New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-14
FROM EAST TENNESSEE.
March from Knoxville To Charleston
Beauty of the Counfry-Loudon-
Atsens-Oescription of Charleston.
From Our Special Correspondent
CHARLESTON ON THg HIAwAssA TENN.
1914

May /, 1864. :
At the conclusion of four days march from
Knoxville hithcr through Of the pleasantcst
valleys Of Tennessee at the poisoning season, in tls
most genial climate south Of the Potomac ought to
have word or two about the country which would in
tercst the readers OF The TRIBUNE.
1t is no exsggerston perhaps to say that portion
Of Tennessee. which Mr.. Everett by his eloquent
description has made almost classical possesses greater
attractions OF river mountain and rural scenery than
this valley Between Knoxville and Loudon distance
% miles the road passes along the general course OF
the Holston whose placid stream is frequently seen wind
ing between its vcrdant banks rejecting from its
bosom the thick willow and hazel growth Lch line It's
course. One who expects to see TINS track OF tn9
armies Union and Rebel laid waste and desolate VIII
find little at present 10 remind him OF war, except tue
offensive sight and smell OF tho dead animals which
line the road in the asrsages OF decomposition Tho
farms which lie in the valley and which occupy the gently
rising slopes from tho river both sides show signs OF
progressing cultivation TO. an extent which is truly
gratifying. Farmers are seen IN nearly oil directions
following the plow, and by the a Of rather lean class
OF animals il is true turning up the rich brown loan
preparatory TO planting. Many gardens already show
the nicely arranged beds, from whose warm tosons
Young Vegetables begin TO liz up their modest noads'
giving promise Of handsome growth. Onions, peas
asparagus. cabbages potatoes. and tomatoes are H.
ready in thriving growth. have never soon IN any
part of the country finer orchards of peach and opple
appears 10 have been given IN this branch III fruit cu
trc OF late in this part Of Tennessee Tho trees are
everywhere loaded with wealth cf White'anu purple
blossoms giving assurance o on ample harvest III due
time. The Spring is generally considered TO Dc ilh
month late as compared with the usual season. but the
cold weather. happily over. seems to have worked
no particular damsge To the young vegetables anu nun
blossoms. IL,
Wild flowers spring ny along the roadside and cult
waited specimens ornament Tue htle gardens lfohllhg
the streets Of the villages The hisics and meadows
pt Al u
Sweetwa;cr Valley short distance beyond Loud0n.
Young clover is already thick and strong IN when our
animals uxdriatcd filing themselves to repetition II
few minutes. Cows, calves, sheep and other young
stock may lie seen in moderate numbers upon many
places grazing In the green pastures ana bts,de inc
still waters disspatng 10 some extent the dread vision
of war which 60 the resident has no doubt leit IFS
mark upon the country extent bch cannot be up
prcciaed by the stranger. Many Of the fences pave
been restored by new rails. by lng the partition
fences incosc the larger fields 81 that the farms are
wen protected along the rood lines.
Sweet nil, and rosy butter for many monih strangers
10 Knoxville, except in stinted ard cosby qunltiy
NAV be l,ad BY the traveller In the country. Aier
weary and dnnerless march OF twenty niles Gen.
Hascal and staff. when within ave niles ~ LoHd'n,
On Friday were invited to stop and rcir,'h themselves
nt wnysdo housc Of modest prrerfions but The host
and his yiads disappointed the party beIg uoh pet
ter than outside appearances warranted hiT. Az'f
Foster Of Pesn, H.. whom we ioun IL chTEe oil 'no.
place treated the party To q most timoly ana ample
diunr Of ham, fiesh. light bread, with sweet butter,
aud milk, with other delcac!es not found at Tie com
Aaor, physical man. il ought 10 keep hotel AZ
Lcnoir We found the cotton thread factory Of tic
Mossrs Lemon In full blast, turning out az excellent
and Gpo supply 0f d read Tor the manufacture oil do
nestcs Tie machinery which consists OF picking card
ing spinning. winding aud packing descriptions, Is
mostly OF improved Taunton make and very good Inc
cotton uscd lbs been on hand since last Ih iho
tlscad il III! up In packages oil about t.n OF Twelve
pounds and sells OF about q 20 pound. The Leuors.
