The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-07-16
ON HISTORICAL GROUND.
Many Points of Interest
Described.
INTERESTING TRIP 10 YORKTOWN
Communicated

Communicated
In state abounding with places oI
historical interest it is next To the impos
sible To- give any definite spot the right
of way above all others But visitors
touring Virginia for the first time will
find they make no mistake ii when ar-
ranging the itinerary of their trip they
include visit to the famous old village
OF Yorktown. ON the York river, and it,
immediate vicinity OF all the many in
tcrcsting places in the Stateeasy Of access
to the visitor none is more attractive
than this little village Placid and
modest. Yorktown nestles in sleepy
tranquility on the southern shore
Of the beautiful York river. Yet,
for all uf its quiet and peaceful appear
ancc. there are still a great many things
of interest about the town to recall the
stirring Scenes enacted upon it's site two
centuries ago. OF all these " Temple
Farm is undoubtedly worthy Of precc-
dencc. for il was in the old mansion. yet
standing ON the estate, that Washington
and his distinguished French associates
were sheltered ON the memorable day in
October. l7Sl. when Lord CORVALLIS,
with 800 men. was forced to captulate
to the Americans. after having been be-
sicgcd for weeks at Yorktown. The
house il naturally badly worn and fast
decaying from its old age, but 50 long as
it does stand it will serve as a vivid re-
minder Of it's celebrated occupants.
Next in interest To the farm is the
famous cave in which it is said Corn
wallis hid when too closely pressed 10y
the combined forces under Washington,
Lafayette, ROchambeau and DE (irassc.
At the present time the cave is in poorcon-
dition. owing to it's having been used for
years a. rough-weather shelter for
stock It's walls are slowly giving away,
and il would take considerable hard
labor to put it in repair; yet, for all OF
that. il is still "Cornwallis' Cave il ira
dition can be believed. and a. such is well
worth seeing whether in good or bad
state Of preservation.
And the monument erected years ago
by the nited States Government, to COM
mcmorate the decisive struggle that re-
suited in American Independence, is not
10 be- overlooked. Today it stands glis-
tening in the sunlight to welcome the
visitor and to cheer the heart of the pa
triot Just as it did the assembled crowd
when unveiled years ago. 1t is especially
fitting that the spot should he so well
remembered by the descendants of the
heroes who won the ground, and as n
testimonial to their great achievement
the dminutiyc shaft admirably iulflls it's
duty.
As before stated, Yorktown is compar-
atively easy OF access Lee Hall, the
nearest railway point-a small station
ON the Richmond Norfolk branch of the
e. 4 O.-is but about ten miles south OF
the village, while the Chesapeake line
steamers, running on the Bay and York
river between Baltimore and Norfolk,
touch three times a week at the York
town landing, both coming from and go
ing TO Baltimore
The York river is deep and nearly a
mile wide at the Yorktown landing. Ii
has been suggested that the place be
made a naval rendezvous, and that the
village would make an admirable spot
for national encampments. From the
opinion the visitor forms of Yorktown
he unconsciOusly concurs in this idea.
The village seemingly has every advan-
tage for n suitable location, and would
undoubtedly prove the most appropriate
spot that could be chosen.
However, interesting as the village ana
its history certainly is, Yorktown ia not
the only attractive feature in this section
of Virginia lying on the Bay. First, there
is Williamsburg with its old college and
many other attractions, while directly
across the river from Yorktown the forti-
fcations and breast works, extending in
land for several hundred yards on Glouces-
ter Point, furnish striking and solemn
example of the earnest effort made by the
Confcderates to keep the Federals from
landing at the Point at the beginning OF
the Civil war. True, the Federals did