Evening Star Newspaper, August 25, 1883, Page 2

“THE FIRST FIGHT ON THE SOIL OF VIRGINIA, Description of a Battle in the Darkness. Written for Taz Sta by T.J. Murray. Some hypercritieal persons have asked me, Speaking of two articles of war reminiscences [ wrote for THe Stan, ‘ what's the use of stirring up these old things—why not let war matters rest?” Treply that I deem it right, nay a duty, that the soldiers on both sides in our great civil war, should put upon record their memories of the events In which they participated; for in that ‘way only is it possible for a measurably true history of the war to be written in the future. And I believe that a man should write in the iret person and put his name to his articles, 0 that If he stretches the bianket of truth in his statements, every one at least will know who it 4s that is lying. The above is my excuse for the following: On page 164, vol. I, Comte de Paris, in his Distory of the ctvil war in America, says: “On the first of June Beauregard. who since the capture of Sumter had become too soon for his reputation, the favorite genéral of the south, was placed in command of the so-called depart- ment ot Alexandria, comprising all the tract of country between Richmond and Washington. He found & little army already assembled at Manassas Junction. On the same day shots Were exchanged for the first time between the two parties on the soil of Virginia. A detach- ment of regular Federal cavalry proceeded as far as the village of Fairfax C. H., west of Alexandria and dislodged a post of the enemy from it,” &c., &c. TRUE WITH AN EXCEPTION. All the above is true, except as to “the dis- Jodgment of a post of the enemy from it,” al- though that post was considerably shaken up, s0to speak. The facts in the case areas tol- lows: ‘Soon after the occupation of Alexandria by the federal forces and the retreat of the confed- erate troops who occupied that city to Manassas Junction, Fairfax C. H. was one of the posts of observation formed in front by the confederates. Here two companies of cavalry were stationed— the Rappahannock cavalry and the Prince Wil- Mam cavalry—who numbered together about 200 men. Lieut. Col. (afterwards Lieut. Gen.) Eweli was placed in command, and with char- acteristic energy he at once proceeded to get these commands Into some sort of shape and discipline, for they were about as raw in the Manner and school of the soldier as raw could well be. ‘hey were splendid material to work on, though—fine, stalwart fellows, bolling over with pluck, and, as a rule, fluely mounted. But as to arms, both companies were wretchedly prowitod. The Rappahannock cavalry had noth- but sabers, and they did not know how to handle these even. while the Prince William ¢avalry had only five-shooters of Allen's patent. With such arms if way well be imagined that the very bravest men would have but little con- fidence in themselves when pitted against well- armed troops. » How EWELL TRAINED THE BOYS. Col. Ewell at once instituted a system of Vigorous drill inthe school of the cavalryman, for the most part exercising the functions of rill master himself, and the way In which he stormed at them was a new revelation to the citizens, who were on-lookers, and to the men In the ranks, who at that time were not accus- tome, y that respect and deference to the 0} ich discipline and the experience of battle brought afterwards. Col. Ewell treated these mea precisely as if they had been regulars, and, while their volunteer blood burned, he, at least, Inspired them with a mor- tal dread of him, and with the belief that he ‘Wouldn't hesitate to shoot any of them by Qrum-head court-martial for any offense against discipline and that, too, w ence to the letter’ of army regulations. At this time the turnpike — leading to Alexandria, the Fa'ls Ciureh road, and the Vienna re i, some two or three niles out *, by this body of The wen were new far out from the main s while on picket. agnumber of occasions, } 1 the duty. and dy were very quence on from their posts arous- opmmand, and exciting the inhabitants gf the village by false alarms of the approach of the enemy. Col. 1 sot tired of this sort of thing and heswore a mighty oat caused it to be announced to the ¥O compa- nies that the next picket who came in with a false alarm would be summarily shot. That set- tled it, and there were no more false alarms, in there were no more alarms of any kind, and believe that if the whole federal army had ad- ¥anced upon them the pickets wouid have quietly retreated before it, and made no men- tion of the matter. In fact I heard some of the men say that they wouldn't give an alarm if they saw the enemy in the village. The severe discipline imposed upon these men at the out- set. seemed to have a bad effect on their morale. Now, no restrietion had been imposed upon citi- zens entering the village, even those who came from within the picket line of the enemy, al- though the neighborhood of Falls Church was settled chiefly by northern men, who were gen- erally well kgown as Union men. As a magter of fact. then, there was no difficulty in the find- ing out, by the federal officer commanding the United States regular cavairy stationed at Falls Church, a'l he wanted to know about tne two confederate cavalry companies at Fairfax Court House—their numbers. stations, equipment and temper. That he did find out all these things ‘Was proved by the sequel. THAT MAY NIGHT. This, then, was the situation of affairs at Fair- fax C.H.on the night of May 3lst. 1861,—the Rappahannock cavalry was quartered in the and the Prince William ‘opal church some two or three hundred yards further up the pike, and on the outskirts of tie village. That evening late the Warrenton Rifles, Capt. John Q. Marr comtuanding. pumbering about 90 men, arrived in the villaze and took up their quarters In the Methodist church, situated on the county Toad that crosses the pike at right angles and leads to fax Station, on the Virginia Midland road. So that the three companies Were quartered in buildings about 300 yards from each other. It is pretty certain that the federal commander at Falls Chureh had not heard of the arrival of this company of infan- try, and this was what spoiit his ealculations in the end. joute one o'clock of the morning of June Ist Lieatenant Tompkins (now as- sistant quartermaster general U.S. A.), com- manding company 8B. eecond U. S. regulars, numbering about 80 men, left his camp at Falls Church, and, under the guidence of a Union citizen, of the name of Sage. took the road leading to Fairfax Court House. He attempted to capture the confederate cavalry picket on that road, bat — fled, and neither gave the alarm to the infantry picket of two men sta- tioned about a quarter of a mile from the vil- lage, whom they passed, nor, so as I can learn, to their officers in the village. SKEDADDLE OF THE CONFEDERATE CAVALRY. The night was as dark as Erebus, just that @arkest hour