
as the nucleus OF what is now known as the
Hampton Agricultural Normal School fol
the education of Negroes. This institution
appears in a very fiourishing condition
The buildings are of the most approved
| style and are commodious and well fur
nished There are now five hundred stu
dents, one hundred and thirty of whom ar(
Indians The institution is supported by
private contributions, which we were in
formed are more than ample for its support
| Attached to this school is a farm of 800
acres, which is in fine condition and worked
by the scholars.
A short distance beyond this institution
we come to the "Old Soldiers Home" {
most inviting spot. The grounds are laic
off with an eye to the beautiful, and adorned
with every possible variety of flower anc
shade tree whilst in every direction the eye
rests upon fine specimens of statuary.-
Every want and comfort seems TO have
been anticipated. Capt. b. t. Wodfin, 8
gentleman of culture and taste, is in com
mand
Near the Old Soldiers Home is situated
one of the National Cemeteries. 1t is hand
somely and substantially enclosed. A hand
some marble shaft of one hundred and sew
enty-five feet has been erected Immediately
in the centre, which was procured through
the efforts OF Miss Dix, sister of the late ex-
Gov. Dix, of New York. Seven thousand
Union and Confederate soldiers sleep within
this enclosure
We halted at Hampton for few mo-
ments, the county scat of Elizabeth City
county, and third Oldest place in the State
When Col. Magruder of the Confederate
army evacuated Hampton during the be-
ginning of the war he ordered it to be
burned, and it is said that many Of his sol
diers willingly applied the torch to thelr
own homesteads The town has since been
rebuilt and presents neat and modern APP
pearance. An old Episcopal church built
u Us lODS ~ ObJCOt vi ~
christian church in the present has nothing
to fear from the development of the fact, a
fact abundantly sustained by historical evil
dence, that the clergy of the oden time
when prayers were read for our sovereign
George, the king, were to very considerable
extent worldly minded men. These were
the days when sums of tobacco were I'M
willingly exiorted from the people TO sup
port class of officials, for whom there was
no need Among the dusty records of this
church and as far back as 1772 appears
the following entry
"GentIemen Of the KeStry-Yr second
Resolution is not only contrary TO plain
words and meaning of the Canon, wherein
you ground yr first but is, in its Conse.
quences, utterly subversye of yr first Reso-
luton. For if you can diminish the Clerks
Salary at all, you may reduce it from 1000
(tie ancient Wdges) to one Chew Of Tobacco
for which you are sure no person will
serve; the Consequence whereof will be
that tho you allow the Minister Right
of chusing Clerk, yet you put ii out Of his
n a..l -. VI