The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-13
WESTERN ANTIQUITIES.
Our Marietta, Ohio, Correspondence.

Our Marietta, Ohio, correspondence.
MARIETTA, August 20 1859
The Anci,n, Moasds and Earthworks Of Marielta-OM
Historical SfecatlatonS Regard 10 their Orgin-
Modem Vandalism-Receat Researches Ia,e,es,isy Re
lies dc.
write you from Of the most interesting historical
and antiquarian localities in the West Marietta beauti
fully situated and reireshingly sylvan in its appearance,
occupies the first and grand terrace at tho junction
Ohio and Muskngum rivers. 1t was here tho first perma
nen Anglo Saxon settlement effected in the vast cx
panse Of territory now comprised in the State OF Ohio
and dozen other sister commonwealth and Territories
This interesting initiative step in colonizng the West
faught with such vast importance to the history of hui
man progress was made the It'll of April 1885, This
little pilgrims, scarcely second consequence to the
Plymouth fathers, numbered forty eight persons Among
the names furnished me by friend recognize several
who afterwards became famous in their country history
and whose descendants embrace some OF the most
spectacle families in the West.
The settlement u the mouth of the Muskngum was
made under the auspices of the Ohio Company The
city was named Marietta in compliment to Marie An
toinete Frances fair Queen who had considerably
treated Franklin when at the Court of Louis XIV. The
board of directors passed resolution rendering her Ma
jcsty public square.
The New England Directory appear to have been much
given foreign and classic ancies for notice among the
early names Capitoum, Quadranaon, Sacravia, Campos
Martus &C. Some Of these applied to the remains
Of an earlier and extinct race, others to the humble
stockade erected by the pilgrims TO shield them
from savage incursions. 70 offset this fine classic
array, we find Duck creek, famous in another
State for having furnished at least one President,
and short distance above, on the opposite side Bull
creek with the additional tributaries Cow and Ca-not
very euphonious in geographical nomenclature, but
smackng strongly OF Egyptian worship and John Bun
gasronomy.
On the opposite side Of the from Marietta stands
Harmar, place OF considerable size and handsomely sit
uaed Point Harmar, as il is called, was occupied dur
ing the early struggle for liberty in the West by military
post called Fort Harmar named in honor OF distinguish
cd frontier officer.
But enough Of Marieta's modern history Let US go
back to days beyond the advent OF Putnam Meiss Sar
gent and their fellow pioneers.
one of the first objects which broke upon the gaze of
the New England settler he anchored his proque at the
embouchure of the Muskngum and walked upon the sand
terrace the beautiful Conical Mound and its extern
sive system of breastworks, which, from that day to
this have constituted the chief feature oil attraction III
this interesting locality.
Among the earliest published accounts of the country
at the mouth Of the Muskingum we find reference to
the ancient remains which then conspicuous and
finely preserved and which now attract so much aen-
ton from travellers and archaeological inquirers. No
part Of the Ohio Mississippi Valleys possesses works
extensive and full Of interest.
From 1885 to the present time these and myster
monumental remains have furnished fruitful themes
for the pen Of the explorer and the man OF science.
Much it true that has been written bears the mark of
crudeness and exaggeraon confess, until this visit
had no proper conception of their magnitude and
character although this is not my first visit On pre-
vous occasion the weather extremely incement and
everything un'avorable to a careful examination.
One of the earliest writers from the West was Governor
Parsons who addressed communication to President
Willard, of Harvard College This in 1856. About
the time description of the works, accompanied
with drawing, transmitted to President stiles, Of
Yale. The attention of DR.. Franklin drawn to the
subject by President Stiles, who, although waving
opinion suggested they might have been constructed by
De Soto defence against the Indians. This suggestion
started Noah Webster in series of communications in the
Aricdp Mdgusine which demonstrated clearly that our
asute photographer knew of phiology than he did
of archaeology 1t cannot but amuse practical archaoo-
gisls to and read of men heorzng extensively
Western antiquities who had never seen mound
Captain Heart who stationed at Fort Harrison con
tbuted descriptions and drawings of the Marietta works
1887. Winthrop Sargent-whose name find among the
Pilgr m Fathers as they termed-wrote in March,
1857, to Governor Bowdoin, accompanying his communi
cation with drawing Of the remains This has hut lately
been published (s53). Many other publications appear
ed during the fifteen years which the settlement
Of the country but cannot refer even by name to all
have alluded sufficiently to the subject show the gene
raj interest early felt concerning these important remains
Subsequent to the period referred to- during the last
half century, there has been scarcely traveller
writer Western history who has not wholly partially
described them. With all this light and information be-
fore each succeeding writer, it appears strange that
striking difference exists between the several principal
drawings which have been furnished and still greater
discrepancy in their written descriptions.
have brought with the drawing furnished Prcsi.
dent Stiles that made from the survey Of the Ohio Com
pany the prepared by Captain Heart that which APP
official, page l46 Schuzs Travels, 1907 Ga
fully drawn and well engraved pate the map published
by Atwatcr in American Antiquarian Socieys Transac-
TONS vol ], page 1877 and the survey of Charles Whit
tesey, 1887 (the used by Davis and Lynn in An.
Gent Monuments Of the Mississippi Valley). These
have carefully compared and examined the ground
The difference is manifest to all, but how close
the original works will be difficult to deter
mine, as the walls in many places have been nearly
or altogether obterated Enough, however, remains to
show that the drawings which we have been led to re.
ar fhp
truth. That made by Mr.. Whtcsey appears pretty cor
rect They We're doubtless made without due regard
accuracy the earlier drawings often emitting part as
comparatively unmporant, and perhaps, occasionally
| giving too much Importance to trivial features.
The system Of works at this point comprised extensive
enclosures embracing elevated platforms of earth OF the
| general form Of a parallelopipedon tumu &c, &c
The largest enclosure contains upwards of forty acres
the walls at the date of settlement being from seven to
ten eet IN height and cut at regular distances with gate
ways The elevated quons or truncated pyramids which
stand within the enclosures are singular and
structures, requiring with the tumul and other remains
more time to describe than can give this sitting
propose series OF researches here and in the neghbor
mood, the result of which will be given in subsequent
letter. The subject grows upon my hand and must
close for the present.
Before closing express my surprise and regret
that the authorities should have allowed the destruction of
this imposing and most interesting covered way, or VIA
Sacra
This act of vandalism which has almost completed the
destruction OF part of Of the heavy earhen walls Is
certainly disgraceul to those who could avert it, An in
cendiary hand burns the store of the citizen; vandal
spirit converts this monument of antiquity into brick to
rebuild the grocery So CO. this age progress and
utiltarianism
The researches here and up well rs down the Ohio
promise valuable results. made an interesting eycava
ion Of mound Of considerable importance up the river
a few days since.
Some relics Of interest have been given me here reco
vered from the eastern wall Of the covered way now IN
course Of demolition These are an axe Of bornbende
one Of hematte. &c.
In my next will describe this awavr with tho othor
remains. ~
MARIETTA, o., August %, 1859
AupeadonS Character gfte Marietta Earthrorbs-yHer I'm
porance as Eeidences Of aboriginal Ciriyisation-Varu
able Results 10 be Anticipated from Carefuy Dirc,eJ
Ercnrdti0ns-Arc cal Lur.a