which precedes the dawn, when the federal command approached the infantry picket and were upon them almost betore they could fire, but they did fire and thus gave a par- tial alarm. The federal cavairy then moved rapidly up the main street of the village, and when epposite the court-house they began firing into it ou one side of the road and the hote on the other with their pistols. The Rappahannock cavairy, being armed, as I have said, only with sabers, and not even being drawn up in line. but all in confusion, did not hesitate upon the order Of their going, but slid away into the darkness towards Manassas. The federal cavalry next moved down the pike to the Episcopal church, aud though some sort of a stand was made by a few of the Prince William cavalry they, too, incontinentiy sloped for parts unknown. That these two companies were routed out of their peaceful slumbers and si 5 with no knowledge of the number of the attacking force is an undoubted tact, but the main cause of their ignominious defeat and fight was the darkness that prevailed and that no plan of concert of action had been laid down forthem. In fact, they were green—as green as grass—and with the usual contempt for vel- unteers, which then pervaded the West Pointers of the regular army, Col. Ewell did not entrast to them Lsepehemgers as he would have done to regular soldiers. The consequence was a panic that, had it not been for another litle circum- stance, would have effectually barred Lieut.Col. Ewell’s rapid promotion in the army, which took place afterwards. THE INFANTRY SAVE EWELL FROM DISGRACE. While Lieut. Tompkins was thus engaged in dispersing the two companies of cavalry and shaking things up generally, as above stated, there was avery interesting little drama being q@macted at the Methodist church, wi athe Warrenton Rifles were stationed. This éom- pany was one of the crack compantes of the State, having been composed of the very elite of fhe youth of Fauquier county. There were a number of relatives and sons of his nearest friends in the company, so GOVERNOR (EXTRA BILLY) SMITH had accompanied them to the village, and the old war-horse liked to be near at hand when Powder was to be burned anyhow. When the firing began In front of the court housethe com- Pany was hastily formed in front of the church, and Governor Smith was soon in the midst of them dealing out oratorical encouragement, ore rotundo, to fight bravely for fing and state. Soon Col. Ewell, who had been rousted out of his quarters by the firing and yelling, came up to the company as it was moving off downa side lane towards the firing, and as he was in his shirt sleeves, (he had taken off his captain's coat—it was the only one he had—he had worn in the regular army, because, as he said after- wards, he never wanted to fight in that livery again), and did not condeseend to explain who he was, his peremptory manner and rough handling ot some of the men who did not move to suit him, came near getting for him the butt end of a rifle over the head. However, Gov. Smith soon explained things, and nis orders were obeyed. BADLY MIXED. When the command reached the gate of Stey- enson’s farm, where the lane made a bend to- wards the turnpike, a squad of cavalry suddenly burst through the center of the column and threw the whole. line into momentary confu- sion, in which there was considerable leaping of fences into the flelds. It is not known to this day what cavalry this was, whether confederate or federal; but a number of shots were fired, a portion of the company retreated towards Ma- Dassas, and when order was restored Col. Ewell found he had only about forty men to aid him. With this force, accompanied by Gov, Smith, he marched to the turnpike and took possession on either side, faciug the way the federal cavalry had gone. And here I may state that I hap- pened to be present at the only real fight ef the night, owing to the fact that I was sitting up with a sick father, and was awake when the firmg began. I took my double-barreled shot- gun and a sufficiency of buck-shot, and made my way cautiously (some three hundred yards off) towards the point where the shooting was joing on, and fortunately fell in with one of the iflee, who was lying in wait behind a fence on the side of the pike. Soon a dark mass ap- peared moving slowly towards the position taken by the Rifles. It was evident they were cavalry, from the height of the mass; but it was impossible to alstinguish the forms of the riders trom those of the horse. FIRING IN THE DARK. When they had approached within fifty yards Col. Ewell stepped out in the middle of the pike, revolver in hand, his white shirt making him conspicuous, and cried out: “ What cavalry is that?” He reiterated the demand twice, when sud- denly there belched out from the front of the ark mass three or four tongues of flame, and Ewell, staggering to the right of the roadside, shouted. “Fire on the —— — ——,.” and sunk down beside the tence behind which his roops were posted. Then the rifilemen blazed way, Icading and firing as fast as possibie, while the federal cavalry kept up a pyrotechnic fire from their pistols. Btrange to eay, they did not use their carbines that night. The cavalry. not appreciating the flerce fusilade which greeted them on their first appearance, retired for a few hundred yards, but svon- they came on again, and the order was distinctly heard for the charge; but the men were loth to obey; they were as much in the dark as to what they were opposed to as had been the confederates in_the early part of the melee. The officer of the federals cried out: m it, they are nothing but citizens; .” A voice from the ranks replied: “No ns fire that way.” In the meantime Col. though sorely wounded through the Shoulder, had gotien hisriflemen in better shape, now that the position of the enemy was known, and as they came up forthe second time by order one-half the men reserved their fire; but they went back again without hurting a man on the confederate side by their return fire. All this time Gov. Smith was exposing himself in ex- horting the men, bot by voi and example, and he was only silenced by being forcibly ud- monished by his kinsfulk that he was doing more harm than good in revealing the position to the enemy. After an interval of fifteen minutes or so, and just as an order had been given for the company to form in the turnpike, the pickets who had been sent in front fired and camre running in. It was yet too durk to see objects distinctly, but the outline of man and horse gould be Well, noted. ‘The federal cavalry advanced at a trot, and the Rifies, stretched In a double line across the pike, with! Miscissippl rifles withonf bayonets, stood firmly, and at eighty vards poured in a well-directed volley that sent them to the rizhtabout once more. They then (the cavalry) retreated north- ward, and as was seen at daylight by the line of dead horses, had gone off finally by the right and