The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-07-19
THE OLD ARSENAL.
One of the Former Show
Places of Fayetteville
Its Pleasant History.
For The Messenger:

foE Inc messenger:
Some OF the younger readers OF The
Messenger in this town and section
have asked me to write a description
of the DID United States arsenal OH
Haymount which the fortune Of war
Laid in ashes and made heaps of ruins
before they were born.
At its best. the arsenal and its en-
virons constituted one of the most
beautiful places in the state, ever In
the South. Its situation was ideal
overlooking the pretty little city o.
Fayetteville on a plateau Of many
acres, breaking sheer off on The east
in q steep wooded declivity, which
swept away from the whole front in a
descent OF n quarter of a mile. In the
extensive basin far below, from clumrs
of the hickory, the oak and the elm,
glistened the roofs. cupolas and spires
OF dwellings, blocks of stores, churches
and public buildings.
The arsenal prope DOL up about one
fourth OF this plateau, with 4 oack-
ground of beautiful grove, ancient and
majestic in the finest specimens Of for-
est growth. The buildings were Sc: on a
plaza almost square, thanked at the
four corners by lofty hexagonal towers.
fiat on top, Bayard Taylor N his
very interesting work of travel, describ-
ing the Tai Mahal in India, the mar
velously beautiful tomb of Princess
Moor Jehan, says: O. one side of the
Tai is e mosque with three domes Of
ral -n~l-y4-o e
white marble. Now on the opposite
sid there is Il building precisely sim
liar, but of no use whatever except as
a balance of the mosque, lest the per
feet symmetry Of the whole design
should be spoiled" So 1t must have
been with those arSenaI towers. When
! was a boy n of them was occasion
I occupied IS an office; but if the
{ --er three were ever put to any use
whatever, l have never heard of it
to this day. But their architectural eff
feet was very fire, giving proportion,
unity, grace to the whole compreher-
sive design. In the center of the plaza
was the armory, an imposing ooiong
structure. solidly built and not with
out tasteful ornamentation, in which
were stored the munitions of war,
principally some thousands OF musketS.
Thanking this, were machine shops,
but there the work was not strenuous,
for the term arsenal was a missioner
it was really only an armory until it
passed into the hands Of the Southern
Confederacy.
At the southern end Of the east
front-along which were afterwards
built other elegant ediices-was the
stately residence of the commandment;
and in the days of my boyhood this
position was held successfully by Capt.
Dyer, Capt. Bradford, Mai. Laidley,
and perhaps one other whom l do not
now recall. The officer of the army
assigned to this post might well nave
rejoiced that his lines were cast in
pleasant places for, to an indolent
man, it must have been a delightful
sinecure-almOSt nothing to do, with
sumptuous quarters, pleasant and
charming surroundings. and enjoying
an influential position in a refined com
munity as the ranking military repre-
sentative of a great government.
Captain Bradford vas a ~plethoric,
somewhat crusty old bachelor, and a
high liver. rejoicing in the good things
of life, which he shared with Gener-
Gus hospitality with his friends. Il
used to be said that the CUES who
stretched his legs under the red ma
hogany Of the old c~ommandant was
sure of very fine liquors, and wines
of rare and costly vintage. With all
this Captain Bradford could not be
called of a social disposition. He was
rarely seen out and when he wen;
abroad, rode or ak out alone-and
was seldom seen at church, though
that. / suspect, was because he was
a bit of a heather.
Capt Dyer was a soldier a good deal
after the style Of he ponderous, POM
pous General Winfield Scott-addicted
to the brass buttons, gold lace and
epaulettes Of his calling, and there was
a good e of ceremony during his
regime. He owned a leash of gray
hounds of pure blood, the most beauti,
full animals I ever saw, and as gentle
as lambs. They were the pets or all
Haymount, adored by the children. anu
had the welcome run of every house
in the neighborhood. One of them died
ttragically, stalking himself while ir
chase of "a in the arsenal grove
and was found cad teh next day., with
a stubborn hickory twig embedded deer
in his breast.
Maj Laidley was a grave, dignifeo
man, trim and neat in person.; and
as we'll as / can recall him, eXerteC
more effort than his predecessors tt
identify himself with the interests Oh
the community-in other words, there
was more of the civilian in his make
UP. He mingled with the people, was q
frequent and welcome guest at theil
houses, transferred his membership te
one Of the churches; and, if / mistake
not, invested in property in Fayetta
Vile.
The commanding officer of the United
States arsenal had a staff Of eficien'
assistants in the performance of his
arduous duties, though those really dix
have something to do. They were VII
liam Bell, a bluff Scocchman of hlgf
intelligence and fine character, Who's
blood is transmitted and honored mem
DRY perpetuated in this community IL
his granddaughter, Mrs A s. Huske
a prominent, and accomplished societ,
woman of Fayetteville, who lived ii
one of the fine residences on the cas-