The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-15
a TRIP TO ALEXANDRIA, VA
Historic Town Of Revolutionary Fam

Editor OF Press and Banner:
A few days ago, Barn well Aiken aud myself
took trip over the electric line from wash
ington TO Alexandria, Va, and thinking tnat
interested in some OF the historical facts
touching this quaint old town, shall under
take to describe briefly some OF the Polnts Oh
interest which were shown us there.
Alexandria Is located on the Potomac,
about seven miles south OF Washington and
In at this time town Of some twenty thou.
sand Inhabitants. There 1s perhaps no more
historic spot in the United States. It was
fiourishing town long before the majestic Cap
ital City was laid ont; and there are houses
standing there today which are from one hun
dred and sixty TO two hundred years old:
A house that is always pointed out the the
been preserved more as relic than Tor utill.
Iy. The front Of the old building. or what
should be the 'front.' for 1t originally fronted
on the riv. r, ls entirely caaed IN and obstruot-
for a long time could not accommodate the
trade, has itself long since been abandoned for
hotel purposes, and is now little more than an
old rookery.
The Carlisle house Is small two story 6IISs ks
by rock court. The entrance is through
kind OF portal or tunnel.
II was in this house that the Colonial Gov
ernors held The first conference suggesiing dad ane
to the Revolution; 1t was here that Wash!ng-
ton was commissioned major IN the Britlsn
Army; and 1t was here that Braddock was
entertai ned on the eve of bis departure on the
disastrous expedition against Fort Duquesne.
Almost in sight OF the building, ts the bulld-
Ing known as the City Hotel. 1t Is q three
story brick building about sixty to forty feet
and covered with slate: ibis was GsnefH, gene ~
his home town. Here In Colonial days and In
the Infancy Of the Republic, he entertained In
the dance hall and otherwise the stately gen.
About five blocks from this latter building
and in view OF 1t, is Christs Church, q brick
building fifty or sixty feet long, ana 10 aP-
pearance not unlike the less pretentious
churches of today. 1t has been Kept In per.
feet repair, and yet In such way as not ~ TO
mar its original appearance In the least; Ihe
neat we'll kept appearance OF this OLD oullolng
would be an object lesson to the congrega-
tions of those old historic churches OF our
own section. Washington's pew, Ike the
new of lincoln, in New York Avenue Presby.
terian church. Washington. is still preserved
Rnt Alexandria's history Is not all ancient
It holds q conspicuous place In the early bis
tory of the Civil war. To "the stranger with
in Its gates'' is pointed out the Marsnell
House where one Of the first tragedies OF tne
Civil War was enacted.
1t seems that the town was occupied by
United States soldiers. In moment OF en-.
the owner OF the Marshall mouse
hoisted over 1t a Confederate flag, which
Union of1cer COL Ss%ons ds%s snp, pp1dd a1d RiiIed
him. This 80 encouraged the troops that they
in town riddled the SOutherner's body with
lets and hoisted over the house the United
States flag.
of Federal power, the spirit Of Southern pa.
triotism burned az fervently In the breast OF
the Alexandrians as in the breast Of the most
loyal of our own State. There stands today
in the streets OF this quaint old city hand
some Confederate Mon um ent of marble upon
which Is poised the bronze figure OF Confed.
crate private, facing th Q Capital, that Its pro
totype strugg ed 30 hard to enter. Standing
at he threshold OF the great Southland he
keeps his silent vigil, a monument 10 the de-
votion II not the discretion of the people
OF this historic old city.
Were II not for the proximity Of Alexan-
dria to Washington 1t would doubtless be