to the rear. As soon as it was fally light the loss began to be estimated. EWELL WOUNDED. As far as then known Col Ewell was painfally Wounded, one of the Rappahannock cavairy mortally and several of the Rifles had received slight scratches. There was no telling then how many had been captured, for Capt. Marr, with one-half of his company, had disappeared and only a few of the cavalry had returned from their skedaddie. In company with others, about sun-up, I was searching the field where the in- fantry was first broken, when I came upon an officer Iving on his face in the high grass with his sword and belt in his left hand and a Pistol lying near his hand, which was flung yard. I lifted his hand and saw that he was dead. I went up to the rifle company, then drawn up about a hundred yards off and told what I had seen. Instantly a colored man behind the ranks cried out, “MY GOD, IT’S MARSE JOHN!” and sobbing and crying he broke into arun for the place [ had indicated. It was too true. It was the body of Captain. Juha Q. Marr, the first officer killed in battle on the soil of Virginia during the late war. He had been shot through the heart by a bullet from a carbine held by a horseman. The direction of the wound proved that. Lieut. Tompkins, in his official report, states that he lost one man killed and five wounded, inclading himself. His small lose~may be ‘at- tributed to the fact that owing to the darknegs. the rifles fired too low, and. hig the horses in- stead of thelr riders. Twas a tively-little Sight at any rate, aud of importancé, as tlié first clash. of arms between the hostile forces fn Virginia. T have written the above from memory only. and may have too much colored some facts and omitted others, but at least Lhave tried to write honestly. In what I have stated about the harshness of Gen. Ewell’s discipltte and ill- treatment of the volunteers and civilians with whom he came in contact at that period, I have only to say that afterwards they came to know him better, and his men loved and trusted him ‘as he in turn loved and trusted them. ———_—__.ee— = THE HOME OF THE THOUT. Notes of an August Vacation—The Place Where You Den’t Have w Go Eight er Nine Miles Up the Branch” to Get Good Fishing. Correspondence of Tax Evenmxe Stan. In THE Woops oy Maine, August, 1883. A brief account of a recent trip to the Seven Ponds above Rangeley, in Maine, may interest you, and if brief enough may, I hope, find place in Tue Star. Our party of four, careworn from @ year’s work and excitements of business and professional life in the cities. and dusty from two days’ travel, stepped off the cars of the very narrow gauge Sandy River railroad at Phillips, Me., and put our autographs on the register of the “ Elmwood” at 7 p. m. the 30th of July last. We were greeted by the genial proprietor, T. L. Page, for auld lang syne, and aiter refreshing ourselves within the statutes and enjoying a inner and cigars, turned in our clean and com- fortable beds for the night. Next morning all ap; at the breakfast table in fishing suits and light marching order. There we left our luggage and with it our cares, our clients and our business annoyances, as our friend Page, of Elmwood, is wiilit thus to re- Ueve his guests, and send them into the woods to enjoy themselves. God made a beautiful world, and man has improved many points thereof, but one may travel over continents to find so inviting « place as Phillips, a house equal to the Elnweod, and a host the peer of T. L. < y stage, eighteen miles to Greenvale, and then two miles to Rangeley, over & good mountain road with picturesque views, @ most and delightful ride ts the route ofthe tourist: to the Rangeley chain of waters. Through the kind offices of mine host of the Elmwood and the generosity of thestage proprietor, our party was wi splendid team of horses with an open wagen, ‘and we made the trip to Rangeley before our hrs apse hese oo cone as antest features of our enjoyable yacation. | sei pie Meal guides mn these anywhere, we may than apywl we may giving their names; Henry met us here at the Range- | th Soule, Charles Haley, of Rangeley, and Cornelius of Kennel ae we weet ca @ buck! ‘board, ten mileg to Kennebago lake, arriving about 7p. for ing, after jaartersfor about twenty-five sporte- men, and has sos uae mail communications through the sporting season. The proprietors, Grant & Richardson, are well known guides, and have control of most of the on the Kennebago Iakes and \ds above. . Grant is also proprietor of the Oquossoc House, at Rangeley, where the sporteman will find clean beds, abundant and well-cnoked food, and [ear surroundings. Kennebago lake is about lve miles long i one mile wide, and, as viewed from the camp, is bounded by primitive forests of solid green to the water's edge, with a bold and precipitous mountain at the foot, making @ most charming vista, Here, year after year, come the same people, men and women; some distinguished, some unknown to fame, but all lovers of nature. The sun was shining on the mountains, and rapidly covering the surface of the lake, while the tall firs and spruce trees cast thelr long shadowsabout us as we pushed off the beach on the morning of August ist, our packs filled with provisions for ten days, and necessary change of clothing, together with guns and rods, se- carely packed and stored in the bottom of the boats. Our course was to the foot of Ken- nebago, thence into Little Kennebago stream, two miles to Little Kennebago lake,—a perfect gem. Quickly paddling over thie, we enter the stream which flows from the ponds above. Here the guides, by alternate poling and row- ing, gain two miles on our course to the foot of the trail. Arriving here at 11:30 a. m., we eat our lunch, and are eaten in turn by files and mosquitoes. We began our tramp of 7; miles at 12 o'clock, all heavily freighted, each guide carrying a pack welghing about’ 7% pounds. Owing £5 fallen timbers and the general rough- ness of the trail, we were five hours in corer the 7g miles to the foot of L pond, so calle because it has a bend in it not resembling the letter L. Two boats at the end of the trail convey our party the length of L pond; a short carry of half atfle brought us to the foot of Big Island pond; then 214 miles over the pond to our camp. Excepting Kennebago lake, this pond is the loveliest sheet of water I ever saw. The water is deep, clean, cold and of peculiar softness and purity, and is, par excellence, the home of the speckled trout. Qur camp consisted of a good log house, 18 feet square, with a large stone fire- place in one corner, raised beds of spruce and fir boughs; windows, tables and chairs enough for comfort; a cook-house of similar size and construction for cooking, and guides’ quarters. * * * * «The little landscape round Was green and woody, and refreshed the eye; It was a spot which you might aptly call ‘The valley of seclusion.” The water, the atmosphere, the relaxation from