Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-20
NUMBER 1856.
southwestern Virginia.

report on Southwestern Virginia, commenced ye-
terday
| Leaving Wytheville in the stage, where our raj
road tor the present terminated, we travelled | Y
the splendid Macadamizcd road towards Abingdon,
| the point of our destination. Three miles Fl, m
Wytheville we crossed Reed Creek, tributary TO
| New river, and very pretty stream, winding it's
way, where we crossed it. between high bank,
covered with richest foliage, to which tle hemlock
with its delicate fringe seemed to give the finish
ing touch. At other points, however, Reed Creek
is bordered by wide fiat lands that are exceedingly
rich. We travelled rapidly along the fine road,
passing rich fields and meadows, and forests of
BILE trees, and came to our breakfast house, dis
lance OF IA miles from Wytheville, in good time.
This house the party will never forget 1t is called
Rural Retreat, and is kept by old Mr.. Jonathan
Aker spell right, for have 1t from the old gen.
tleman himself) The breakfast was soon ready. 1t
consisted of fried ham, fried chicken, beefsteak,
scrambled and boiled eggs coffee, milk and butter,
with honey and other things-and the bread was
excellent; indeed, all was delicious, but most of
| ALL the butter was the subject Of eulogy. Four
teen gentlemen spoke for n pot of 1t on their re-
turn; but they all seemed to fear that they might
not meet such butter again, and therefore ate az
much as they could The milk was the richest,
the eggs the freshest, the bread the incest so
everybody said, that anybody had seen.
Bestowing many thanks and thousand blessings
on our good landlord, we bade him adieu, and went
on feeling rs though we could travel thousand
miles without eating again. Three miles from
Akers, or seventeen from Wytheville we came
upon the dviding-lne between the waters of New
River and those Of the Holston. The place is
called Mount Airy, and only about half mile sepa-
rates the head-springs of each. Thus we have
waters rising within this half mile, running off in
opposite courses, and after travelling many hun.
dreds of miles, meeting at the mouth of the Ten.
nessee river near the junction of the Ohio with the
Mississippi.
Twenty-six miles from Wytheville, we passed
through Marion, the county seat of Smyth county,
a very neat village with several stores and num-
Der Of comfortable residences Seven miles from
Marion we reached the Seven-mile Ford, where
two small streams uniting, form the Middle Fork
of the Hoston river. Our journey to-day has been
| through an open and undulating country, whose
tallest hills even appear to be fertile and wecul-
tvated Seven-mile Ford is lovely spot, and il
at the head of series of the richest bottom lands
which border this branch of the Holston. For
three miles, this rich domain is the property of the
same gentleman, who owns the Seven-mie Ford
Tavern and its appurtenances! Here we met witt,
Colonel Thomas L. Preston, of Smyth, who had
started for Lynchburg, but who turned back 10
accompany us to Abingdon, and to extend to US
that elegant hospitality which added 80 largely to
the pleasure of the journey.
The Macadam road ends at Seven Mile Ford,
and for the balance of our route we had speci-
men OF the rough roll and tumble cling of other
days, along the old mud pike, which was then the
great thoroughfare for transportation and travel to
the Southwest.
We reached Abingdon after very rough after
moons travel. Our company was soon quartered
part went TO the residence of our good friend
and former townsman Wyndham Robertson, ESQ.,
(about mile distant another part to Col. Pres
TOMS and the remainder stayed at Cummings hotel,
(none of the best
Abingdon is village of some ! 200 or I,5oO
nhabitants-s place of considerable trade in
merchandise--is handsomely situated, with some
very fine buildings, and there is great deal of
wealth among It's citizens. The surrounding couu.
try is very beautiful, adorned with rich and we'll
cultivated farms and some Of the finest private
mansions In Virginia. propose TO look back at
our route west of the Alleghany, and give my
readers little Geography.
We have passed through Montgomery, Pulaski,
Wythe, smyth, and are now in Washington. The
railroad crosses the Allegheny in Montgomery, and
following the small tributaries of New river a short
distance obliquely crosses that stream into Pulas-
ki The counties of Pulaski and Wytbe are open
and unduating the hills being often tall, but gen
orally handsomely rounded presenting a softened
outline, compared with other portions Of transmon-
tame Virginia The same features marx the county
Of Smyth. Throughout Montgomery, Pulaski,
Wythc, Smyth, and Washington the finest grass
lands prevail-the limestone formations 30 favor
able to grasses existing with slight interruptions
throughout the whole Of their length and breadth.
Passing the boundary between the waters Of New
river and the Holston route ran with the waters
Of the latter does the railroad route The country
seemed brighter and the landscapes were what the
painters call warmer. Indeed, this tendency to
mldness and brightness grows certainly, but al
most impcrceptbly, IA the traveller proceeds
enthusiastically the latitude getting lower, and
there seeming to be better shelter from the sharp
nortbeasters, The lowlands Of the head waters Of
the Hols.on are surprisingly wide, and as fat as
land well can be. The bills rise gracefully, and
are very fertile, while the picture presented in our
whole route always seemed TO be set in a-frame by
the admirable lines Of mountain ranges at a dis
lance on either hand.
These noble counties finely adapted 70 agri-
culture, are also rich In minerals and Of these
shall have more TO say. What O country Is IL 10 be
thus endowed with lands so fruitful overlaying
minerals Of great value and inexhaustble extent
What country for railroad!
But reuc,lops nos RtontonS-i. O., II we may
be excused for the quotation, let return to.the
Board Of Trade and our other friends. said we
we're all quartered at night--somc OF us in royal
style. On the morning Of the 7th, by invitation
Of Col Preston, MI Of our party in Abingdon re-
paired to his splendid mansion and breakfasted. /
win not, In fashionable parancc, call II ie dc je'ine
a Ia foNchefte for in Washington county they
don't get up anything with that name but they
spread before the guest what is mnch better than
anything that ever bore that French phrase.
shall not go into particulars but content myself
with saying that the taste and hberalty Of the en-
tertainment, and the delicacy and grace Of the at
tentions paid them, drew largely upon the gratitude
and admiration Of the guests.
The forenoon Of the day we spent In Abingdon.
Col Preston showed US the interesting parts OF the
town, and told us many interesting things. !
called to see our brother editors, Coale Barr, Of
the Virginian, and Brunette Of the Democrat and
spent pleasant hour with them, talking Of mat
ters and things in general and their grand country
In particular / am obliged to them for their kind
manifestations. Great plans were formed by them
for future enjoyment and accepted a their nvi-
tations "a have made IL point to do with re-
| gard to all Others
Our company dined with Windham Robertson,
Esq, at his delightful residence near Abingdon,
| called the Meadows | can say nothing to give a
better appreciation among my Richmond readers
| of this noble. hearted gentleman and true Virgin
| ian. He was evidently greatly delighted at re-
| ceiyng his old friends from Richmond and moth.