The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-08-01

LETTER. FROM THE UP-CUUSTRl y
JONES GAr-CRsAR's HEAD.


To The Editor Of The Daily Nc,rs;
recent visit to Grccnvillo Distric. afforded tho
opportunity 10 view some Of the most picturesque
scenery Of which our State can boast. Thinking
that description OF our trip through portion of
the 1iclrctia OF South Carolinn may not bo with
out intei est TO somc Of your readers We havo vcn-
tured to scnd You thia hurried and imperfect
ckGtoil,
Tho region, though mentioned in most OF tho
published descriptions of tho Stnto is still almost
unknown TO the majority of tho dWcllora in tho low
country, aud ia pictured In thoir imagination as
llttlc more Than wild hnwling wilderncss
A pleasant ride of eighteen milo, from (rocn-
vile CuUrl,lousc easily accomplished in !, fore
noon, through country for the most part th;cklv
wooded, brought us to our destination for the
night "A farmers cabin, situated at / ~ hca;! !;
one OF the rov"a fGrTtcd i.s angle in the hills
constituting the FIRST Of series OF low ranges
which ut this point run parallel to The mountains,
NeXl noining wo waro ehrly unacr way, and
siruuk nlo what is called tho Jones Gap
Road. This cclcbrntcd highway wGs opened only
few years previous 10 the war. II is named after
the engineer by whom, it was latl ont, anl ;yha
superintendent its construction. 1ilia man, by tho
way, is quite y character in his neighborhood
Reared without tho advantages Of carly education,
llo acquired knowledge OF reading and writing
| nflcr lie lad reached the ago OF manhood II is
said that lis wife was Ills teacher. His natural
ability, however, triuniphed oyer tho deficiencies
OF luis carly opportunities, and his force OF charac-
ter secured for him considerable reputation in
his ncighborlool, Tho idoa Of constructing
ROAD across the mountains at point which would
communicate directly with tho rclI region Of tho
Hroal River Fall,y Of North Carolina took strong
possession OF his mind, and ho neessantiy agltaf-
Cd The subject, Until finally ho succeeded in form
ing III association among tho residents OF
both sides of tho mountains, who took tho
matter in hand, provided tho means, anu
cot JONES TO work. Tho result is ono
Of the finest mountain roads in the country. So1-
ONION JoSEs took decisive part during tho war,
He was Union map-or Tory, as was tho com.
mon term thon-and his example and influence
was 10 powerful amongst his rustic neighbors
that the whole section bccamo notorious, and tho
Wild glcns and caves OF those mountains wero
tho resort OF numerous dcsertors from tho Con-
fcdcratc armics nnd of disaffectod spirits gcnor-
ally. In of thcso wild recosscs is pointed out
The Eto of wliat was mn cnirenchcd Tory camp.
Somo desperate deeds arc also sail TO hayo Leon
committed horc, and their history bids fair 10 DO
pcrpetuatcd amongst tho traditions OF tho Dark
Corner of Greonyie District.
Tho road follows tho meantering courso Of tho
South Fork OF tho Saluda River to it's eourco Mt
tho worry head of tho Gap. Winding our way ut the
foot OF The hills, round tho head OF narrow re-
ccding coves, md past the rocky spurs Of noun
tain ridges, through narrow glens and broad
vatod acres waves tic GSsS Tb2so s6P we'll cult
hamlet and woodman's cabin, nestlcd under frown.
Ing cliff, or buried amid umbragoous folingo
wo hold our course until turning the
high spur of Elcn's Pinnacle, wo pass sud-
| denly round into tho great Gap itself. Nero,
Oh either hand, tho prccipilous sides Of this i'm.
mensv ehasm rear their rocky fronts over ono
thousand feet In height, covered from summit to
bottom in Src:n foliage, oxcopt whoro horo and
there tho bare face OF somo immense slab OF rock
shows itself glistenirg in Tho su,, or white
streak OF spray dasiios in impotuo,,s haste tlowr
tho mountain silo, rushing and gurgling In its
rocky course until it joins its waters with tloat
OF Tho limpid river in tho valley. As wo advance
tho Gap gradually narrows, until tho prccipitoul
! sldcs eeem almost within stones throw OF oacl
other, and tho bottom Of the immense clasm has
only room for tho passago OF tho rushing stream
Tho road now begins to climb tho mountain sido
doubling and zig-zaSgng upon itsefas II gradual,
feels it's way upwards towards tho bIuo sky above
Hero the skill Of tho engineer displays it;ef in the
doop grading Of The rocky shelf on which wc find
ourselves gradually ascending higher md higher
nboVo the sullon rush OF tho waters, now left dcor
down tho valo stone thrown over this abyss goes
laundering down tho dcciiyity, indicating on each
occasion, by its protraotcd deacent tho Increased
height 10 which NO havo attained. Surveying our
position, wo behold bolind MS tho narrow dcfile
stretching away towards Potts Cove; on our Ion
tho rocky front Of "Bald Rock" frowning oyor us
and IN front tho Gap head, now a visible pass
through tho rocky gorge. In duo course wo roach
tho summit OF tho ridge, and leaving tho load VIC
turn to tho lott md pass on TO tho chnin, on tho
southwestern verge Of which rises tho gidty
hoight Of Ciosar's Head.
stretch OF tlirco miles along tho ridgo br;nge
rs toward tho summit, and as wo anproa,I,
glinpaos through tho thick forest growth show ma
across tho intervening valoy, tho towering front OF
Tablo Rock.
Az longth wo rcaoh tho open summit OF the
mountain and stand upon tho fat Ioleo TINT
oycrhangs tho prociPice. Here sight breaks
upon tho Wow which must bogear. all
description. Tho first impress nn is ono Of
solemn awo. Tho spectator droads 10 trust him.
self to tho fascination which tompts him to nd
proaoh tho brink and look down TINT fearful hoieht
Moro than thousand fcot beneath us spreads
tho whole State Of South Carolina like vast plain.
Wo stand as IL wsro upon m immonao wall en-.
closing smooth tract OF Iove land, whioh extends
before us as far as tho eyo can roach Seemingly
ono grand landscape gardcn Of waving verduro.