care and the spore combined, gave keen relish to our fare and rare enjoyment to every moment. We passed seven days in this camp, and then went to camp on Beaver pond. The arrangement of all the campson the ponds is similar to the one described. We visited and fished on Ell, Big Island. Rock, Grant, North Crust, Littie Island, and Long and Beaver ponds. During our visit we sighted plenty ot deer, one black bear, and numerous partridzes, but as the season was closed for killing we have no account to give in this line. After flye days on Beaver pond our return home was compul: , and at Phillips we reciaimed our Inggaze and put on the cares of our respec- tive vocations with our clean linen; all, however, feeling younger and stronger in mind and body. We were satisted with our guides for their skill and willingness; with ourselves that we had passed our time, not in rioting and glutting at some fashionable resort, but-in modest imita- tion of so good a man as Isaak Walton, and could say “On, how happy here hy how innocent o1 Oh, ye valleys; oh, ye mountains; Oh, ye groves and crystal fountains, How I love at liberty, By times to come and visit ye.” We caught no large fish, the heaviest barely weighing two pounds. We caught a great many weighing one pound each and upwards, the average being about three-quarters of a pound, and no smallones. One rod landed 70 fish in less than two hours. The water at times seemed. to be boiling with trout. Frequently two, and several times three. were captured at one cast. We only fished with single-ianded rods, and caught all our fish in honest casting, as we came for sport and not for meat. We only killed such as happened to be injured and barely enough for our table. If all who visit these ponds will be equally careful of the lives of these darlings ofthe lakes, choice sport may be had for many years. To my mind there. is.no sport so restful our leasurel iF pleasure to the weary mind as fly fishing. To cast Mhtly ‘the Jong line and light fly upon the mirrored surface of the lake, so deftly as to deceive this gamest and shyest of fish, and upon the slightest indication of a rise to fasten the cruel hook into her lips, and then with steady nerve to defeat its rapid and nu- merous attempts to escape, and finally to bring it panting to the net. then carefully removing the hook, watch and rejoice with it when it re- turned to its native element, to me is enjoyment and mental rest combined. Others may cast a longer line or strike with greater skill, but none will work steadier or lose themselves more en- tirely in the keen enjoyment of this rare sport. “Blest silent groves! Oh, may you be Forever mirth’s best Dursery; May pure contents Forever pitch their tents, Upon these downs, these meads, these rocks, these peti And peace stiil slumber by these purling fountains Which we may every year ‘Meet when we come a-fishing here.” ‘Yours, on a fly, ESB Sele ee LETTER FROM DAKOTA. The Business Boom There—The Capi- tal of Dakota on its Travels—What Yankton ‘Thinks About it—Soumern Dakota Means to be a State Anyhow. Correspondence of Tax EvENtNa Stan. Bonnomme, Dax., August 13, 1883. One of your old subscribers in Washington city now looms up in Dakota Territory and is still a subscriber to your newspaper. Could not well afford to be separated from the weekly batch of “Washington News and Gossip” and “District Affairs.” Bleven vears stay at the uation’s capital, in the “contraband” service, in the early days-of the war, at ‘Duff Grecn’s Row,” at MeClelland's Barracks, on 12th, tween .U and V, then on the old Arlington place at the Freedman’s village, and lastly at the Howard University, kas made Washington home-like to the writer. To the editorof Tuz Star we feel under great obligations for his repeated visits to our camp in Washington-énd for his interesting ac- count of the Lincoln emancipation act and how it was received at the Freedman’s camp Jan- wary Ist, 1868, written trom his own personal knowledge. For three and a half years I have been in this historic old village in southeastern Dako! peesening to a Missionary Congregational ehurch. A WANDERING CAPITAL, We are located onthe “Big Muddy,” 22 miles west of Yankton. I wasabout to say 22 miles west of the capital, but this would mislead the reader, tor the plain trath would say we do not know where our capital is. The records are in eee the iephahed has his funds there. le of corner lots and outside property in and about Bismarck would fain placett there, The quo warranto argued betore Judge Ed; mn has not yet been decided, but I understand from the Judge himself that it will be given about the 1st of next month (September). Yankton has not lost, but has been a real gainer if the capital has or shall leave the city. There has neyer been more evidence of life In that city than now—increase of trade, railroads already there. and roads in prospect, new comers with mate- tial investments, etc., ete. . Yankton college, with its ornamental edifice on the hill north of the city, will open next month with a hundred students and a fullcorps of instructors. This institution has fortunately secured the services of the Rev. Joseph Wood, D.D., pastor for 15 years of the Congregational church in Yank- ton, extensively known here and at the east. Mr. Wood was a graduate of Brown university, Providence, R. I. WANTS TO BE A STATE. Our people are making an effort to form a constitation and do all the necessary work pre- liminary to knocking for admission into the sisterhood of states. A convincing paper has been prepared by Judge Hugh J. Camp! M1, Ue 8. attorney Dakota Territory, showing prece- —_ of ook une Court of United States isions, acts of gress, messages of Pres- idents bearing on this topic, and elting the example of thirteen states as authority for the steps now being taken by southern Dakota to & state before formal admission by in this section is about The wheat is No.1. The gat.crep ie:without. a precedent in quantity. The to beat: Tye is superb, and bapley aplendid; | 7 Honoring the Memory of Washington— Mary! Soutit Movitrams, Mp., August 20, 1883, A large, and jwell-conducted picnic party assembled, at the Washington monument on South Mo near Boonsboro’, Washington county, Md., i 18th, 1883, the purpose being to celebrate the completion of repairs to the monument qnd the opening of a good road ‘up the mountain to it, which had been effected at a considerable cost by the citizens. Tn all ages man has endeavored to perpet uate the names of great leaders and important events by attaching them to conspicuous natural objects, as mountains, plains, lakes, rivers, etc., or by erecting enduring monuments to their memory. This seems to be a natural impulse of the human race, and is quite as active now as in past ages. It probably originates ina primitive idea of justice or gratitude, which, under the influence of civilization, develops into patri- otism and reverence. These virtues were all