Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-04
CTurR ADVANTAGES.
THE YORKTOWN MONUMENT.
It's Chaotic and homogeneous Surround
tnGs- Nisgariiy and Disrcputabie.
New York Snn1
New York Sun.

Inbh- NiSLarIiN anu Dtsfcputabie.
New York Sgn.l
10 re Eiior Of he !Ssn:
Sir,-According to" Martin Chnzzlewit "
the man IN charge Of the monument nj
London estimated that 1t was worth
quite twice the money not 10 ascend it,"
similarly, the man IN charge of the
tue perOra.i0n and the GROWING
glory @. the American Revolution
might affirm that visit from afar
10 tnis national landmark was scarcely
worth the coat. A visitor might see a
shaft. indeed. that Is really worth seeing.
IL commentaries IN fitting manner the
glory of MaShlngton's victory over Corn
walhs. But encompassed Us il is-.f not
with the iormlesS rum Of oblivion" GER
tainly with objects that contrast the sub
lime with the shabby. insne. and ridIcu-
.Ous II Is il "spleudid Sght to see"
FROM the highest point overlooking this
haroor. a narppr that LORD CORVALLIS pro-
nolncci superior & Hampton ItOads a. a
naval station. there Is superb view Il "A
roatstcad that vas dotted by the white
Squadron last summer. a. II Was by tao
French feet IN ISL. pom this point a
negro fisherman has built u cabin. which
is ms home. His Wow OF the blue road
stead would be unObstructcd and charm
irg nut for ono intervening object. Tins
u the Yorktown monument Immediately
M front Of 1t. It's stately proportions
throw - shallow into this negTO's doorway
and shade his children.
lle Government owns about fDur acrcs
OF land. reaching from this black mans
cabin 10 the river, where the British
iugate Charon vas burned 10 the waters
rc - during the siege IN l75t. But with
the exception of about half IN scro-the
ground mined 4tcy beneath ard about
the mOnumeut-tAe Government pro-
ptrtN Il II "a most chaotic state of waste
and ruin. L isa Wilderness IN fact. with
tie exception OF the ground unon which
the monument stands, and oven that T.
siill nn~raiei. although The monument
was erected ~ Is,i.
From tie Cult az Mexico 10 Hudson Bay
y would lie difficult 20 find q more shabby
AMI n.-craoI" fence than that which ELL
closes ths nat oral iucinor al, enclosing
whit i..-Hfr's ia 0-ur dos 'ribci W isSl as
the Field az The Cloth OF God -
Nolld II not mitigate Lord Coruw lils' :
cia-rln could he revisit this spot:
lle irony aIG tho satire Cf predost.nei
events were never ia ~ more manifest
Gnvwlere. Should the British people ever
eyluce q desire - sec this scene of their
/ Illumination. tie American Government
should hang a p.arard upon the niggardly
and disIepuratie i0.ce that surround, q
{ "a
Wa, closed for repairs
tLe par-imoAs AMI century that prompt
FL such a fence shOul4 "a concealed from
the English people 81 less hut how are
We O. prevent tne'r seeing what IS on exhi-
hllon here uuler I'D, aEspice, of the
United States Government The mon
archles Of the earth nave good reason to
sheer IT republics when sucn nations as
the United States EXHIBIT such gross dis
Q 4 g al l. II
possible that
80 sleeps the pride 81 former daye,
s. s.ogys :, riil Il Ger,
And hearts That ouc@ Lat hitch !or praise
Now feel tnat pulse 10 more!
Surely this cannot bel II must he that
tbe American people DO not know the real
condition Of affairs here.
Immediately upon receipt Of the news OF
the capture OF Yorktown the Continental
Congress met ~ lhIladolphiG and on OctC-
Der -. lS1l. passed o resolution thanking
the army and resolving 10 erect u marble
monument upon the scene Of tie triumph.
And now We arc no wears distant from
that time without fulfilling this important
duty.
IT Is about 900 yards from the monu-
u.nt l. the National Cemetery. where not
only our dead soldiers ~ Mcclellan army
III the last war lie buried. but many graves
b
be- IL = the field where CORVALLIS &C
tualiy surrendered his army, but b.
tween these two priceless historical
points 10 law can wax, tor ne
road - merely sahara desor. oil
sand IL miniature. uurcleYsd Dy pan a
or c2rt-load Of broken Stones. Inc
Nirginiaus erected a rude monument OF
stOue upon the precise spot WheIs corn
valis's army laid down their arms, but
during the civil war every fragment OF 1t
was carried away by the northern soldiers
lnlS4 there was celebration or the
captUrs IF CORVALLIS here. and a monu-
1oert was erected al The Rock kedOubt."
near which LAFAYETTE spoke when well
coined by General Iey or. All trace OF
tins. too, is lost. No one csl tell now
where the redoUbt stood.
Al THIS Is very strange when we CONSIDER
how y are the places Of historical lnpor-
fnnce our Government should preserve IL
tact for orr pos, Gritty TO see. bunker III, J.,
Sa-a.oga. stOwu-t rsso. 81 least, should
be especially the objects OF governmental
lie people OF North Carolina have
formed q Guilford Courthouse battle,
Ground ASSOCIATION. OF winch Judge D"'4u
Schenk. Of Greens NOro', y. G., IS the presl-
don't. This ASSOCIATION hh' enciosed ABOUT
f.t- acres with a handsome ,euce, las a
keepers lodge erected upon L. museum
&C. and empioysa Keeper for the grounds
Al or nearly al Of the expense 81 TINS en-
terpr.ss is borne ~ private SUBSCRIPTIONS
HAD not tbs peninsula Of Virginia been al
most abandoned by white people, except at
Hampton, Newport News, AID Williams
bur- j. - possible that similar orcanlza-
t,on would care for thls monument. As ~
il the nation should rouse itself ana snow
10 tie world that a.! republics arc not IN
cysteful. and that some Of them have sone
national pride. Respectfully.
-" {. W. HARRINGTON.
yorE.o,rn. "a, September 20, 1881.