Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-31

| Not far from here Anacostia road il entered
which runs northward to Blsdensburg and
southwark to Anacostia- 1t runs close TO and
| parallel with the Anacostia river. The British
army under Gen. Ross, that fought and wou
the battle Of Bladensburg marched over this
road to the battlefield.
The road has recently been rechristened
Minnesota avenue and Congress has appro-
priated money for its Improvement. 1t is pro.
posed to widen 1t to ninety feet, nearly three
| times its present width.
| Advancing, youare soon on the wooden bridge
| that spans Watts branch, near which the
mouth OF Sheriff road is passed on the right.
IL Is hidden from view, however. by q high
fence In front Of the switchman's lookout
| A little east Of this point, turning around to
the right you get good view Of the eastern
| slope OF the hill on which Fort Mahon stood,
some OF the old earthworks being visible.
Plney creek is soon crossed, and as you move
along the Reform School on the hill to the
left and west of the Anacostia continues in
view.
A mile north Of Benning you pass on the
right Seat Pleasant road, which runs in a
southeasterly direction to Seat Pleasant, three
miles distant About midway between the Seat
Pleasant road and Piney creek you cross the
District line into Maryland.
Beaver Dam branch. spanned by q modest
wooden bridge, Is soon crossed
The strip Of country through which You now
pass Is rich bottom land and supplies the WASH
bles that it consumes. In spring time the vege-
tation is luxuriant. many beautiful members of
the wild-hower family being found living in
modest style In pleasant hooks and corners.
Fine views Of the Anacostia and the hills to the
westward are obtained at many points along
tie road.
THE OLD BLADENsBURa BURYryG GROUND.
Approaching to within an eighth of a mile of
Bladensburg you pass on the right the old
N a ,
by the roadside. The graves are not plainlv
visible from the road, but the place will be
recognized by a dilapidated fence, which once
inclosed the grounds. Curiosity invites one in
side, and an interesting but sad picture is pre-
sented "a picture at once exhibiting human
fitness. 1t would be hard to imaSine
a more desolate spot than this 1t ap-
pears to have been long since abandoned.
and the graves and their Enclosures are in the
last stages OF decay. But though forgotten by
relatives and friends the old neglected graves
are greatly favored by nature. In stroll
through the grounds during the early part of
last spring ii was noticed that the old graves
were gaily decked with q profusion of violets
wild strawberry blossoms, iverleafs, forget-me,
nots, myrtle, &c. Many of the graves are very
old. some Of the tombstones dating back to
100. the inscriptions in many instances being
obliterated by time.
North OF the old cemetery you cross Juni-
per brook, a small stream at the eastern edge
OF Bladensburg and are soon on East Bladens-
road 10 entered is Lowndes' hill, behind the
eastern slope Of which the British Gen. Ross
formed his line Of battle on the morning of
August "a. 1914. preparatory to moving on the
Americans at Bladensburg.
Now, moving &c the right toward Landover,
or wilson's station. Stevens byroad 10 passed
on the right about an eighth Of a mile west #
that place. This byroad runs in a winding vay