blended and made conspicuous in the grand out- pouring of the citizens of Washington-and Fred- erick counties, alluded to above, for the purpose of celebrating in a becoming manner the com- pletion of the work of restoration of the monu- ment, erected more than half a century ago by the people of the vicinity, to the memory of General Washington, the patriot and statesman, on the summit of South mountain, and exactly on the line dividing the two conntles. The monument stands on the most elevated peak of the mountain, about half a mile from and in view of the elegant and Bospitane residence of Mrs. Admiral Dahlgren. his pile ot native uncut granite, erected by voluntary contribu- tions, commands from its top a view into four states—Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland—and caats its shadow into two of the most fertile and productive counties in the state of Maryland. By the operation of the elements and lapse of time the monument came to require repairs. This has been accomplished by the same spirit ot devotion which originally erected the tower that has so long been a conspicuous object in the landscape of the mountain. On a marbie tablet set in the side of the spiral stairway near the top is inscribed: “Built in memory of George Washington, July 4th, 1827, by the citizens of Boonsboro’ and vicinity. Rebullt July 4th, 1882, by the members of South Mountain Encamp- ment, No. 25, I. 0. 0. F., Boonsboro’, Mary- land. William F. Smith, Elias Cost, Jacob B. Blecker, committee.” The restoration of the monument has given the people of the neigh- borhood an opportunity to again show their gratitude to the immortal Washington, the steadfast friend of the inherent rights of man, and at the same time declare to the world their love of the free institutions which he did so much to establish. Old and young have profited alike by the frequent recital in conversation of the notable incidents in the life of Washincton and in the history of the struggle for American independence. Love of liberty and patriotism were strong characteristics of the first settlers inthis section, and are nobly perpetuated by their descendants. The committee in arranging for the festivities of the day bad as speakers Gov. Hamilton, Frederick J, Nelsqn, Judge Syester, Mr. Davis and others. Several bands of music enlivened the scene and a handsome pavilion for dancing Was erected near some four springs which flow out near thg top of the mountain. The address of Mr. Nelson was learned and eloquent, ahd all were patriotic and entertain- ing. The {pstivitigs were kept up until a late hour. A i Although it may, not be news to the people of Washington county to betold that theirs was the first county named in honor of ‘General Washington; yet i isa fact, and one of which they have reason fo be proud. The act creat- ing the counties of Washington ana Montgomery out of Frederick bears date September 6, 1776, and went into effect on the 1st of October, the same year. , i Washington couhty, Va., which is often sup- posed to have been the first named in honor of Washington, was greated out of the county of Fincastle, by an act of the lezislature, which met October 7, 1776, and the law went into effect on the ist of January. 1777. But the naming of this county is not an iso- Jated instance of Maryland’s early attachment to Gen. Washington. Washington college, Ches- tertown, Md.,, was founded by the, ptate of Marylani 4789. “In the law creating it, the statement is made that ‘ The name is chosen in honor of the illustrious commander-in-chief of our armies.” A copy of His Excellency Gen. Washington’s answer to Key. William Smith and Peter Letherly, a committee of the trastees for organizing a college at Chester, in Kent county, Md., and forobtaining fromGen.Washing- ton his consent to be one of the trustees, and to have the college bear his name, was written 101 years ago. It reads as follows: “HEApQUaRTERs Newsura, } 18th August, 1782 “Thave the honor to receive your favor of the 8th ult. by Col. Tiighmore, who arrived here about ten days ago, and to whom Ihave committed the charge of forwarding this answer. “To the gentlemen who moved the matter, and tothe assembly for accepting 1t, 1 am much in- debted for the honor conferred on me my name to the college at Chester, At thesame time that I acknowledge the honor, I feel a grate- ful sensibility for the manner of’ bestowing it, Which, as it will remain a monument of their es teem, cannot but make adeep impression on niy mini, only to be exceeded by the flattering as- suranices of the lasting and extensive usefulness of the seminary, “If the trifliig sum of fifty guineas will be con sidered an earnest of my wishes for the prosperity of this seminary I shall be ready to pay that sum tothe order of the visitors whenever it is their pleasure to call for it, It 1s too trifilng to stand in any other polnt of view, nor would I wish it to 10 “With much pleasure would I consent to have my nam? enrolled among the worthy visitors and governors of this college; but convinced as Lam that it will never be in -my power to give the at- tendance, which by law 1s required, my name could only be Inserted to the exclusion of some other, whose abilities and proximity might enable him to become a more userul member. “When that perlod shall arrive, when we can hail the blest return of peace, it will add to my leasure to see this infant geat of learning, rising Into consistence and proficiency in the sciences under the nurturing hands of its founders, “I have the honor to be, Rey. Sir, your most obe- dient servant, GEO. WASHINGTON.” To the Rev. Dr. Smith, at Chester, in Kent County, Maryland, : (From the Remembrancer or Impartial Reperto: Public Event for 785, patie Dx: 2004 oe It was on the soll of Maryland and by her citizens that the birthday of Washington was first publicly celebrated. The 11th of February was then observed as his birthday, and not the 22d, as now. The old-style notation of time in this matter continued until 1798, after which the 24d was uniformly accepted. The following is the published account of the celebration re- ferred to, copied in full: (From, the Remembranoer or I Publio Lvents for tho year isd, Fart 4 por 6 “Extract of a letter from Talbot Court ‘House, dated Feb. 1ith, 1788." “ This belng the am year our eneral Hath public, Heary Hooper, = chester county, ‘yland, body of the'truly patriotic officers gentle- men of the county, aud several officers of the Maryland line aforesaid, assembled at Cam- bridge to celebrate the auspicious day which ve birthto the: defender of American lberty, where, 8 public dinner being provid the companyassembied at Doon, aud after dist ner drank the folowing toasta: 1. General WashMmgton: oh reenen ‘hero ot liberty. 8. Governor and State of Maryiand. 4. Louis XVI, the protector of the Mankind. ‘ t 5. Continents! Army. . 6. Maryland Line. 7. May trade andsnavigation flourish. 8. The seven United Provinces, Our Allies. 