The Republican journal., 1890-06-26
Washington Sketches.

who gave up their lives for their country it is a
beautiful spot, and the Old Lee mansion. still
standing, gives one an idea of how the rich
people of the South lived in the days "bcfo' lie
war" TaIyho coaches run from Washington
to Arlington; or the visitor may take the street
cars to West Washington and thence by a
| carriage line to the cemetery. The route leads
oyer the Aqueduct bridge. Crossing this YOU
are on the soil of Virginia. Passing a few
shanties and dilapidated wooden buildings YOU
proceed along winding and usually dusty
road, with little to attract the eye, until Fort
Myers signal service station, is reached. \
little distance beyond you enter the gateway of
the cemetery, where nearly $1,000 | Mon dead,
and the bones of more than 1000 soldiers whose
identity could not be established, are buried,
their graves the charge of the nation. There
Is grove at the entrance, but soon on grassy
slope to the right you See the little head stones,
row upon row, while on the left are monument,
to many distinguished officers Aightmg at
the Lee mansion we explore The lower rooms
and enjoy the view from the front portiro.
The house faces the Capitol. and standing on
high ground, which slopes down to the Potomac,
a fine view of the city Of Washington is had.
A little below the house, on the face of the
hillside. |, a massive monument Of polished
grey granite bearing the single word "Nheri-
dam and large bronze medallion of the dead
soldier, This is where Grant should be
buried is the universal opinon-here in sight
Of the Capitol city, with which he is Identified
il 50 many ways and surrounded by many
Of his brave soldiers. But time passes and
with reyercnt farewell we pass out Of the
enclosure
II the visitor wishes to see other war scenes
drNe out the NeVentL-street road VIII trju@
illm to the -pot where during the rebellion the
conflict occurred between me tohieieratf~ and
the sixth Army Corps. This was the nearest
approach oI me southern troops to the cry
during Inc war; hut by the ARRIVAL oi the
NlNth Corps their advance was checked. Their
officers entertained themselves at Montgomery
htar's country residence, "tryStai spring
Wulch i Ju>t inside iGe cty limits ON tn"
>tNenth-street road About TWO miles outside
OF Washington, and completely encIren2 the
city, there was, during the war, rhan of for
ticationN, connected by Il military l'Ad.
There were more than nifty large forts besides
az many smaller batteries, which mounted
more than one thousand guns, many of them
Of the largest cailhre' Al Of the torihea'iou>
ON the north ana east sides have long since
been diSmantled, amt are now either grass
grown OF eNeled with the surrounding eIrth
to make room for The operations Of the eutcr-
rri>ing real estate mcnWh mo are hmii,jiu- up the
suburbs Of the Capitol
The soldiers Home, or Military ~! !lllu, j.
another place Of interest and beautiful ~,ot
as we'll The building, are situated on an
emincnre communion. 4 Grand aud ,Nttu~tlc
view, and surrounded hy grounds of almost
natchIc>, beauty. Witch arr kept in perfect
order by the inlirm veterans oI the army. Here
in the summer months President Grant. with
bis family made their home the Pres. lent
driving t. and from thc White IIuu-, Where
his Official duties We're performed. In the rear
Of the Home i a soldiers cemetery. tolcrju.
many arre> handsomely fenced in. bp;tl,ituII4
and teudcrIN cared for. and lrltaurrt.I with
tlowcr.b,d, rvei..rren,. >1rul.brry auI ,.Iii,.,-
inc y ines
THE lone BriI.rr il auofhrr fratur. lllntiti-
pI with the war and which, ug1l,. of TIM. ,.t,~-
an. haNe crossed aul rr,.ro>>rd IN rrI;r.,.~