The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-07-23
A Visit to the Battlefield of
Gettysburg.
Sketches and Incidents of the Trip
"Reminiscences of the
Great Battle, &c.

"Reminiscences of the
Great Battle, &c.
Special Correspondence to MIDLAND JOURNAL.
On the morning of the 9TH of July a party
five in all, consisting of w. T. Mcclure, H
Garvin, and two of my boys, Eber and Fred
took the 6.19 train for the purpose Of visit
ing the renowned field Of Gettysburg. The
morning was cool and delightful, the birds
sang sweetly and the music of the reapers
as they Cut the golden grain gave evidence
OF the rapid advancement intellectually in
agricultural machinery during the last de-
cade. In a few minutes ride surging from
right to left, over ridges, gullies, bridges,
through hill and dale. the conductor calls
out "Octoraro Junction." change cars for the
Columbia road. This is a place of some
note, consisting of way station, and pear
cider saloon, for the purpose of refreshing
the weary inebriate as he passes down the
dismal road to ruin. We took the Port
Deposit and Columbia road up the pictur-
esque and romantic Susquehanna We
pass by the town of Conowingo, which has
rather business appearance; Mr.. Bells
improvements adding greatly, the coal, lime
and lumber business being carried on by
enterprising Mr.. Childs.
Having desire to view the mountains
and scenery took seat on the platform OF
the rear car, (of which there were only two
On the train) but owing to the fast running
and short curves around the hills, and for
fear of being switched off into the river, l
took my seat on the inside of the car. We
passed several towns, and by the appearance
of boats and fishing tackle, quite bus
mess is done among the fnny tribe. We
passed by the town of Safe Harbor, situated
at the mouth OF the Consetogo creek and
noted for its extensive iron works of former
years, not now in operation. Here railroad
iron was manufactured, and at the time of
its erection was the largest mill of the kind
in the United States, except the iron works
of Phenixville, Chester Co. We swept
around the high bluff, pass Little Washing
ton and at $40 arrived at Columbia. The
scenery along this river is truly grand. Bay
ard Taylor in a sketch of his trip along the
Susquehanna, said in some. respects it equals
the scenery of the Rhine or the Hudson.
We wait here two hours for the Philade-
phia train for Gettysburg, the time however,
did not seem long, as we took stroll over
the town, finding i: to be quite pretty
place, streets regularly laid out, sidewalks
paved neatly. 1t numbers about ten or elev
en- thousand inhabitants, here the Pennsyl-
vania r. r. from Philadelphia reaches the
Susqrehanna. Heavy freight trains of coal
and iron from the mines arrive here, one
engine hauling l25 loaded cars, and here
the trains are cut up small to enable them
to get over the heavy grade leaving the riv-
er.
At 1910 the train arrives we crossed the
r. r. bridge II miles long to Wrightyil'e,
quite a fourishing little town, principal
business shipping coal, burning lime, and
trading in lumber. Here the Susquehanna
canal is transferred from the eastern to the
western shore by means of II large dam
across the river. Steamers and tugboats are
used in towing the boats back and forth.
After passing twelve miles through fine
agricultural region brings us to the town of
Little York, this is quite large place for
an inland town. 1t numbers over twenty
thousand inhabitants, wide streets, build
ings set back uniform distance from the
streets; and Judging from the number of
church spires, quite large number must
be religiously inclined. Here lived the
Hon. Jerry Black, Buchanan's Attorney
General The road here takes southwest
erly direction, and we travel for nine miles
on the Baltimore and Harrisburg II. r. to
Hanover Junction, thence through Il fertile
section of the country westerly, ten miles
and the quaint old town of Hanover is
reached. The town is said to be quite
wealthy. A large business is done in grind
ing and shipping bark. The place num-
bers three or four Thousand inhabitants. and
was the birth place of the Hon. Jacob Tome
of Cecil Go Md.
. 1t is II o'clock. we change cars, wait