Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-10-21
yorktown Asu Is.
In CANT, Wednesday Morning, !

OCTOBER ", 1881.
Imagine a long line of fiat, sandy beach,
with a sandy bluff 10 to % feet high rising
abruptly behind it, and beyond the bluff an
open, level, rolling country extending two
miles and more from the desolate village Of
Yorktown down the river to the Moore house
and far beyond, and you have Yorktown
as it is-all but the sand and dust and that is
unimaginable and indescrbable. It is mis-.
take to represent the place as being wholly
uninviting and free from any redeeming feat
ures. Given rain enough to lay the dust
without turning II into mud, and pleasant
weather of moderate temperature, and the
spot would be delightful Add little North
ern thrift and enterprise, and it would be au
ideal summer resort.
1t would trouble one to find, anywhere in
Vermont, such camp-ground as we are here
located upon. The camp itself covers not
less than 800 acres, and the ground is unbrok
en-, save by the lines of earthworks and APP
proaches thrown up by the Union troops when
the rebels we're compelled to evacuate the
point, just above which the village proper is
located, and which are still left intact. As far
as the eye can reach there are white tents and
national and state colors, aud moving troops
On the extreme right beyond the Moore
house, are the artillery regulars; then come
the regular infantry and above them is the
militia camp. vermonts location is one Of
the most desirable on the ground, and sabout
60 rods from the Moore house. Our imme-
diate neighbors on the right are the Rhode
Island troop, and the Kentuckans are on our
left
The moving panorama which the town and
camp present is, as already intimated, one not
easily put in words As one leaves the boat
wharf and passes on up the dusty road to the
struggling, decaying village, and thence down
to the camp, he sees human and animal life
under the most novel and uncouth forms.
The negro is the most prominent feature, and
he is a study for pen and pencil. Think of
the picture which you have seen and thought
to be the most absurd caricature of negro life,
and here you have its original, showing you
that not line was overdrawn. The variety
of dress is something astonishing Such Gu
rious combinations of clothing and lack Of
clothing such rags, and such comcal attempts
to be smart and fine Here is a young fell
low in the blazing sun whose chief article of
apparel is a generous fur cap, and there is
one covered and overcome by an immense
straw hat here is negress literally bent
double, and looking old enough to have come
out of the ark and there is a buxum matron
with a nestful Of shining faced grinning pic
aninnies. The conveyances make the boys
laugh and many of them will have no end of
yarns TO tell of the strange rides they have
taken. The favorite negro conveyance is a
small wheeled cart with a pair of-oxen,
we suppose, though New England farmers
boy would be ashamed to own them for a
pair of decent two-year-olds. The driver
rides, and guides his team by means of a
rope tied about the animals nose or horns.
The teams which carry loads-chiehy of cord
wood-to the camp have two yokes Of oxen,
and they look invariably as though the grass
and grain crop had been a failure. OF mule
teams there are liberal sprinkling, and there
is swarm of shabby-genteel carriages, with
spans of horses, whose drivers are anxious TO
sell their services to visitors.
In Yorktown street the mealy, clayey sand
is six inches deep, and one cannot fepress a
smile when he sees a man with yoke of OK
en- and cart on which is mounted two barrels
u water ooy VINO UPS .no wafer ironi Tue
the streets,-with how much effect can be
readily imagined. The postoffice is the
4ue1ieS' li'.io an',4ua,eu ooA oi pace 'hS'
oAn % uiAsineu' inSiuo' one mus sienuer'
in.einsen'-iooNihg young muiauo woman
WIN pretty, sPrgnuy "niIe girl as an as
siS'an'' VINO KNOWS oil Aoou' tne man oohnec'
'ionS' anu In response 70 inquiries ABOUT MS
.0ri' Ouiiuings tens you OF the Ola custom
mouse, one ena OF Which Is now tAe MOTEL the
washington headquarters ouildine' the old
Neison mansion whioh Is the hhest mouse IN
lorktown, the ola court mouse, whlch Is the
oiuee' oulidihg OF the kiha IN TINS country
ana IN "nlcn the giri volunteers the iniorma-