The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-05-02

visit an Egyptian cemetery.
Two miles above the city, on the op
posite side Of the Rappahannock River
Is the old hamlet of Falmouth. We
cannot say that we saw a new house III
Fredericksburg since the place wa:
shelled by our troops on the morning OF
Dec. 13, 1862; few traces of the bonn.
bardment are visible, except once in q
while a house riddled with bullets and
a thatched roof caused by
BURSTING SHELL
We stopped at the Exchange Hotel
for the past seven years kept by a Con.
necticut Yank by the name of Cotton.
who served in the 10th Conn, which
took part in the engagement. He treat
ed us like white men and we voted him
Jolly good fellow. We hired a hack,
and, driven by an ex-Confederate who
had seen service from the beginning to
the end, crossed the river over the new
bridge, the old one having been burned
by our troops, and soon found the old
spring near the railroad track which we
had used and drank from nearly 80
wears AGO. Our Confederate friend
found an old tin cup and we drank
each others health, this time literally
drinking from the same canteen.
A ride of two miles over the road we
formerly travelled, but which was now
In horrible condition from having been
practically abandoned, brought us to
Falmouth, where our regiment had also
been encamped. The old cotton-mill
was there yet, but the weaver's shuttle
had ceased and the mill was no longer
In operation.
A bridge spans the river here where
we had crossed time and time again
over the stones when the river was low.
We took smile at the country store,
the old darky whom we invited to
Join with us taking such horn that
Sam asked him whether he did not
want towel after his bath.
Crossing the river we were driven to
the monument Of Washington's mother,
on the road to Marye's Hights. Thence
we were driven along the outer street of
the CITY, across which our brave soldiers
charged into the valley Of death" to-
ward the Nights. In fancy We imagined
we were
AGAIN IN THAT BLOODY FIGHT,
where our brave boys were moved down
like grass by the shot and shell Of the
enemy.
Upon our return to Richmond that
evening we changed our hotel so as to
be near the steamboat landing. Next
morning we boarded the steamer Poca-
hontas, and at a. m. started down the
james for Norfolk. The history of this
sail from the hurricane-deck of the
steamer must be briefly told. About
five miles below the city we passed the
feet of monitors, seven in number.
They are located here to avoid the
growth of barnacles upon their hulls
Fort Daring, crowning Drewry's
Bluff. is upon the south shore, and
nearly opposite is Chapin's Bluff, upon
which the Confederates had built Fort
Harrison. The steamer then passed
through Gen. Buffers Dutch Gap
Canal, by which he saved about seven
miles Of the river; then came Aiken's
LANDING, upon the north side, which was
animportant exchange depot for pris-
oners of war. Deep Bottom and
Picketts Landing were soon reached.
The latter was the home of the brave
Confederate General who led the famous
charge at Gettysburg.
AialFern Hill is seen upon the north
bank, where Gen Mcclellan made a
stand and checked the Confederate ad-
vance long enough to enable his supplies
todbe saved. Shirley is upon the north
shore. This is where the mother Of Gen.
Lee was born. The house is said to
have been built In 1642.
Bermuda Hundred and City Point.
upon the south shore, were important
strategic points during the war. AT
City Point the Appomattox River enters
the James The fine residence upon the
bluff was long used as Headquarters by
Gen. Grant Jordan's Lighthouse is
upon a projection of the south shore.
Two miles below is Beechwood, which
was the home Of Edmund Ruffin, who
fred the opening cannon shot of the war
in the attack upon Fort Sumter.
Berkeley, on the north shore, is known
ms Harison's Landing, the point Of ex-
change Of prisoners. Berkeley was the
birthplace bf President Harrison CTippe-
canosJ mId che grandfather of ex-Presi-
dent Harrison. 1t was occupied by
Gen, Mcclellan after bis "change of
base" -
Aestover, two miles below Berkeley,
dates from 1923, and is one Of the most
beautiful Hold-time properties in the
james River Valley. The plantation
was laid ont by Sir John Paulett. The
present hopse was built by Col. William
Byrd, tbe founder Of Richmond, in
17BT From this place Benedict Ar
mold, in command of British force, de-
parted
10 CAPTURE RICHMOND.
Tho plEsceayas used as Federal Head
quarters during the civil war Westover
ie fpfrUs lo.r,,pd hv No; q II n,a,,.r,-