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

demanded 100000 as ransom
from her citizens or he threatened
to turn his cannon On the town, and
he obtained it.
Upon arriving at the Heights we
assembled to the building erected for
the Maryland Fair Ground Society
and listened to addresses from sew
eral gentlemen present. The Mary
land congressman interested all with
his historical account of the city and
experiences during the war. AS a
Union man he was exceedingly care
full of his remarks concerning the
Confederatcs, knowing their great
sensitiveness on the subject. Prof.
Moore explained the use of some OF
the instruments and new discoveries
in the Weather Bureau. The kite
which was to be sent from their ex-
pertinent station was shown, and
later went up a short distance from
the grounds opposite. The view
from the tower is very extensive in
all directions. The city of Frederick
lies below and the fertile valley OF
Frederick county stretches easterly,
while your eye gradually takes in the
Middleton Valley and the range Of
Blue Hills stretching eastward. In
imagination you see Harper's Ferry,
where the Potomac forced its way
through gap in the mountains,
which place we visited last year.
There we were shut in valley and
looked up, while here we are on a
summit and look forth on a wide ex-
panse Of country. At South Noun
tain an engagement took place be-
tween the armies during the Civil
War, short time before the battle
of Antietam and in less than a year
they were preparing for Gettysburg.
Then occurred later the battle of
Monocacy, where so many troops
were killed and wounded. Up the
old turnpike below marched the
British troops and more than a
hundred years later the Confederate
and Union armies were marshalling
for action. The view must be su-
perb on bright day, when the sun
glorifes the landscape, illuminating
the dense forest.crowned mountain
tops and chasing the shadows down
the valleys. But a dense mist was
rapidly creeping down the mountain
sides and shutting out our view.
Many exclaimed with Prof. Chick
ering, "We shall certainly come
again !"
The wild azalea and columbine
were out in full bloom and furnished
bouquets for the excursionists to
take home. They looked like a regu.
lar May.day party as they wendell
their way homeward. A caterer fur
nished dinner for those who desired
whilst others brought their own
lunches in boxes and discussed
them in little parties together. We
descended in season to explore the
town below. Our conductor had
pointed out the greenhouse by the
short bridge which we passed ovel
on Patrick street as that of Barbara
Freitchie, but we learned later that
they were obliged to take her house
down in order to widen the bridge
Whittier localized the scene in i'm
mortalizing her, for it is said tha
she was ill in bed when the troop,
passed her house, but a relative stay
ing with her flung the flag out of thu
window, and one lady feared Stone
wall Jackson used some profane Ian
guage at the time; but there is a fin
sentiment in the verse.
An excellent Quaker lady wa
asked to visit the Confederate GENE
terry, but with her strong anti-slaver,
sentiment, she did not feel to under
take it, but later she went twice t,
the cemetery where Francis S. KEY
who composed THE Star Spangle,
Banner" is buried. Last year Their
was great celebration when tn
monument was erected to his mem
DRY, and neice of his, Mrs. Turner
and her son, who were in the party
placed large bouquet of azaleas O.
the tomb, and many kodaks wer
produced to take photograph {
the granite monument surmounte,
with a standing figure of the author
holding the sheet with copy of tn
verses.
In the new section of the cit
were some handsome modern house:
Barbara Freitchie is buried in tn