Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-07-23

The Valley rs fun Of interesting nat
srai aud historical scenery Along
the route from the Potomac to the
Roanoke are TO be found watering
places about medicinal springs OF al
most every variety. To these with lit
Tie trouble the traveller may make side
trips for rest and recreation. Among
these springs are the Shannondale a
few miles east OF Charlestown in JEFF
ferson county, Capon Springs near
Winchester, Massanetta and Rawleys
Springs near Hasrisonburg, Stribhling
and Variety Springs near Stauntop,
Rockbrldge Alum near Lexington,
Brockett's Yellow sulphur, Alleg heny
Blue Ridge and White Sulphur near
Roanoke.
The traveller may enter the valley
ut Harper's Ferry. To this place John
Brown with his men came in 1889
Here he was made prisoner The old
engine house which he used as fort
ha- been regretted In field near the
road leading TO Charlestown. Here is
Jefierson's Rock, and here was the
sites Of the United States armory and
arsenal In which were stored some 90
600 stands of arms. At this place some
of the most stirring scenes of the war
were enacted When Lee moved his
army into Maryland In 1862 Harper's
Ferry was garrisoned with an army Of
$4,000 men under General Miles.
Stonewall jackson was detailed to
capture this force. This he did between
September IL aud l5, aud compelled
the surrender of nearly 1900 men.
The capture of this place at that time
was probably one of the most spectac-
uiar battles of The war. when great bat
teries browning Loudon and Mary
land mountains and the heights be-
yond Bolivar began to play upon the
devoted garrison previous to surren-
der, meanwhile great columns Of men
were moving into position and prepar-
ING for the assault they believed inc
vitabIe
From Harper's Ferry one goes over
an excellent road and through bean.
tiful country TO Charlestown. This was
once the home OF some of the Wash
ingtons, and after one OF whom it was
named. At this place may be seen the
court house in which Brown and his
men were tried. Near the town is the
spot where he was hung. In .l754 one
column of Braddock's army camped
there on its fateful march 10 capture
Fort Duguesne. About two and half
miles southeast of Charlestown ~ a
cave in which tradition states WASH
ington and other Masons were aceus-
toned to meet. Near Charlestown are
the ruins of an old church with its
walls covered with ivory, while around
1t lie buried the people who once wor-
shipped within its walls. The history
Of the church is uabknown
The traveller may enter Virginia mt
shepherdstown, the oldest town in
the Valley. Before reaching it he pass
es through the battlefield at Antietam,
one Of the bloodiest fights Of the war.
Here on September II, 1862, Mcclellan
and Lee fought. On the Federal side
the lossin killed, wounded and pris-
oners were AZ, 469., and on the Confed.
crate 25,sT9. While crossing the Poto-
7 mac and ShepherdstowD one may see
the spot where Rumsey, the inventor
OF the steamboat, tried to nsvigate the
waters with steam. The people ia the
neighbarhood called the boat ss1'he
Flying Boat IT made about five
mi les an hour against the current. In
travelling from Shepherdstown to
Winchester one passes Leetown,
named after General Charles Lee o.
Revolutionary fame. The house in
which he lived is still standing. He
was curious genius. His house had
no partitions In 1t, but he had marked
off the floor in spaces and called one
bis dining room, another his kitchen,
and one his bed room. General Wash
ington once called onhim. Lee heard
Of his coming and when Washington
arrived he found the house locked up
and a plaes I'd on the door reading.
No meals cooked here today and
Lee was gone He did not like Wash
in gton.
Three miles northwest of Charles
town is .Harwood House" built by
George Washington iii 1913 for his
brother Samuel. This Is perhaps the
ino st noted home in The Valley. In
this house Dorothy Payne Todd, bet
ter known AZ "Dolly Madison was
married TO james Madison, twice the
President OF the United States. II was
size who for eight years presided with