The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1853-02-10


present. --.... -..-.
Arl Old Fort IN Georgia.-The follow
ing is from a correspondent OF the Ala
bama journal rtsr:
tn Murray County, Georgia. and near
It's southeastern boundary, at the sum-
NIT Of mural piecipice LOO feet in
perpendicular height, lhere stands the
remains Of an ahcient fortihcaiion, con-
structed Of solid mason work, covering
five acres of ground Within the in
closure, lofty forest trees from two 10
three hundred years old, rear their
heads to the tempest, covering with
their verdant foliage ancient hearth
stones, once in use by its ancient occu-
pants. and near il gushing steam Of
water issues from the crevtce OF the
rock, of icy coItlness whence the gar
iison used tn obtain their supply. Who
were the builders of this immense tort,
perched upon a lofty crag of The Co.
hutta mountain. overlooking as far L.
vision can extend the county surround
ing. and so we'll calculated Tor defense
and security against an enemy? That
Il was the work Of civilized people is
beyond the shadow of doubt. for in no
instance where investigation has ex-
tended are we informed that among the
bar barous inhabitants of this coun :
has stone structure been found OF ms
te,iaI built with lime Even in the e.
MAJ kabIe mounds of the plantation 0.
Judge Mes>ier, Of Ea ly County, GeI
oia. gigantic in size. and Surrounded by
wall of earth, and which approa ch
nearest TO civilization. with positive de-
sign for the purpoSe Of worship and de-
fense, can mason woik be found, or me
use of the irowel. From the arrange
merlt of these mounds. their builders
were probably part Of the dispersed
Toltec nation in Mexico. who were
worshipPets of the sun, and driven flom
their ancient domain by The Aztec
tribes, wese dispersed throughout Yaca-
ian, North and South America-and
they, in their turn. Were snbjngated by
Curtez, in the Invasion of Mexico i
Independent of a Tradition which has
been handed down from father TO son
for generations amuug the aboIigines of
the county, that : a people with long
boards. dressed in shining armor, of
pale complexion, and who possessed the
lightning of heaven, erected the fnrii-
fication years ago" Col. Pickett, in his
:. History of Alabama" has
furnished clue 10 the true knowledge
of its builders. He says: AFTER
halt of several weeks at CnIifachiqne-
The present Silver Bluff on the Savan-
nah river-DeSotn, with his CastiIians.
broke up his camp, and in company
with the beautiful young Queen. whom
he retained as hostage to insure obe-
Iience among her subjects, marched up
The Allamaha to its head waters, and |
IesIed for shoit iiiue at tnwn In the |
county of H tbersham. Georgia
From this place the expedition assumed
1 direct western curse across North |
srn Georgia. uniil they struck the head |
waters of the Coosa River when they |
upon the town of Gauxule,
lhIse hundred houses, stu
.ted between several streams, which
rad their sources in the surrounding
Mountains. Gaining much information
.boul the county. { ON the Chief, aitel
our days so j"nru. h. marched to the
own of CnIasauga, now i'll Murray
County, Georgia. ar /
A glance at The map of Northern
Georgia will at once cpnvince the read
'r thai the fortificatioi Ia which we re-
er stands on the direct route pursued
~ DeSio through the Cherokee nation,
nd that most probably. ii was by his
riders constructed. The object was.
10 doubt, means of defense against
he Indians, whom he had excited to
pen warfare by repeated acts of ag-
.reSsiou, and flr convenience to game,
which may have been fund in the i'm
Mediate vicinity of ihe fortress, for, at
he base OF the preeipice, along the gap
hiough the hi .h muuntain. may be-
cen the route IF an old Buffalo trail.
The granden aud picturesque aspect
f the country, in that elevated gion, !
nu>t have been very gratifying +, those
talwatt C4stiIians, after a long aud
!. cary march over the low, sandy, pine
arrnae 4hov had crnceod slmnet unin