Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-19

Gen. B. II. Robertson. declares that we neutral
lied the operations Of two briSades Of cavalry
and two batteries of artillery, whose presence
was badly needed elsewhere, and that had
these troops been in their proper positions
Stuart would have beaten Pleasanton and the
story Of Gettysburg would have been reversed.
Here rest my case and ask Judgment
caught glimpse of Fairfield village as we
sped by, then the Marshall farm where our
charging columns met in the lane, telescopiug
like two worms trying to swallow each other
their flashing sabers like so many shining
bristles rising and falling in the blazing sun
light
TAXING TO THE WOODS.
About three miles further the train stopped
at station named Orrtanna, where L stepped
of and put into execution the purpose origi-
nally formed Of taking to the woods"
The sun was high and hot. the road dusty
and had three bundles to carry. But fortune
favored me. A kind-hearted man. whose bust
ness it is to gather up the milk for the cream
cry at Cashtown, invited me to a seat in his
wagon, and l thankfully accepted, for the mile
had already trudged had developed the awk-
ward embarrassment of those three bundles
My companion was intelligent as well as kind
and when / reached the end of his route felt
rested and profited. The short distance fur
Their that took afoot brought me to my destina-
tion- 1t is hostelrie of the ancient days of
this republic-a large brick building, prob
ably one hundred and twenty years old.
walls eighteen inches of solid brick with the
nagging of the doorstep worn inches away by
the play Of human feet. The brick of the pave
ment in front of the door is secured away to
one-haf its original thickness.
THE OLD NATIONAL PIKE.
The gorge Of the mountains opens here
and swallows up the stream Of travellers that
piows westward by the doorway. This is the
old National pike, at one time one of the most
important avenues betwixt the west and the east
1t was along this road that most Of Lees army
advanced in 1863, and as studied the situation
could not understand why our military au-
thoritles did not see the advantages they pos
sessed In the occupation Of these mountains.
One thousand faithful men, armed with Sharps
rines, deployed at proper intervals along
through the dense woods that border the road
would have welded an immense moral force
upon the enemy. and rendered them home
SICK Tor the sheltering Businesses of the sunny
south.
limpid stream Of water flows along the
further side Of the road and finds its way into
the famous Marsh creek. On the east side of
the house there is a big red barn. which seems
to be at everybody's disposal Just beside the
portco there is large watering trough. also
Ior the general convenience, into which the
Moving water murmurs, fed from an everlast-
ing spring in the gorge above. This trough is
right under my bedroom window. and its
drowsy FLASHING is very soothing to the nerv-
GUS system. And while i think of il, at the risk
OF being somewhat incoherent in my narrative,
l want to tell you that my bed room
Is haunted. At least Brown Polly tells me
SO, and the first night 1 occupied it the
goose flesh went and came at intervals in a
very delightful fashion. Who is Brown Polly?
0, wood nymph with big dark eyes, who
chaperones me through the widest trails OF
these wild mountains. SIDNEY NORRIS