Year: 1864

From Our Own Corresponi lent


BALTIMORE, April II. 1864.


Hearing that trout-fshing had begun in the
streams west and south Of Frostburg and desrous Of
seeing how tie ooafelds Of AHeghany would look after
the popular decree abolshng Slavery in Maryland,
seized upon last Thursday evening the close Of the first
real Spring day Of this year. TO make the trip 10 Cum
berland.


Our party Of two beside myself met at the Camden
Station at p. m got comfortable bertbs In one OF
Knights sleeping and had hardly turned in before
the train was of for the mountains. Sleep for two
three hours of the question in the midst Of the
discussion arising Of the glorious result just achieved
in favor Of liberty for the white well the black
man; md So after finding throas rather drer than
usual we sought to aay our thirst by bottle OF pure
Rudesheimer.


dawn found us within an hour or two from Cumberland
dashing along the bank Of the crooked Potomac ut
fearful rate over the Baltimore and Ohio Comp1y's
admirable road which The Rebels have not been able TO
destroy. though they essaycd to do 20 with two huge
armies and guerrinas without number. Breakfast
awaited US OF the ST. Nicholas Hotel in Cumberland
but such breakfast The least said the soonest mended
By the by it is disgrace TO the pretty Town Of Cum
berland that il cannot boast hotel fit TO put up at


tour Of exploration through the town and over the
surrounding hills occupied the spare time we had before
the departure Of the train to Frostburg One of our
party got very striking sketch Of the town and Wills
Mountain and It's gorge for picture They are build
ing very large number Of canal boats for the coal
trade this season. 70 fill the gap occasioned by the
destruction Of IN the last three years ard the trade
viii be very heavy this Spring If the canal does not
break.


OF for the mines at 10 o'clock up through the gorge
or notch Of Wills Creek Grand is the work Of the
waters in cutting through tho mountain range that
once damned them up Less than two hours brought
us 70 Savage Iron Works, where We met friends who
told us marvellous things of trout fishing in the
days of February Just ~ miles west ofFrostburg None
less than six inches In length, and up to twelve
inches No mistake this time and nothing but trout
gsteDed before eager eyes, as we would hook them
In imagination and swing them In the balmy air, for
all Friday was like June day.


Detained by unusual number OF coal trains flying
down the Us of the mountain side Reached Frostburg
too late to get 70 the trout brook that Afternoon and
spent ii in saunterng through the town and trying TO
pump everybody we met as to the chances for trout
The snow the summit Of Savage Mountain did not
inspire US with much hope and everybody said there
were trout within several miles At last we met an
old Republican friend who had borne the flag Of Anti
Slavery aoft in Allegheny County in the years Of trial
He had been in a snOw-stOrm the Monday evening pre-
yious Savage Ran and the snow was two feet deep
This news extinguished all hope for the warm days
swelling the streams in every direction, and they


Friday might il set in to rain and rained all the next
day in torrents In order TO avoid night trip down the
Potomac we set out for Cumberland on Saturday
ing and just got foot two Of u.s. ON the car when
the Eastern train moved of Our third companion we
left behind coal business Seven o'clock Saturday
evening landed two IN Baltimore safe and sound, the
trip having been made through berce rainstorn all
day long. But there fog along the river and
enjoyed the mountain scenery the full. Talk Of
the Erie Railroad, the Pennsylvania Central and all
others and through mountain regions They are
tame by the side " the Baltimore and Ohio from MOnOc
scy Bridge 10 Cumberland Further on, it is sIl more
grand.


was amazed to fnd the road track in such splendid
order especially where the work Of Rebel destruction
had been carried II is bedded the whole way in
broken stone and the second track all ready the
ties and rails When we consider the wanton ruin of
this road so many times since the war began, by the
Rebels and look at il in the full tide successful
working we are CONTAINED 10 admit that nothing short
Of the hercuean energy of its President and master
OF transpoi aton cOuld have achieved such triumph
over obstacles SO formidable. Mr.. Garrett and Alr
Smith deserve and receive the highest credit Cor their
indefafgabe abors keeping this thoroughfare open
against such terrible odds they have had TO encoun
ter Nor can il be denied that much Of their success In
The management Of this road Is due to their admirably
organized oticiary.


In passing HGrpers Ferry. there we see John Browns
citadel the blacksuths shop, standing alone unhur
In the midst Of the ruins OF all around
Strange that the Rebels did not destroy this monument
of the old martyrs resistancel Since my return my
fellow Traveller passed the bridge Sunday evening
by climbing over coaltrain that had been run upon
tie treste,work TO kecpit from being swept away by
the angry torrent bear today that the whoe stIuc-
ture wen. down; but rn~pe it is a mistake.


The desolation Of the country from Hancock 70 mar
Nearly ali the fencing Is gone, though saw good
many fields Of growing wheat. Martinsburg Is the
picture of woe and destruction. Two long lines OF
thorn hedging near Cumberland, and near Point OF
Rocks. told what art might do II II were there


Our friend who was left behind got to Cumberland
on Saturday evening to be present at dinner parry
given to the Vice. President, the West Virginia Sena
tors, and Gen sige 1t was gotten up by the butter on
the train taking Mr.. Hamlin westward. My friend In
forms that Mr.. H. made good speech. hoping that
Gen. Sgel would keep the great Aleghanian hghway
open. The General said be would Try to DO So MI