The morning news., 1888-12-21
A GHOST OF A GENERAL.
A Story About Mansion in washin g.
ton County.
From the Baltimore American.

FROM lte bQtltnt0fe American.
There is not in all Washington county
more beautiful place than the one where
occurred the incidents which gave rise to
the following tale. 1t used to be the manor
of a gentleman who served as a general
and staff officer during the Revolutionary
war, but it has for many years been used
for educational purposes 1t consists of
tall spacious building, having a mansard
roof, and fianked on either side by q long
side-building or wing, of less hight and of
later date than the main house, which
stands out bold and prominent in front
These buildings are situated on the fat
crown of hill, which, though its sides
have but slight undulating slope, affords a
commanding view of the surrounding land
scape. On the right lies the railroad track.
toward the rear flows creek, which has
its origin in crystal clear spring that
rushes frem between gray, moss-grown
rocks at the foot of the hill; here and the.e
stand bright-looking farm houses :the wind
ing country roads are partly hidden by
fences and occasional rows of trees and
bushes, and but for intervening patches of
woodland, even the buildings of the CITY.
six miles, off, would be dimly visible at the
horizon. Before the house is fiat, circular
lawn, of diameter longer than the full
front of the buildings, and having the ap-
china, turned upside down. Around this
lawn is broad carriageway, leading at the
end opposite the wide stone steps of the
building, into straight and shady drive.
In the center of this beautiful spot of gra IS,
stands an American tulip tree of gigantic
dimensions. around which, forming wide
circle grew pine and apple trees oaks and
chestuuts, which, wh n the wind shakes
their crowns, make one think of band of
vassals, bowling a bending to aud fro in
stately reverence for their mighty, overflow
ering sovereign, around whom they have
gathered, and who spreads his arms wide
and high, i'll lofty acknowledged of their
greetings. Flower-beds be4utify the grounds
behind the buildings; verdant pastures and
many acres of fertile fields lie at tie foot of
the hill. Surely If Washington county is
the garden of the state, this charming spoo
is the pearl of the county.
1t has, of course, its traditions, for such
is the case with nearly every place that pos
sesses history of its own. The original
occupant was not one Of your rigid and
frig id old fellows, who thinks Of nothing but
drill, and who carry a saber and wear a
stiff stock, even at the breakfast table, but
he was gay customer, fond of wine and
song, VINO loved pleasant company, and
was not averse, 1t was said, to gambling
and carousing. Many a dark story was
told, many light ditty sung, AID many
wicked word was spoken in the spacious
hall, against whose arched stone ceiling he
and his jolly comrades used to make the
champagne corks fly. But now the time Of
this ''old defender" Of aggressive spirit is
over. He lies buried in one of the three
graveyards that are situated within the
immediate neighborhood Of the buildings
They are no longer used. The grass, moss
and leaves that cover their diapidated
tombstones, and the very fences and hedges
around them are the iding- places of snakes
and rats. At night the shrek owls alone
sending forth their mourGful cry from the
trees that shade the Generals last resti e.
place are enough to keep every negro who
lives in the neighborhocd. and many white
man TOO, at respectful distance.
On splendid evening in June, IS, q CAV
crowd was assembled under the porch of
the big building. Several hours had passed
since the setting sun had throw fiery
glow over the distant mountains; the
weather was too pleasant for anybody to
remain within the house, and ladies and
gentlemen, young and old, had gath
cred, and were now passing the time singing
I'd talking. One of theu-a girl more
beautiful and charming than the rose she
had Just gwen TO devout and humble vic
ii Of the o-called stroi ger EEK, and pinned
it ON lis coat, uoo-was telling q story
'EWell, girls she said, $50 the union sol
diers were all camped around the place.
The Chapel was full Of bullet-holes"
'Why?" sung out the dude of tho party.
''B cause they had been shot in it."
"Oh! aw-."
''Well, so the chapel was full of bullet
holes, and a number of wounded soldiers
were lying in the hall, and the others were
cooking, sewing, or hunting for chickens,
and doing all sorts of mischief By dark,
however, they were all fast asleep. A
sentinel was walking to and fro just Eefore
al .at. t,,t ha
drowsy. He had been on duty all day, and
thought he could watca just as well sitting
as standing. So he sat down on the steps,
AT first he kept himself wideawake, but lit
tie by little he gave way; nodded and gaped
now he thought he had his eyes open, but
hadn't; now the musket gilded out Of his
grasp and nestled against his shoulder, and
after few minutes or so he was fast asleep
He did not know how long he had been
mapping, when he felt cold breeze tanning
his face He awoke with a start, fired off
his gun-he knew not why-and the entire
camp was arou ed just in time to face a
small body of confederates, a sort of pa
troll. who were driven off before they could
enter the camp"
"Is that alll' inquired a young gentle
man. who thought he was smarter than the
rest Lecause he wore eyeglasses and black
moustache.
"All except that people say it was the
dead general who was buried in the grave
yard bey ond the gate, who appeared to the
soldier III his sleep and"
my gracious! who is coming here at this
time Of the nightN exclaimed somebody. 1t
startled ever one preseat They heard the
gate swing open, and close again; they
heard the sound of carriage rafting up
the drive, but they could see nothing, for it
was near mid light and dark. The sound
of the carriage approached, but nothing was
visible. Every one of the party stood as If
transfixed, when suddenly-arising breeze
blew out the lamp on the porch, and opened
the double-door Of the hall.
Some had the courage TO go look for the
carriage they had heard, but they saw no
sue thing. The oilers went inside, and
found nothing extraordinary. But, strange
to say, several relics that we're kept in an
old library, which WAS always locked, and
in which nobody had set foot for years,
were thrown topsy turvy--ap old cavalry
sword Of the revolutionary war had disap-
peared
A quarter of a century has passed since
that gay crowd listene TO this story; but
amoung the young students who iahabit
the deceas ed generals mansion, and among
the servants and farmers who live in the
neighborhood, goes the story that, once a
year, the dead general rises from bis grave,
drives up to his old mansion and Wis is the
lofty, uncomfortable hall-now a library
--in which he used to d ink and gamble.