Middletown transcript., 1893-04-29

The Tn .NscRIPT man was one among th
fifteen or twenty thousand persons "h'
visited Old Point Comfort on Sunday last u
view the White Squadron and its forelgr
visitors.
The train reached Cape Charles City about
half an hour late, and there was grano
rush by the hungry passengers for tne
Steamer Norfolk that carried them across
the bay.
Everybody was hungry and Inc
office of the purser was besieged oy
an impatient crowd waiting 'neir
tnrn n secure tickets ard seats. 1t was
delightful two hours trip on the boat
notwithstanding the dull and gloomy look
taken OIL by the clouds
About half way across we got our nrst
SIGHT of the war vessels. To the left OF our
course was anchored one OF the lta!lan
men-of-war having in to@ one OF Colum-
bus' vessels. It was just such ship as we
had seen in our Biographies, and all eyes
we're riyeted upon the Santa Maria, and as
with one accord, hats went of and hand
kerchiefs were waved in honor of the flag
shin of the Spanish explorer,
A little further on we sighted the san
Francisco of the White Squadron. 1t was
a beautiful sight. All the American vessels
painted white with brown smoke stacks and
air tunnels; handsome bronze cannon upon
every side, the marines on guard, the sailors
in neat and clean uniforms, and the hans
some officers, making a scene long to be
remembered. The squadron was lying III
near shore. On their left lay the vessels OF
Great Britain, France, Germany and the
other foreign countries.
We landed on the pier about $50. AT
this hour most of the residents of the
Hygeia and the Stafford were enjoying their
breakfasts and laying plans for the day,
but half all hour later the seine had
changed. Handsome ladies and gallant
officers were beginning to come out, the
launches from the men-of.war were seen
darling about in the harbor, and carrying
their precious freight aboard the warships,
and from this hour until s o'clock there
was continual moving about from ship to
ship, and thousands took the opportunity
to see what war vessels were like from a
closer scrutiny.
We were fortunate enough to be allowed
to visit the pride of the English navy-the
Blake-and the San Francisco, of our own
navy, but must say that of all the vessels,
officers and men we came in contact with,
those of the Amerian were superior in
every respect.
After our visit to the ships we " took in
Fortress Monroe. The old fort is we'll pre-
served and still retains much of its old 1
time glory.
Abeautiful view was presented from the |
ramparts of the feet in the harbor. The |
heavy cannon of thirty years ago are still
seen on the ramparts and at the loopholes,
but of all the number about the fort only |
twenty y-one are now used in the outer case
mate; and the report from these when fired |
almost deafened person.
Fortress Monroe is now used as an |
artillery school. and here the men are drilled
in the use of arms, etc. 1t is pretty place
behind the rainparts. and surely the life of
he officers is one round of happiness and
pleasure.
There are many relics of the war of the
and other wars to be seen at this
old fort, principally among which were a
number of brass cannon captured from the |
British at the capitulation of Yorktown.
The cell occupied by jeff. Davis after the
fall of the Cenfederacy was point of
curious interest to many of the visitors.
After leaving Fortress Monroe we took
one of the electric cars and rode to the
National Soldiers Home at Hampton. The
first point of interest to attract our atten-
ton here was the cemetery in which repose
the remains of sixteen thousand soldiers,
the best years of whose lives were given to
the Union. They are laid in long phalanxes,
and at the head of each, plain little mar
Bile slab bearing the name of the soldier |
his company and regiment marks his last
resting place.
After brief view of this great army of
avenues of the home where more than a
battle-scarred veterans are await
ing the final roll call. There were many |
tents scattered about the grounds and sew |
eral new buildings were in course of erec-
ton. The grounds are located on the banks |
of the James River. and from which one
has grand view. they are beautifully |
laid out in flower plots The buildings are |
handsome brick structures, and withal |
Uncle Sam takes good care of his old
soldiers.
About o'clock while watching the pass
ing throngs of beautiful women and hand
some officers bent on enjoying the last day
Of the vessels stay in Hampton Roads, the |
distant boom of cannon was heard as on
that memorable day nearly thirty years ago |
when the Monitor and Merrimac had their
little set-to in these same waters. 1t was
the signal guns Of the Brazilian feet COM
ing up the roads, and as their toWering
masts hovered into sight on the horizon the |
big cannon of Fortres Monroe belchei !
Torth their welcome in salute of twenty
one guns which made the earth tremble
and their echo was cast back from the
clouds. The vessels in the Roads also
;aluted the new comers through their
cannon.
While lettering on the dock we met a
captain Of the First Delaware Volunteers
who was stationed at the fort at the opening
If the war. He was in reminiscent turn
,f mind, and recounted the story of how
he little Monitor had gained the mastery
over the Merrimac in those early DAYS of