Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-05-08
FORTRESS MONROE AND OLD HAMp-
TON.
An Interesting Letter from IA Burlington
ian.
OLD POINT COMFORT, Va,
Anril o. 1SSs

To the Editor of the Free Press and Times:
A quarter OF century ago the name of
Old Point Comfort and Fortress Monroe
were to the world in general convertible
terms, one substantially comprehending
the other. Situated as it is upon a mar
row neck of land at the confluence of
Chesapeake bay and Hampton Roads, it
commands the great gateway of the At
lantic, and in conjunction with the rip
Raps," two miles distant, controls com
pletely the great inward channel. Sur
rounded on three sides by salt water, it
has an outlook on the broad roadstead oc-
cupied by vessels eff every description and
nationality, passing and re-passing or
riding ut anchor awaiting future orders.
The old grey walls, surmounted with
earthworks, it's bastion, moat, and ram
parts, brstling with cannon, present a
very. imposing appearance to the untu-
tored traveller. Outside and beyond the
moat the breaStworks extend the whole
length of the sea-front In the multitud-
nous arched easements the great guns
command the sea in every direction, while
upon the raised parapet the great cannon
are placed which are used for artillery
practice. The morning and evening sd
lutte, which is daily fired, is another novel
custom to the traveller. Within the walls
of the Fortress, are of course, the armory,
barracks and officers dwellings and also
plain but picturesque little church, call
ed The Centurion" where services are
regularly held.
one of the most noteworthy features of
the surroundings of Fortress Monroe is
the Soldiers Home" near Hampton. We
drove over a lovely shell-road past the
lahdward side of the fort, then over the
long Hampton bridge, which a soldier
guards, and far away past the silent plain
where row after row of white slabs and
grassy mounds mark the silent resting
place of the Union dead. Entering by
road we reached the we'll kept garden of
the Home" where the hating forms of
nearly one thousand five hundred veter-
ed in groups or resting on the beach be-
meath the wide-spreading oaks. The
grounds are in beautiful order, and are an
object of great pride to the old soldier,
many of whom have become expert gard
eners. The peace and restfulness of this
Home, provided by grateful Republic
for her disabled, veteran sons, is very
soothing to the worldworn mind. A
number of the inmates look however, as
If still deeper peace and quiet would
soon be theirs.
Beyond the long bridge lies the venera-
BILE town of Hampton, rich in places of
historic interest and bearing about it
quaint flavor of antiquity. which carries
one back to the old colonial days, when
the patriarchs of the colony loaded their
ships with sugar and tobacco and sent
them to England, or in Sunday-best and
knee breeches and silk stockings, wendell
their way to the little church of st. John.
We, too, wended our way hither, and
while gazing at its mildewing walls mo-
saiced with the letters and memorials TO
many generations, listened to very plain
but instructive sermon from its pastor.
This church antedating the Revolution
by many years, is still in tolerably good
ION, st l, ,,~N,
esting relics of old colonial days.
All these charming monuments of our
country's past, however, are just now,
dwarfed, to the pleasure seeking mind
not, however, to the true student or
stateman-by the great, mammoth Hy-
gieas hotel, which usurps SO large and
prominent place upon the sea front of
Old Point Comfort. Standing immedi-
ately at the head of the government wharf
with its long verandas and sun galleries,
rising tier after tier above each other, il
presents very imposing appearance
With the ample accommodations, and
modern cOnveniences, it's steam radiators,
electric bells, and sun baths, it has be-
come an exceedingly popular resort and
this winter, although with the capacity of
housing and entertaining one thousand
guests, has been forced to turn away forty
sometimes per day. Here we found upon
our arrival, however: few days since,
several Florida friends and one courteous,
pleasant townsman, Mr.. Edward Lyman
and his daughter, Miss Minnie. They
were enjoying the health giving sea-
breeze and drinking in the beauty and
sudden changes OF the scene before us.
Newport News about eight miles from
Fortress Monroe, at one time the centre
of our military and naval operations, is
still monumental in history, as being the
nearest point to the scene of the great
naval battle between the Monitor" and
"Merrimac." The country on every side
forms itself into vistas of historic interest
which embrace numberess attractions,
had one but the time to enjoy them.
l.. S. G.
HOrsford's Acid Phosphate.