9. The Count Rochambeau and French Army. 10. May the Union between the powers in all ance ever continue on the basis of justice and equity. 1 May the friends of treedom prove the sons irtue. isin 1. Conversion to the Unnatural sons of merica. 13. se |e Union of the American states be Pel sane evening was spent with the utmost fes- itis but just fo other sections to state that @ celebration was held in Richmond, Va., on the same day, but no record of bees ings can. ih the fact, Le} the be found.’ save the bare notice Virginia Gazette or Advertiser of Fé 1873. Mention is-also made in the “BI Papers,” 114,that on the 11th of Long may he live, Tights of a 1779, at Winchester, Va., Gen. Washington’ birthday had beep eelebrated by hie friends at & inner. F i , : This patriotic desire to honor everywhere the Bame and of Ws and and beforethe the virtuesof the father of of the of our free Institations sina as fol- District of Columbia, 01 Sage ae iciana, , ‘anole Missouri, Nevaaa, New Ohio, Oregon, Pennsyl- Rhode Isiand, Tennessee, Utah aay Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin. The following nineteen states and territories have no county named in honor of Washington: Alaska, Arizona Territory, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Dakota Territot Territory, Ni New Hampshire, New Jersey, new. a ul — Lele Ter- tory, irginia, Wyoming Territ The name of Washington has been to hundreds of townshi (minor divisions of counties) In nearly the states. There is scarcely a city or town, old or new, inthe United States, but has named a street or square, or erected @ monument or institution of some kind to the memory of him who was “Firat in peace, first in war, and first in tne hearts of his countrymen.” The national capital has been appropriately called the “City of Washington.” One territory, which will soon become a stato, also bears his name. Perhaps post offices show the most fruitful source of honoring the name of Washington. The latest post office directory gives thirty-one post offices named Washington in as many different states. Twenty-six post offices in the United States bear the name of Mount Vernon. Besides, sixteen post offices to- gether bear with an affix tha name of Washing ton, as weil as twenty-three with a prefix. It is evident from the enthusiasm which pre- ceded the assembly in South Mountain that Washington requires no eulogy, to inspire ad- miration among the people of. land. The century which has elapsed since Washington county was organized has but served to place a character, so well rounded and perfect as Wash- ington’s, in a purer light and manifest its great- ness to an admiring world. And no where is the name and character of Washington more highly and justly appreciated than by the peo- ple, who built, and their descendants who re- pair and protect the monument to him on South Mountuin. |. M. T. ——___90________ SARATOGA AND LAKE GEORGE. A Glance at Material Developments and Improvements—The Moral Side of & Pleasure Resort. Correspondence of Tar Evenixa Star. Sanatooa, August 23, 1883. GROWTH OF SARATOGA. After a lapse of nine years I find myself again at this place, with my family, spending my vacation in aquiet way. As you have received letters from here more especially devoted to the fashionable element or life of Saratoga, 1 pro- Pose to give youa brief account of some of the most prominent improvements that have been made here since my last visit, which I hope may be of interest to the general reader. Foremost among these Is the erection of the Windsor and Kensington hotels,—the former by the Stewart estate, on South Broadway, diago- nally opposite the Clarendon, and the latter on Union avenue, near Circular street, by a gen- tleman trom New York, who is alzo the mana- ger. Near the Kensington, on Union avenue, the grand thoroughfare to the lake, is the private residence of Charles Reed, who was for- merly a partner of the late Hon. John Morris- sey. The grounds around the house have been laid out _with exquisite taste and on a large scale. The dwelllng in style of architecture is ornate and suggestive of great comfort. The property is said to represent one hundred and twenty-five thousand dol- lars. Mr. Reed controls the club house and the race course. I am told. The summer residence of Judge Hilton is in Wood- lawn Park, on a most commanding eminence, in a northwesterly direction from the village. This park is free to all, and is said to be one of the largest and handsomest private parks in the country. | Near to this park I noticed quite a plat of unimproved land, which was purchased by the late Hon. Fernando Woodsome ten years since. Close to the main entrance to the k is the elegant residence of Mr. Gage, one of the proprietors of the United States hotel, and son- in-law to the Hon. James F. Marvin, which is said to have cost about $50,000, and to = mind one of the most veautiful places here. hile I have observed many elegant residences on Cir- entar street and other prominent thoroughfares, I think’ the ‘general tendency of the fashionable and wealthy is out north Broadway, towards Woodlawn Park. VALUATIONS AND TAXATION. Saratoga now hasa resident population of about 10,000 inhabitants. The assessed valua- tion of its real estate is between four and five million dollars. The rate of taxation istwo dol- lars and fifty-two cents on the one hundred dol- lars; higher, you percelve, than in Wash- ington. But the assessed valuation of real estate is proportionately much lower. As instances, I learned upon inquiry at the tax office that the assessed valuation of the ees Union hotel ae gece woe of the nited States, $208,000.. Nobody, I presume, pulade of a Bera ome mdel dy ay the former e Ia suppo! rep- resent cone million dollars, The visitors this month have averaged about fifteen thousand. The season has not been ve successful for ery the large hotels, but the boarding houses have | the been full. The accommodations for visitors during the last fifteen years have increased in the ratio of 15 to 1. INADEQUATE PROTECTION. T had occasion yesterday tovisit thenew Sara- toga fire department building, on North Broad- way, into which the company have just moved. Imagine a place where the assessed value of the real estate exceeds four million dollars with only one steam fire engine. Heretofore reli- ance has been placed upon the volunteer com- panies and the Holly system of water works. 