Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-03
For the PUBLIC LEDGRR.l
"Reminiscences Of the War.

| ANhhSooNN NHAA"R 'eo NNN"fN.NJ
part of Tennessee lying between Nash
vile and the Cumberland mountains,
you cannot but recall to mind the beau
tiful country stretching, like variegated
carpet, from Tullahoma to the noun
tains. Hood, in his address to the army
previous to entering Tennessee, styled 1t
the garden of the Confederacy," and |
think justly (although / am not Ten
nesseean), for in no State can be found
greater variety of splendid scenery.
In the terrible grandeur of her noun
tains, the serene beauty Of her lovely
and productive valleys; in the purity
and abundance of her springs and water
courses; and last, but not least, in the
courage and endurance of her sons and
constarcy of her daughters in all
these, and much more, she cannot in my
opinion (such as it isl be surpassed by
any State in or out of the, Union, Where
can place more pleasant, more serene
or beautiful, be found than in the neigh
borhood ofthe quiet, little, aristocratical
village of Winchester. This is plea
SAINT place, indeed; and many pleasant
hours have l spent stretched beneath
the shade of the trees, in the lovely
month of May, watching the beautiful
humming birds, which are abundant
here, with their scintillating hues, as
they dexterously and, to me, surpris-
ingly poised themselves, preparatory to
inserting their delicate bills in the sweet
blossoms. / must admit that my atten'
ton was about equally divided between
the beautiful birds that lowered above
me and the gay, laughing, lovely groups
that glided by me with their rosy checks,
bright eyes and pearly teeth, presenting
picture that rivaled the blossoms; and
it's surprising the humming birds do not
make mistake occasionally. said
glided by Chats correct), for apply it
to their feet, and they went noiselessly
by, for their pleasant patter was drowned
in the musical clatter of their agile
tongues. But if you would see the whole
valley as map lying beneath you,
ascend the mountains and take posi-
ton on the verge ofthe mountain whereon
Bishop Polk and others commenced to
build their great Southern University.
From this point, in the direction OF the
valley, the view is uninterrupted until
the eye strikes the verge of the horizon.
As far as the eye can reach the earth
presents an even, green surface; for,
from the hight of the position, the rough
ness of the ground is lost in the general
evenness of the valley This beautiful
ground covering is agreeably relieved by
the numerous small villages and solitary
farm houses that jut out above the tall
corn, and the many creeks and rivers
that you see, showing in their winding
course through the green vegetation like
silver bands serpentinely laid on a green
velvet carpet. This mountain, whereon
they commenced what was to be the
great Southern University, was mag
nifcent site But little more has been
done than clearing away the wood and
laying part of the foundation, for the
foremost spirit in this great project
(Polk) no longer controls or directs the
minds of men. Before he could complete
this great undertaking he was called
upon to assist in a far greater-the erec-
ton of kingdom. Both failed but the
spirit of this great man, whose compre-
hensive mind grasped such great projects
fed to where lie could witness the i'm
partial working ofthe onlyperfect govern
ment 1t fed before the failure of this his
last and greatest undertaking became
a certainty, and his great soul was saved
the humiliating sights the survivors
are daily compelled to witness.
After viewing this beautiful valley,
should you wish to see the other ex-
tremes of nature, visit wild cat
mountains, in the neighborhood of Cum
berland Gap. The wild grandeur of this
place is almost appalling You ascend
mountain after mountain, still noun
tains are towering above you, and rock
projecting over rock, until you would
imagine that old Dame Nature, in her
wild freaks, had been trying how much
she could overhang the perpendicular
without topping into the almost faith
omless abyss beneath. You can gaze
upon this wild scenery until the mind
becomes bewildered and almost terrified
at the wild and terrible grandeur sur
rounding you.
cannot conclude this sketch without
paying a slight tribute of respect to the
people who occupy not this part Of Ten
nessee, but the valley | have previously
mentioned. l shall long remember the
sweet buttermilk, fresh eggs and nice,
sweet butter these generous ladies of
Franklin county so abundantly supplied
Us with. The few weeks spent on de-
tached duty in this pleasant neighbor-
hood shall remember as the only bliss
l found during my four long years Of
wearisome wanderings. ). {.
The New Dahomsy-Hov the Negro is
Trampling on the White Man Down |