Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1883-08-02

AAAT&V%s A. e@sts SEets 1c1a-
Mcssrs Editors :---Your correspondent,
Apecidsz, owing to = iriiA IN, has re-
qnessed me to forward q ydafss publica-
il, should you desai il E4Ussby Of notice,
tlsrriptiOri Of somelof tlie ~ and the
refersions arising fresn them. which have
cune under rs n6sise wilss spjOurning
here, and those Of IN occasional visit to
points Of interest in the Surrounding coun-
try.
After leaving Soldiers Home, one Is led
naturally % make inquiries abOnt 'Keo-
coughtou, = as this place was originally cali
I'd. LAtss modern phEaseoiegy has changed
this tOngue-intaneling word into "Hamp-
ton" This place has arisen from its ashes
three times. plainly demonstrating, that
something more than the mere whims Of
our species attract our brothers hitheE.
The hygienic influences are much the same
IS can be found at Old Point. Being a lit
lie farther back in the country, the visitors
lack TO some extent, the delicious tonic Of
the pure ocean air and the lullaby Of the
waves rolling upon the sandy beach, but a
few feet from ones bedroom window. This.
ancient place deserves a history Of its own,
and in obedience 70 les deserts, one IS now
being rapidly completed BY one whose cspa-
bility cannot be questioned Antiquarians
principally seem to find comfort and pleas
ure here. Some Of the very old brick and
stone buildings which have preserved their
integrity unimpaired notwithstanding ne
ravages and seiges which the Alsment@ ina
their maddening fury have mad i times,
are curiosities. indeed. In Obedience 10
natural inclination, which seems 10 be q gen.
eral law Of human nature, visited quite an
ancient censtery. Here the dates over the
resting places Of m&ayt6ld US that the times
Of their activity on earth was far removed
from cur day. Wandering away from my
company, train Of reflections were aroused
which carried me back 10 times over which
the dust Of ages is nos yet thick enough TO
hide the many prominent features which
marked the surface upon which men of those
days played their parts. Here an epitO-
mixed history before me brought graphically
to view two prominent incidents in our
coEIntry's history Just north of me few
miles distant is to be seen Yorktown Heights.
capped with q memorial column marking
the browning feature of our revolutionary
struggle. Immediately to the cast and at
the very base Of the Town lies Hampton
Roads" with all Of It's historic associations.
Perhaps it may not be Misunderstanding TO
the majority Of your readers to have recalled
to their memories some few facts relating 10
the circumstances which have indissolubly
connected this place with the history of the
internicine struggle of '6l.
On April 2lst, 1861, the Virginians took
possession of the abandoned Navy Yartl at
Gosport, near Norfolk, and found the Merri-
mac had been burned and sunk. Il was
ordered by the Confederate Government,
that she should be raised and converted into
an ironclad. This was done after a pattern
conceived and suggested by Lieut.. J. NJ.
Brooke of the c. s. N, at present Professor
Of Physics at the Virginia Military Institute.
After many veKatiOus delays, the ship was
az last equ pped with the arms and NUM-
tons Of war. The frigatcs Congress and
Cumberland invited an attack. Upon con-
sultation, it was determined that they should
he gratified, on Thursday evening, March
9Th, 1852. Owing to some Unforeseen causes.
the engagement was postponed until Satur-
dry, March, 9Th. Under a clear sky, her
flags streaming and with many proud and
patriotic heart beating with transport to
the martial strains of liberty and patriotism,
the Merrimac, now called the Virginia, lifted u
her mornings and steered for Hampton
Roads. The action commenced at D. M,
by the Virginia firing upon the Cumbcr-
land at less than a mile distant. A most
powerful fire now commenced, by the enc
my from both land and shore. The old
craft heeded but little the grape and cannis-
ter which played upon her sides. Like a
demon Of destruction she passed the Con-
gress sending some telling shots in answer
TO those she received. Her head was set
sternly to the Cumberland with the deter
minati0n to run her down and in less than
half an hour from the firing Of the first gun,
above the din and roar Of battle could be
heard the cracking and crashing Of timbers
as the Virginia struck and gave the fatal
blow to the Cumberland Still, the forces of
the latter were not discouraged. She went
down with her flags flying and each man to
his post Of duty. The Congress fearing a
similar fate slipped her cables and put for
the shore. Nothing now remained hut to
strike their cOlOrs which was promptly done.
The Virginia likewise met successfully the
Monitor and several smaller gun. boats,
though not with such decisive effect. Thus
Hampton Roads was the scene of naval
engagement which inspired many droop-
ing heart with faith and courage. Upon
the evacuation Of Norfolk the Virginia was
burned by order of her commanding; officer,
10 the sorrow Of many.
Newport News likewise claims q slight
notice. WheR the gifted philosopher, Com
modore Manry, remarked that ''he confident
" looked forward to the time when this
would be the commercial centre Of the At
Iantic coast" it would seem that he was
prescient Of the future for his prediction
at this time seems IN be coming TO pass.
Let the most superficial observer look upon
the map Of our country and conceive an
imaginary line 70 be drawn from the most
=