The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-20

ago the walls and portfolios OF the fort
and the stone foundations OF the SOLDIERS
quarters were plainly discernible: The
quarters seemed 10 be OF comfortable
size and the fort was ample protection
against any attack upon IL from any
source. save, perhaps. from the Brltlsh
army. In the stone arsenal were stored
arms and ammunition. The river offered
water power for mill, OF which the mill
stone found near by gave evidence for
more than a hundred years this fort has
stood IN The woods unmolested. 10 excite
the interest and investigation OF the cur
ious visitor. Until within few years past
the woods remained undisturbed, but re-
Gently they have been cut down and the
whole place cleared, so that where once
the shadows OF thick growth were cast
Is nov a clear field on which are growing
crops OF corn. tobacco and clover Inc
land passed out of the estate or Mr.. Gait,
and the new owner. an enterprislng ana
energetic young farmer IS making good
crops on the rich ground. lie has un-
earthed many interesting relies OF the
garrison Gunlocks, bayonets, gun bar
rels. cannon balls. grapeshot, brass
siderable numbers. No inducement could
persuade the owner TO part with any OF
these relics.
This position IN the then wiids OF Nir-
ginis, remote from the scenes Of war ac-
tiVities. afforded excellent facilities lor
organizing aud recruiting an army. Inc
fort was impregnahle against attacks
from Indians, OF whom there must nave
been large numbers, II me may Judge
from the number OF Indian relics found
in this locality. From comparatively
small areas along this part OF the James
river valley great numbers OF Indian ar
rowheads. spearheads, tomahaMhs; s.uI1e u
pots etc. have been collected, lnulcatlns
That these were hunting and bsttle
ero,inds ~ Indian bands But il the gar
rison considered Itself strong enough 10
resist any attacks from INDIANS, II looN
"A very different View OF its aplllty 70 i coIii-
pete with the British. When lailetoll
made his raid up the valley OF the James
the baron made all haste 20 put James
river between the enemy ana MS niue
army. Tradition has II that ms ilhe OF
march was directly south from me IoIl,
and the force under him crossed James
river Just west OF Cats island ~ wa
SAID that many muskets were sunk IN the
on the south side OF the river the Gins
rise precipitately and on the hlgh Ei2IAu
Just opposite Mr.. Calls house stanas
very old dwelling. The place is named
Cobham. taken from Lord Cobham, o.
England who travelled through TINS par'
OF Virginia before the Revolutionary, Wal
and crossed the river at CartersVlile,
village ten miles lower down. lie pre-
dicted that Gainesville was destined 70
come a great city because OF the guam
uty OF tobacco he saw shipped from aih .nts
point He was not a good prophet: Ihe
old house, Gotham, was the only pu.
within a radius of many miles AZ @tna' @
time. and the baron and ms lltle l,,S, aliIS
must have rested. after their inconunenl nl
deDarture from the fort, under tne snsus
of some trees I'm the Gotham yard, whlch
are OF great age. The enterprisihS laIni'
er has made successful assaults upon lht
old fort. the stones of which were wahteu
for other purposes The arsenal SUI
stands in crumbling condition Ihe
field around IL is cleared ana ne d.,
himself should his spirit visit this world
would scarcely recognize the GROUND on
which this fort was built by hands tha'
helped 10 make the nation. ~, -. :,
Perhaps many more relics VIII cone u
urbt as the work Of sub-soiling proceeds
10 attest the earnestncss with which oul
forefathers cultivated that maruai splrl
which undismayed by many uials anC
J{ffIcuities at last established the great
est nation on earth.-Washington POST.