Page:Leaves of Knowledge.djvu/173

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Historic Scenes on the Potomac

to yet see some of the old stone castles that were at one time ocupied by the southern aristocracy.

The employes of this road made themselves very entertaining, by explaining and pointing out every place of interest to the many passengers. This was the first railroad built in America, dating its existence from 1828, the first to have steam locomotives and first to use telegraph lines.

I sat in the "observation end of the car" all day, viewing the historical scenes associated with the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War, and heard the explanations. I at times would almost fancy I could see those soldiers on the battlefield, crossing the Potomac river at early sunrise, and hear the roar of the artillery. But the scene has changed since then, and hap-

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