Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-08-04
CITY AND DISTRICT.
Voice from the northwest.


As a resident and Taxpayer of that portion of
sbe city known as 1.-The Northwest" and being
one of those whose property has been taxed
double. and some cases treble by thelate assess
ment would like TO call the attention of those
worthy gentlemen and citizeas styled "COmmis-
sioners' to the condition of Z street on the
block between 18th and 10th. Lying between
two of the best paved aud most frequented
drives in the District-I5th and 10Th streets
this square would secmto have been entirely
neglected and forgotten. 1t was one of the
first squares paved with the round spruce
block an occasional reminder of which
fact remains in the location here and there
OF n few worm eaten water-sOaked. and
rotten blocks of wood. surrounded 10y
deep holes and covered bya luyuriant growth
of weeds. clover and grass. thus rendering it
alike unhealthy To residents and dangerous
To life and limb of man or beast. VINO NAV
through Necessity or choice chance To venture
upon it, uneven and trracherous surface DC
cas:Onaly an unfortunate undertaken unwit-
t!ngly pilots funeral towards Oak Hill! through
street. and j oliinr most OF tht io!IOW'rS or
the deceased ~ his last resting place imagine
their time has come before they reach the end
OF this iIl-fayOred square. for the joltng and
shaking mp they receive must he equivalent to
a double bredStrd congtS1iyc chill. In fact this
route through J. street to Georgetown IL only
willingly and knowingly taken by the''Amercan
citizen of African descent" WHO has in charge "A
drove OF hogs, cattle or sheep winding their
weary way to or from the brewers Rest and
even he finds cause to regret his unlurky choice.
of route 10y the time he reaches the Locality
spoken OF. for no sooner ITO these tired and
hungry cattle or swine. as the case NAV be-
catch glimpse of the aforementioned growth,
OF grass and weeds than they seem to form them
selves into committee of the whole aud
resolve to linger for lunch aud it surely tests
the patience of those having them in charge to
induce them to bulge from the entcing
LOCALITY. Let any one OF the Com
missioners some evening when taking his
favOrite drive ont 18th street. especially Just
after passing that favored locality in which is
situated the residences of the Cameron, the
Window. the PendlctOn and the RobesOn. just
turn to the right upon reaching the corner OF
and 10th streets and If the shaking he gets
In travelling over this one square does not help
his digestion sufficient To secure an appetite for
supper and convince him of the truth of all
my assertions then my name is not b.
How Lee Left Meade at Chester Gap.
Written for THE EVENING STAR. by one of the 18th
Virginia Infantry,
Your correspondent in his article of the 23d
ult-. defending Lees Flank, &C." makes many
blunders and unkind innuendoes. His statement
as to the major (SimpsOn) am certain will not
be supported by many of the brigade, particu-
larry those of the 18th regiment He was a
gallant gentleman and brave and capable Of
IL,
suppose he obtained proper permission to be
absent. He was afterward mOrtally wounded
at Drury's Bluff fight and died herocally ! saw
him during the amputatiOn (his arm at the shout
der joint. which resulted in his death. and
know whereof L speak, and it appears to me
that such death as his should Obliterate all his
military shortcomings, especially i'm the memory
OF q more fortunate cOmrade in arms.
Gen COrses brigade was not the largest but
''present for duty" was at that time the smallest
in the division (Pckett's). its strength having
been much depleted by previous campaigning
In Tennessee and North Carolina and for that
reason it was left at Hanover Junction (tO re-
cruit and to guard the approaches to Richmond),
where it remained until ordered to move rapidly
towards Winchester. After our arrival near that
place We remained about two days. when We
were ordered To move I'm advance of Lees army
Chen falling back from Gettysburg) and get
possession of the gaps necessary for its passage
The enemy having sent forward their cavalry to
OoStruct our movements in that direction. celer-
ity was necessary. We had the shortest line
and in friendly country. but it was cavalry
against infantry on the march, and we had no
time to lose On the day of which your cor
respondent speaks we moved at 2 o'clock a. m
waded the Shenandoah and were ordered to
move rapidly TO Chester Gap. through which
Lees army was to pass the 18th being detached
and ordered TO gap about four miles to the
left. which place they held during the day. We
marched on the main road and took possession
o..
noon; had two pieces OF artillery in position
and skirmishers (my company deployed on our
front. down in the gap. About half an hour
afterward the federal cavalry appeared on our
lett front They had been moving in some
what Oblique direction to our line of march. and
had founu passage around our left flank or
left side, and We're now endeavorIng to inter-
Cept lis and check our movement. So far as
most of us knew. we We're entirely unsupported
and had no idea how far the main army was be-
" ted W. RIM no =
appeared ma>sirig in large bodies Cavalry. and
Gen-Corse ordered the artillery TO open fire which
was done, and the enemy took shelter in the
woods about ~ miles distant. but we could
see beyond large bodies of cavalry moving about
as if undecided. We held the gap with infan-
try and artillery; they hesitated. About an hour
afterward Gen. LOngstreet rode up to where
the guns We're and overlooked the field below.
We then knew that we were safe and that the
army was near. and in short time the advance
came up-wagOns ambuances and trains of va
rious kinds. and continued to move on past
The road in front of us turned sharply to the
right. and when the enemy saw our trains NOV
Ing they made a demonstration. bringing up two
pieces of light artillery. and opening fire Gen.
Longstreet ordered a North Carolina regiment
then coming up. to drive them off. which was
done the regiment charging the guns SPLEEN
didiy. which, after firing two or three rounds
withdrew. their cavalry not coming I'D but held
OIL Iii plain sight. and our army as if if had
brushed aside a very slight obstacle with its
Ieit elbow. so To speak. continued to move on.
The critical point was passed. and Lees army
was safe. with no loss on either side so far as
know. In the rush OF steeds and men, OF
which your correspondent speaks, the 18th,
think, lost one man
The 18th has a splendid record. but l think IL
Is claiming rather much to say that it saved
Lees army on that occasion. and il reflects some
what on Lees gencralship that he would under
such circumstances trust the safety of his army
10 a small body of men. however valiant, -four
miles ~ the left of his line of march
DisappOinincnts of Travellers.