Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-07-18


- Skies, and in the rugged
cliffs that overhang the valley. On
the route we passed Camp Loup
Creek, but now, in the place OF tents
and artillery, we saw fields of waving
corn and grass; and the people we
saw, instead of carrying Springfield
or Minnie, were armed with plow or
hoe. The remnants of the works
were there, but so surrounded with
the growing crop as to be scarcely
visible. The shoals of Loup, with
the rushing water that almost drown
ed our voices was soon passed, and
in short time we were at Mont
gomery's Ferry, just below the Falls.
1t was here the supplies fer the
troops stationed at Fayette were
taken across the river, and from
thence by wagon via Cotton Noun
tain.
A journey Of quarter of a mile
from the ferry and we are at the
Falls of the Kanawha. Before US is
a perpendicular fall of twenty two
feet, and the water, after gathering
head in its flight from the mountains
of North Carolina, comes rushing
madly over the rocks, forming with
the surroundings scene of magnifi-
cence and grandeur that no pen can
describe.
At the Falls House we met kind
reception from the hostess, Mrs.
HALE. The house in years long
gone by was the stopping place of
CLAY and BENTON and the Western
delegation to Congress, who traver
esed this route to reach Washington.
1t is commodious brick edifice, and
those who visit it are made at home.
Two miles above the Falls the
Gauley River and New River meet
and together form the Kanawha. The
famous Gauley Bridge is gone. In
1861 the rebel Gen. Wise on his re-
treat from the valley destroyed it.
1t was replaced by our Government
and again destroyed in 1862, when
the rebel General Loring forced our
troops to leave. At Gauley we again
saw remnants of Notifications and
many of the marks that armies leave
behind them.
The road up New River for dis
tance of three miles is a continuous
ascent-and contains an incredible
number of rocks. But despite the
difficulties, it was picturesque, and
when Tompkins' farm was reached,
We were repaid by view of the three
rivers apparently at our feet, and yet
three miles from US. Cotton Meun-
tain rose far above US on the other
side of the river, and the valley for
miles above with it's many beauties
was before us.
From Tompkins' TO the Hawks
Nest our route lay along the side of
the mountain. Here and there we
pass small farm, with its cabin and
other indications of improvement,
until at last we reach the Hawks
Nest, and gaze from its giddy height.
Terrible in its grandeur, we halt from
very fear. Fourteen hundred feet
below us the waters of the river
wash the base of the rock on which
we stand. Huge trees grow below
us looking no larger than pigmy
shrubs. The river has dwindled in
our sight to small stream, the muir
mer Of whose waters are heard as
they leap from rock to rock in haste
to escape Imprisonment among the
mountains. Look where we will and
the scene is grand N the extreme
before and ON either side Of us the
mountains are piled one on top the
other until the eye wearies and turns
for relief to the river, that for miles
can be seen plunging and rushing on
its course through the mountain
gerges. But it requires more gift
ed pencil than mine to paint the
beauties to be seen from such look
out. The view from the Hawks
Nest alone will repay the journey.
The "Lover's Leap" and other points
of scarcely less grandeur and beauty
are near-all of which we visited.
Our return to the Falls was accom-
plished with little trouble, and after
resting day and visiting the scenes
of interest around, we started for
Fayette C. H., via Cotton Mountain.
Crossing the river at Montgomery's
Ferry we commenced the ascent.
After traversing five miles of noun
tain road we at length reached the
top, and found ourselves at greater
altitude than when on the Gauley
Mountain. In the distance, almost
as far as eye could reach, we saw the
crest of the Big Sewell, and below
us and stretching far away, were the
mountains that skirt New River.
On the route we passed over sew
eral miles of Corduroy pike" con-
structed by the Government during
the time our troops occupied Fayette.
After a pleasant drive down the
mountain and along the uplands we
reached Fayetteville, the capital of
Fayette county. Previous to the
war it was pleasant place. Before
the close Of the rebellion it was en-