The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-09-19

jackson drove Banks in 1858.
The TO Nn is beautifully situated, and has
an extensive reputation as a summer resort
because Of its nearness to celebrated Osceola
aud massanstta Springs.
We are comfortably domiclled at the
famed Collicello, where we find large
company, all southerners-among them
some Savannshians But Of Harrisonburg
aud our wandering, more anon. A. j. G..
HARRIsoNBURG, Sept. 16.
VISIT TO PORT REPUBLIC AND wEYERis
CAVES.
who's going to ths caves tomorrow
was asked around our circle few nights
ago. "What caves, and where are theyP
we asked in reply, and were told Of most
wonderful caves just beyond Port Republic
and fourteen miles from Harrisonburg. A
trip over the mountains to Port Republic
TO view the scene OF Jackson's triumph over
Shields! Count US 10 by all means.
The balance of the evening was spent in
talking about the great aud wonderful caves
OF which some Of US had never before heard
| We were to take a very early start; SO IL
was early to bed and early to rise, and we
were soon In the land OF forgetfulness, from
which we were suddenly awakened to find
| jocund day standing tiptoe on the misty
mountain top. A hurried breakfast over,
| we took our seats behind a pair of
| splendid blacks, and were soon dashlng
| through tho streets Of Harrisouburg. The
| members OF our party were Misses Mary
and Flora Martin OF Richmond, Mrs Ida
| Rapp of Washington, D.. c., Mrs, Mary
Luton, proprietor of the hotel; Miss Reba
White OF Savannah and your humble COR
respondent Our way lay past the oeme-
| terry In which is buried great number of
copfederate dead. The cemetery is beauti-
fully situated and well kept by a sexton
who Is especially employed by the Ladies'
| A odahf nH kkla Ill
told that is is bore Turner Ashby sleeps,
and will hunt out his grave, as l promised
| my boys Of 10 and 10 years old TO carry
them a flower or blade Of grass from il for
a souvenir. Just beyond the cemetery, at
a high hill, is the reservoir that supplies
water TO the town. 1t certainly ought to
be pure, coming from such a hight
The view from this hill is the most beau
| titul that can be imagined. On either side
there are hills and valleys slopinz away to
| the mountains In long undulations, forest and
farm making sunshine aud shade; with here
and there beautiful homes nestled in she
valleys or clinging to the steep hillsides. All
| comprised in one view.
Our team Is fms one and We have dar-
ing thought careful driver, and as we rush
uphill and fairly fly down we take deep
draughts OF the crisp morning air. In an
hour we have passed grand old Massanet-
"a and Picket mountain rearS Its crest In
front, our road still winding among lovely
farms aud bits OF heavily wooded forests.
Here we notice the almost universal oulti-
walton Of the mammoth sunflower and sor-
ghum, the former filling the back yards and
the latter interspsrssd among the corn. One
OF our party, Mrs. Luton, has spent the
most Of her life in Harrisonburg, and had
not been to Port Republic in twenty years
As we drive along she pointed
out places OF note and touched
our hearts by her "reminiscences
and tender interest h old familiar scenes
| Here was fine old stone house In which
most of her girlhood was passed with dear
sister, long since gone to her eternal home
| here the willow-fringed creek that fed
mill race turt or on, where she had waded 4,
happy barefoot girl. As we drove by
we heard the rush and roar OF the saw mill
| and the loud datonations from a quarry
where they are blasting stone, and in fancy
we made IL the rumble OF Jaokson's artil.
lery and the booming OF Pelham's guns;
we are following in the track Of Jacksonis
army; now we are on the great iron bridge
: which was built to replace the one burned
by jackson, June 9, 1862, TO prevent a
junction between the two federal armies,
. fifty feet below, the Shenandoah brawls
along, aud we find ourselves humminx
The Song Of StonewalI Jaokson's Men,
Across the bridge, and we are in old Port
Republic, travelling down the very streets
. through which Shields division fled in wild
= |
crates on the memorable June 9. 1852
when Stonewall jackson won the splendid
victory OF Port Republic.
o, shade of the mighty; where now are the
legions
That rushed but to conquer when thou ledst
them on!
Alas IAN save the fame Of their triumph
, 10 gone"
The Shenandoah winds around the town
at the foot Of peaked mountains. We cross
it again, but on this side it is forbade, and
} as we drove into the very middle l had the
. driver 60 stop and give me cup of its
waters to drink in memory OF the dead and
wounded who blessed its GOODNESS on that
fearful battle day. Beautiful Shenandoah !
Two miles beyond we came to Shendem,
once the richest OF all bottom land farms
now laid off in town lots with broad streets
: and avenues, upon which has sprung up the
, 1ourishiug young city OF Shendem, with its
} factories, fine hotels and hand
, some residences. Here the val
} ley widens out for miles in breadth, and
is as level as a floor Crossing another iron
suspension bridge our road runs around the
, base OF Cave mountain, in which are the
| famous Weyer's and Fountain caves, know
here as the Shenandoah grottoes. Here we
3 drew up at a platform with a flight OF steps
built on the precipitous side of the mount
, ain, from which "a well-beaten path
l ascends. There we learned that the guide
had Just gone in with a party, and that we
would have TO wait an hour or more. Look
, ing around we saw horses tetbered TO every
tree ana post, while carriages and buggies
, were grouped under the sha ie Further
} down the valley and right at the foot or
3 the mountain, was an immense shed under
, whicl were seated a large company.
| Thinking the caves must be we'll patronizsd
, We decided to Join them and wait for the
guide, when 10, we were right IN the midst
OF a Methodist camp meeting. Directly
: a preacher arose and gave out
) a familiar hymn. which we sang
} with the spirit aud the understanding,
feeling very much at home, after which we
listened to fine sermon fr ON Hebrews
l iv., 10; but did not have time to learn the
name of the preacher, as we saw the signal
flying and the rest Of our party waving
trAnlLeALlY for us TO ,.coms.n Tho Rnida