always heretofore known thowoathcsi men Ia TINS
region ara now making money Il possible IA i.r thaa
l.fr- Iusfek 1T
some proportion 20 their wealth but though known to
be Rebels in sentiment they age esteemed az IN some
rcspecis tie bencfactors II this pat " the country
They encIprislng, make liberal use OF ,lri,
means for public IMPROVEMENTS end cGucaiion ara sell
tie poduct, Of their mills to rich and POOR Union ard
Rebel citizens n; uniform raios Loudon - unchanged
except Il possible tho place moro desnais than
when wrote mr. last letter 'oIa there shortly after the
sligo OF Knoxville. The handsome groves
Of sr,p,j young S ST as npa ,had cA' ns place.
have III disappeared # tie old wooden structures,
and all the fences have been used 10 h soldiers din
warm his chilled limbs, While doing duty in his
countrys cause No other possible use or the farm IN
fpc rons coul1 atone FOR their aostraction AT sb.
nn boe1er his speces OF dcstTuction almost disap
pears. have been told by persons, who. no doaot
thought thcy were telling tho truth 10, eelw.sn
cept residences Ind been consumed IL Is no such
thing Tho farms through the sgectwaer Valley are
vel uol6sel TO al appearance as they ever could
have been 1As Is tie garden Of Tennessee Prom the
average line ~ tLe railroad and country road Which run
nearly parallC the laid slopes upward TO tie wooded
ridges which skirt the valley ana which Tor - 10 ~
miles southwest Of LOudOn Is ron ono ala Lail
10 two miles IN width.
The fields are handsomely laid OF md CONSIST o,
corn wheat and meadow land IN Tie usa'I proportion.
and moro beauiiul land Goes pot lie out doors Hero
also fine oTchl Is and some excellent residences
with tie approved farm buildings and measures
Stock To "a considerable extent y also seen grazing on
tie green Slopes Further west the valley nsrTows To
hslf nile and the land j. les inyiitns much 81 Il
swampv and the houses show that soeGy IoVertystruek
aspect which il everywhere TIE natural EXPONENT o.
poor soil Athens i OF the most beautiful little
towns have seen Ia East Tennessee. Though very
dull IN business poai u view there are eyidencss that
naturally I've and thrifty people occupy The place
Tie houses are neat and Of them of modern style
OF architecture with fine gardens ~ fruit flowers aud
vegetables. There three reform churches, large
female academy and other buildings, making town Of
some pleiensions. The remninder Of our march WAS
through q swampy and un.nvliing region until We
rolcncd "
CHARLEsToy on THE HIAwAssA.
The first little village We came TO- which was within
half mile OF our campng.grouud. Is called Calhoun IN
honor Iprcsune. d the great South Cnlolinian. The
place was established about tho same time oS Athens
GH2O though IL bears no resemblance 10 IT, Here -
he crossing II the East Tennessee and Georgia Rail
road 1t iradnepost Of tie Cherokee Nation OF
which this and Charleston. on the opposite side. were
the frontier towns In this place there are about twenty
houses buildings OF a straGgling tumbledo"n ana
deserted appearance The only building u any size,
brick structure, formerly occupied for on academy Is
now used as hospital Tho other brick building Is
used By Lieut. Duly, Commissnry Of the I'D Corps lie
River is about rs yards IN width az present running
about fifteen feet below its banks. II falls into
tie Tennessee about eighteen miles from this
point The trcsts bridge now in use here
l. temporary one built upon two stone picr ana TWO
abutmens and will soon BE- replaced by more rub
stantial structure now building ut London The pom
toon bridge rather shaky nflir. hurriedy butt by
Gen Sherman's troops when marching to the rsarf OF
Knoxville. answers the purpose for crossing Yegqns
and horses 1t is 900 yards below the bridge. wise
regulation having in view the safety OF sktsh horses
and any riders who might have too liberal supply Of
bud WHISKY concealed about their persons obiges all
eq ues trans 70 dsmoun when they cross the bridge
Charleston the west bank 81 the river. IL situated
almost proc sely like London in the valley running ~