St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-05-24

docks Heights.
From our regular correspondent.)
The old historic town of Frederick,
Nd, and Braddock's Heights seem
to be favorite place for excursion
parties this season. Already The
National Geographic Society has
made trip thither and The Sons
and Daughters of The American
Revolution are planning to visit
them in the near future.
The city of Frederick, is the capital
of county of the same name, which
once comprised much larger area
than at present, and she claims to
have taken more independent and
decided stand for freedom than other
sections Of the state in early times.
Being only about SIS miles from
Washington and reached by the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, it at
fords a pleasant outing for parties
from the city. Braddock's Height,
as the name suggests, is associated
with colonial and revolutionary
times. We recall the history of that
Inflated journey Of the British soldier,
Gen. Edward Braddock, when he
marched to attack the French at
Fort du Quesne near Pittsburg, Pa,
in 1855 and was surprised by the
Indians, defeated, wounded and died
July 13, 1855 at Great Meadows.
We were told that Gen. Bra ddock
embarked from Alexandria for Rock
Greek in boat at tide water and
went April IA. 1855 to Conochieg
Creek by way of Frederick, leaving
there April 80 and crossing by the
old turnpike. Furnished with maps
of that section we were ready to
follow our guides and with the aid
of our imagination, picture the whole
scene. The day for our excursion
dawned dark and suspiciously
cloudy and the weather looked very
catching, although the smoke
from the chlmneys assembled almost
perpendicularly. But Prof. Willis L.
Moore, chief of the U. S. Weather
Bureau, had the charge of the pro-
gramme for the day, and he had pre-
dicted mo rain" so $50 men and
women relying upon this prophesy
ventured out, some with umbrellas
and waterproofs and in rainy day
attire and the special train went
through Montgomery Co. Nd.
We passed through Rockville anc
Gaithersburg and when we reached
Dickerson, Sugar Loaf Mountain
doomed up above US 1850 feet above
sea level. We saw very few cattle OF
sheep but the large long red barns
with numerous windows or opening.
near old-fashioned houses were con
spicuous objects in our landscape
The farms seemed largely unde
general cultivation, and the recen
rains had brought out the leafy
green of herbs and trees. 1t remind
ed us some of the state of Pennsyl
vania. At Frederick Junction o.
Araby was fought a battle durin,
the Civil War. Frederick is a lon,
low quaint old town, with rough
cobblestones in its main streets, it
houses, low old brick red ones, will
thick heavy walls, as if built to las
several generations. Never in m,
life have seen so many sunbonnets
ootn white people and black, oil
women and children seem to wea
them. There must be a monopoly il
the trade. The advent of such
party made sensation, for mos
of the windows and doors of tn
houses when we passed were file
with sunbonnets with somebody il
side. They ought to form sur
bonnet brigade there.
We took the electric cars on Patric
street for the Heights, few mile
above us. The Confederate an
Union armies both occupied the cit
at different times. Gen. Robert I
Lee was there with his army 6 dav.
from Sept. 6, 1862, to Sept. /.
When Gen. Mcclellan entered h
! withdrew. Gen. Early was there wit