The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-04-26
Mtsffllaneons.
Am Old Fort i'm Georgia.

In Murray County Georgia, and near its south.
eastern boundary at the summit of an mural
precipce, 1900 feet in perpendicular height,
there stands the remains of an ancient fortihca-
ton, constructed of solid mason work, covering
FIVE acres fground. Within the enclosure, lofty
forest trees, from two to three hundred years old.
rear their heads to the tempest, covering with
their verdant foliage ancient occupants; and
near it gushing stream of water issues from
the crevice Of the rock, of ICY coldness, whence
the garrison used to obtain their supply. Who
were the builders of this immense fort, perched
upon lofty crag of the Conutta Mountain over
looking as far as vision can extend the country
surrounding and so we'll calculated for defence
and security against an enemye That it is the
work Of civilized people is beyond the shadow
Of donbt, for in no instance where investigation
has extended, are we informed that among the
barbarous inhabitants Of this country has astone
structure been found of material built with lime.
Even in the remarkable mounds on the planta-
ton of Judge Messer, Of Earl y county Georgia,
gigantic in size, and surrounded by a wall of
earth, and which approach nearest to cviliza-
ton, with positive design for the purpose of wor-
ship and defence, can no mason work be found,
o, the use of the trowel. From the arrange
ncut: of those mounds, their builders were pro-
hbIy part of the dispersed Toltec nation in Mexi-
CO, who were worshippers Of the Sun, and driven
from their ancient domain by the Aztec tribes,
we're dispersed throughout Yucatan; North and
South America-and they, in their turn, were
sabiugated by Cortez in the invasion of Mexico.
Independent of tradition which has been
handed down from father to son for generations
among the abongnes Of the country, "that
people with long boards dressed in shining ar
mour, of pale complexion, and who possessed the
lightning of heaven, erected the fortlticatlon
years ago" Col. Pickett, in his valuable "Histo-
ry of Alabama" has furnished clue to the
knowledge of its builders. lie says: "After
halt of several weeks at Cirtifachaque-the pre-
sent Silver Bluff on the Savannah River-De-
Soto, with the Castilians, broke up his camp, and
in company with the beautiful young Queen,
whom he retained as hostage, to insure obedl-
ence among her subjects marched up its head
waters, and rested for short time at town In
the present County of Habersham, Georgia.
From this place the expedition assumed direct
western course across Northern Georgia, until
thew struck the head waters of the Coosa River,
when they advanced upon the town OF Gauxule,
containing three hundred houses, situated be-
tween several streams, which had their sources
in the surrounding mountains. Gaining much
information about the country from the Chief,
after four days sojourn lie marched to the town
of Conasauga, in now Murray County, Geor-
ga." .u
A glance at the map Of Northern Georgia will
at once convince the reader that the fortitication
to which we refer stands OH the direct route pur-
sued bv Desoto through the Cherokee Nation,
and that, most probably, it was BY his orders con.
structed. The object was, no doubt means of
defence against the Indians, whom he had excl
ted to open warfare by repeated acts of agggres-
sion, and for convenience to game, which may
have been found in the immediate vicisity to
the fortress for at the base of the precpce along
a gap, through the high mountain, may be seen
tho route of an old buffalo trail.
The grandeur and picturesque aspects Of the
country in that elevated region must have been
gratifying to those stalwart Castilians, after a
long and dreary march over the low, sandy, blue
Larrens they had crossed, almost uninterrupted