1 examined a magnificent horse which had just been purchased forthe use of the department. The animal was only four years old, weighed 1,360 pounds, and cost in Albany $400. A LAKE GEORGE BOOM. An excursion to the Sagamore hotel, near Bolton’s Landing, on Lake George, during the past week, afforded me an opportunity to observe the many and noteworthy changes and improvements that have been made along the lake in the last ten years. I have remarked to real estate men here that Lake George had out- stripped Wve oh in the number of new cot- ti and they have conceded the point. But they contend is emphatically a a and.as soon as they completed their tollet they vacated In favor of the loungers: from the parlor. The Sagamore is, without exception, one of the prettiest summer hotels I have ever teen. SARATOGA’S MORAL ATMOSPHERE. T have been pleased to see the order which per gebvce! years | and hungry, and, when LETTER FROM BARNEGAT. OB ONE CF THE BARNEGATS. All Aleng the Jersey Const—Peany Werry from Worldly Asbury Park to Saintly Ocean Whele- Greve—Geod, Bpecial Correspondence of Taz Evaxrxe Stan. Harvey Cepars, Barneoat Bracz, Aug., 1883. Harvey Cedars, savage reader, is not the name of an individual, as you might suddenly infer, but a clump of low, storm-battered cedar trees, with one house in the midst of them, on Barne- gat Beach, a tew miles below the light-house at Barnegat Inlet. There are more Barnegats here than you can shake a stick at, and, asa small boy in pursuit of soft crabs remarked alter counting his cateh, it is enough to confuse the oldest man in the United States. First there is Barnegat on theroad from Tuckerton to civl- lization; then Barnegat City, at the inlet, hotel or two and ® few cottages, where the ple breathe the salted rprayand eat weak fish; and Barnegat Pier, on the coast, a Uttle rurther up; and Barnegat Beach, which Is any place you want, from Barnegat Light to Little bgg Har- bor, down toward (i lay. You have doubt- leas been told in joyful youth, -‘O, go to Barne- t,” without having any particular Barnegat lesignated, which, of course, added misery to the objurgatory remarks. But that of the Barnegat region known as Harvey Cedars isthe most delig.itful place for the sportsman, the real seeker for health and recreation, that there is on the Jersey coast. It is the only house in sight except in the din distance, the ocean, large and capacious, on the east side, and Barnegat bay, four or five miles wide and twenty miles long, on the west, the Uttle stretch of land between cut up into inlets, small bays, estuaries and what are called creek: all of which are full of fish, clams, oysters ani crabs, and where zame shore birds congregate in large flocks in the spring and fall. GETTING THERE. From thetown of Barnegat one goesin a spring wagon to the west shore of the bay, and there takes a yacht, which carries passengers free to the Cedars, and hasa delightful sail of six miles across a beautiful, expanse of water, around low savyanna-like marshes, out into the main channel and tothe pierof Squire Jen- ning’s comfortable house, where you will get a bountiful spread of plain but fare, includ- ing oysters, clam fritters and the beat of hsh. ‘The sail in the yacht, after hours of dusty rail- road travel, is serenely pleasant. You notice distinctly the crisp cool air from the ocean and inhale it ith keen satisfaction. It seems to pervade your being and give power and energy to every nerve and muscle—a tonic which holds good and which does not disappoint even him who has sneezed with the hay fever until violent expletives have become tame and common. At night you are called to sleep by the sounds of the sea, and tn the morning you wake eariy and get out eager!; without being called or urged, to sail and and ha mood time. This which is attractive because it Is wild barren, was once the property of the ex-king of Naples and Spain, Joseph Bonaparte, brother of the first Napoleon, who sought the cranberry bogs of New Jersey for rest and con- solation after his troubled and subjective life under Napoleon's dictation. He built apalatial residence near Bordentown, you know, whichis still standing, and hereabouts led a quiet life, endearing himself to the people by his hospl- tality and generosity, catching biue fish, hunt- ing ducks and otherwise conducting himself Uke a nobleman. Tackle any old Jerseyman and he will teil ie all about it, and embellish his narrative with much laudaticn of his native bogs and marshes and rare personal adventures in the days lang syne. SNEAK BOXES. Among the longings of past years has been one for the knowledge or tact of properly hand- ling asail-boat. Consider the longing appeased, and accept the statement that through the me- dium of a sneak-box the longing has resulted in the acquisition of talent. ‘The sneak-box. pa- tient follower, is a small boat, invented by an | ingenious Jerseyman, which combines more ele- ments of use than any craft of its kind that was ever devised. It is good asa row-boat, sall- boat and sled, and, with two wheels, would make a first rate cart. It wasasneak-box in which Bishop, the celebrated canoelst, made his remarkable yoyage from Pittsburg to Florida, by the way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers and the Gulf of Mexico. Here it is used mostly for shooting and fishing. For shooting it has two cleats on the bottom, by which it is at the same time a boat andasled. It can be drawn out on the ice or snow, and pulled, or even pro- pelled by the sail. from one channel, over an island of marsh, to another. We used itasa sail-boat, and, in popular ce, have *‘got it down fine.” The sail is german @) agrhcd supported by a spreak or 8; the mast, which is placed well forward. The top of the boat is shaped very much like the bottom, with a cockpit sufficient for two or three sons, and resembles two spoons placed together, the convex sides ont. A few times out in one of these, a few knocks by the boom as it gibed, somewhat to our eur- pee at first, a few false and In tacking, and the my of the science which inctudes At times we cast anchor and angled for weak fish, and striped bass, and sheepsheads, but It wasn't our time to besucoesstul, and the catches were not large. The crabs were pestiferous, and one can femal believe that the entire bot- tom of Barnegat bay is covered with them. Whenbyer the bait touched bottom some crab with prodigious pincers seized it and hung on with pertinacity, and frequently until the scamp was dropped into the boat. Others who were fishing were very fortunate, and brought in great quantities of tne fishes named. At one time, in one of the inlets, we discovered an im- mense school of menhaden. Taking my rod and line, with two hooks attached, and without bait, I cast in among them repeatedly, and in a short time caugnt a dozen, the hook fastening in the back or side as it chanced to strike. This was not very creditable fishing. but it was & phase of the sport that could not be 5 oy and besides, the fish were needed as bait for From here it will be well to goon to Ocean Grove and mingle with the evangelists, to litt ‘up one’s voice with the great throng at the surf meetings, and tarry at the Taberna cle, where there ts good music, thong h sacred, and hear good sermons, though solemn. and in various ways sever oneself from the association of sin- ners. There is an air of quiet. of peaceful con- tentment, of severe satisfaction, at Ocean Grove that cannot be