The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1818-12-23
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.

bed, ABOUT 4U miles from tnlS cxtraOr-
binary work, and about 2 or s miles FROM
the town OF Columbia, Mauiy o. Tenn. |
i cave has been discovered containing al
variety Of earthcnware bricks of form
different from those of modern manutac.
ture, and an IRON sword resembling the
sabre of the old Persians or Scythians.
The account is contained in letter from
William Donnisor,, esq. OF Nashville, da-
ted OFT. rs, 1873, to Samuel l.. Mitchell,
esq. of Newly ork W Y. Gaz.,
SIR-The following description of the
Stone Fort is partly from my own obser
walton, and partly from information de-
rived from Captain Thomas Eastiand,
who resided on that plantation called the
Stone Fort farm for several year s-After
the coz pletion of the description, and the
diagram, it was shewn TO several indivi-
deals ofinteliigenCe, who had visited the
fort, for the purpose of accurate examina
ton, and they Individuals concur in the
correctness ofthis statement. will not
presume to suggest 10y what people such a
fabric could be reared, or in what age. At
the first settlement of the state of Tonnes
see, the oldest Indians stated they had
II
earliest traditions had not traced its orr
gin It's description :-3'he Stone Fort is
situated at the confluence of two of the
most southern Of the three forks of Duck,
River IN the north western corner of
Franklin countv, Tenn. The walls ofthis
foT were originally composed entirely Of
Stone IF Fever the rock was cemented.
time has destroyed it. Atthis time the
walls are covered with coat of earth or
turf, which during the process of time and
the constantly recurring decay Of ,vegeta-
bic matter, for SO many perhaps centuries
has encreaseC to the depth of one or two
feet On pulling down from its sides the
turf. the stone fort stands completely re-
vealed Atits northern extremity. and in
front of the wall, are 9 conicai pillars of
stone, about 6 feet high, and at the base
about 10 or IL feet In diameter. In the
rear of those pillars stands the northern
wall, extending from one branch of the
river to the other. This wall meets each
branch of the river at the foot of fall of
about Is feet, the falls on either side being
about the same descent. In the northern
curtain ofthe wall is gateway, which on
TINS section of the fort is the only outlet.
This wall on its inner face is about 10 feet
perpendicular. In the rear of the gate
wa is stone building of 16 feet square,
on the right OF which is one of similar
description of about 10 feet square. Run
ming south the stone wall still maintains
the same heighl, until yos arrive at the
foot of the new falls, which are about 20
ieet high. The falls on each branch efthe
river are nearly at the same distance from
the upper falls, and nearly of the same
height on each branch at each fall. At
these falls the stone wall terminates, in
consequence ola bold rising bluff of lime
stone through the centre OF which has
been excavated narrow pathway with
steps to the river The like also occurs at
the foot ofthe falls on the opposite side of
the peninsula. In continuing south ofthis
bluff, the stone wall is again resumed, and
continued to its most southwestern angle.
From the most southwestern angle, at
right angles, the south curtain is continu-
ed from river to river. In this wall is al
so gateway. The south wall on its in
ner side about feet in height. The wall
on the eastern sid of the fort corresponds
with that on the western, as 10 the wall, as
to the bluff at the foot of the fall, the ex-
cavateG passage and the continuance of
the wall after passing the bluff, to the
most south eastern angle ofthe fort. On
the south side of the south curtain of
this fort there is at the base Of the wall a
ditch of about ] 6 or 90 feet in width, ex-
tending from river to river. Here also
appears TO have been an immense excava-
ton of earth; the average breadth is from
30 to roo feet, and about 40feet in depth,
extending from river to river, at the bot
tom Of which and next 10 the wall, is the
ditch. The walls of this fort are general
ly ofthe same thickness being about / 6
or 90 feet at the base, and on the top
from to feet through. 1t appears
probable that the earth taken from the ex-
cavation, has been spread over the face of
the fort and the narrow strip of land
which is south OF the fort and next to the
river; this is probable from tlis circum-
stance, that the area of the fort and of this
strip Of land is much higher even by two
or three feet, than the surrounding coun-
try. The present appearance Of the walls |
is as might be expected, after a lapse of
ages, rough and uncouth; but there are /
strong evidences of the use Of hammer, |
and the chissel. The whole area of the |
fort, the excavation south Of it, and even |
the walls, has been covered with strong |
and heavy ti.aber and even at this time