found at any other summer re- sort on the coast. Much ofthis is deemed to be the result of arbitrary government, of the Methods of Methodism, but it is good. neverthe- less. It Is pleasant, even to some sinners, to know that not a store is open, not a wheel moving, pot a surreptitious back door for reragen, Dot « paper sold, nor any unholy work done on the Sabbath day within the limits of the corporation. If, per- adventure, therels an aggressive movement to- ward your oe a ae ion of invita- tions to class and prayer meetings, you can acroas the lake to Asbury Park, where there less of the Salvation army work and greater freedom, more noise and less Christian comfort. But if, in the Grove, you can arrauge with some agreeable company to alternate the evenings, say one on the beach with you, and one at the auditorium with the good ones there to matn- tain equipoise. it is very pleasant, and may be a fair exchange from the evangelical and the more worldly point of view. Evenings on the beach are condemned by many of those who come to Ocean Grove, but they cannot deny that there is much grandeur down there along the shore and much melody in these ever-recurring waves; and to those in pursuit of grandeur and melody it is a good place to go. Having seen the fash- jJonabie and day-breaking throngs at Atlantic City, having bad the delightful quiet and rare en}: pot that Barflegat furnishes, it is decreed that we li awhile at Ocean Grove or Asbury Park for refreshment that may be found therein. It only costsone cent—the ferriage over Wesley lake—to go from the world, the Christian community, and vice versa, the est trip of the kind that can be Campmeeting began at the Grove a few dave ago, and consequently there will be a reat revival, there always is @ great outpour- ing, and so forth, and though in accordance with time-honored custom there will be much shout- ing and much exercise of lungs and muscle, still if good come of it all, it can be borne, and the tendency to condemn may be repressed. Bejore starting to the resort of the religious, however, and while Capt Martin ts getting his yacht ready, it is pleasant to sit here on the veranda, looking out on the ocean on one side and the bay on the other, the blue run of water marking the horizon on the east and the low hills dotted with Just visible houses and steeples outlining the horizon on the west. And we almost regret going when we see men getting ready to sailand fish and hunt snipes, and ise take in the delights of this barren, Eden. J.C. B. Lae Ee eee THE BLUE RIDGE COUNTRY. A Washington Group. THERMOPYL”, Rarranannock Co., Va. August 98. Correspondence of Tax Evexixe Stan. Thermopyle, or Leonidas Pass, Testing on the bank of the Black Water river, and at the foot of the Blue Ridge, is one of the most beautiful homesteads I have ever seen in this state. The house, a stately old Virginia man- sion, surrounded by a magnificent grove of locusts, with a large lawn relieved by several terraces, is just the spot one seeking health, Test and quiet needs to find. It was formerly owned by Dr. Reid, one ot the wealthiest’ men as also most popular physicians in this part of ite. It isnow owned by his two daugh- ters, who are perfect jd of the very best class of southern ladies, highly cultured, gen- erous, pure and noble, but strongly in sympa- thy with the “lost cause.” There are many Washington people in this vicinity, among the most prominent of whom are Mrs. Dr. Winter and daughter; Mr. Boughton, treasurer of the Belt Line raiiroad; H. B. Moulton, esq.. of the District bar, and family; Captain Saxton, of the War department. wife, sister and brother; Capt. Wisener and family, Mrs. Selfert and daughter, Mrs. Richard Burton and family, Miss Kodier and Miss Boughton;-ax also ‘two daugiters of Judge Brent, ot Alexandria. Some are stop- ping at Woodville, a short distance from this ince. Phe recent rata bas been the source of great joy to the farmers of this section. Thousands of ls of corn will thereby be added to the al- ready well-filled coffers of the farmers of this locality. There is an abundance of apples, Peaches are scarce, but other fruits are found in juan the greatest quantities, Ihave met in this vicinity from the hi and purest ty of the American-Angl on to the most illiterate and abject specimens of automatic humanity. Some days ago | ‘Upon a man fn his cornfield, and found him and his son plowing corn anda white and colored |, wearing @ loose calico dress, Up on either side by a string around the waist. The dress extended down about half-way between the knee and foot. I en- gages her. in conversation and soon found that she not only did all of her own housework —— care of five children, but — ber own cooking, making, mending, washing, stoning and — wel Neg pene ead corn other ucts for *‘the old man,” from m: until aight, and in the fall seasons helped hie hunt "possume the most of the night, and, in addition to all of her other virtues and duties, T observed that she had a quid ot tobacco in her mouth quite safficient to fill the mouth of any ordinary four-year-old steer. The better class are quite the reverse of this case, being modest, chaste, pure and ladylike in all of their condu and conversation, and some of the most bospita- ble and generous people I have ever met. I have found here persons kind and generous almost to a fault, the great desire of their hearte being to supply your every wish. A few days ago we took a drive over the mountains to Luray cave, a distance ot twenty- three miles. The scenery was delightful in the extreme. We went through Thornton's Gap, a Spot somewhat familiar to me, as in 1863, after nobler game. Oneof the difficulties here is to obtain bait. Soft crabs are the best, and they readily bring seventy-five cents a dozen, and are hard to obtain at tl They are found along the shores, and in the creeks in the marsnes. There is no fly-fishing, and none that done with artificial With good bait ever, 8 good rod and hand lines, 4 sneak- “A southerly wind and a cloudy sky,” And he who likes to fish can bere have hus heart's content. He may not sone good luck, he not always catch and the quantit: likes, but he can breathe the uni alr, and get night comes, rest Hue £ Hie tifally and sleep ‘like a log.” ‘The seaside resorts are all attractive in their way, but it is nice to get away from the more Populous and fashionable to such « place as | i ll if eli é A z £ § fa i i : Bis HH ut Hi i nH & i i Uh ail west, seems more like a cluster of Jewels of the first water, with its confusion of bays, islands, narrows, pent 5 miles of shore line in a twent; Gettysburg. I was in the advanced command on vast valley of some of the finest farming land in the state. Phillips, of and Clarence ton, of Washi: D. C.; then came a solo by metered i was followed by the first act G.B. Welaen ‘S. Vanier, Dr Coupes f. Mrxwetonca Beacu, Mrvs., August, 1883. This brilliant gem, the Saratoga of the north- 5 oe ee