The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1869-02-04
For The Anderson hntelliqeneer.
A TRIP TO THE SOUTH.


rugged mountain scenery, SO grand and enchant-
ing, from the Lookout Mountain, and the broad
sheet of water of the Tennessee River. When
daylight came, we had not gotten through the
mountains, but steep bluffs and naked rocks still
frowned down upon us. should have liked very
much to have fingered fer few days around Look
opt Mountain, and visited the backgrounds in
that region where some of our noble, gallant
young men laid down their lives in defence of the
sunny South. 1 should also have felt q mournfu
interest to have looked at the Chckamauga stream
where fine team of large mules were driven on a
raft and drowned in attempting to carry provis-
ions across to those suffering with hunger, being
cut off by the swollen river from their baggage wag-
ons, till driven to the necessity of picking up the
grains of corn trampled in the mud by the horses
a month before, and parched by them. This view,
if could have taken it, would net have benefited
the dead, or have restored them to the living who
even yet often painfully feel their loss. This op-
portunity, whether it would have been pleasant or
painful, was not enjoyed by me. The iron horse,
always unmanageable, at least by the passengers,
pressed rapidly forward without consulting the
wishes of passengers
After the sun rose bright and clear above the
loftiest pnnacles of the mountains that environed
us on all sides, We passed over the Tennessee
River, and entered upon beautiful, level coun-
try. The road was as straight as if laid out by
compass and almost as level as q parlor floor
The river makes a long bend, and contains many
thousands of acres of land, once unsurpassed in
depth of soil, and very attractive to those desirOus
OF emigrating to new country. was forcibly
reminded of plain uninformed man who visited
this region in its virgin freshness. and desirous to
describe it in his own way, the growth he describ
ell with On ll-prepared song as covered
| "With hicore and populer,
| In the bent the Tenosee."
I saw but little "hicore or populer," or any tim
Der on it it now. LOOK around you, far in the
distance, and it presents one cleared, cultivated
plain. When was small boy, some of my nc
quaintances visited this region of country and
Duck River. On their return they gave most
glowing description of the rich lands, and the un-
paralleled production of the sol that some snber-
minded men believed 'Hhey stretched their Iolan-
kets,' and so expressed themselves. My fnther
and uncle, hearing the statements, went olt 10
view the country. On their return they expected
to be catechsed about The production and though
we'll pleased with it, knew they could not truthful
~ make as large statements as others had done.
When they commenced their inquiries, this 'ince
concluded to end them at the threshbold- Told
them "the half had nor been told them" 1t was
most wonderful country, indeed. If they pre-.
pared the land well--planted and cultivated it
properly, they might expect some five hundred
barrel, per acre; and planted and not cultivated,
about half that amount and If not planted at all,
seme half that amount. So he got clear Of future
caiechising. But sobcrly, passed through part
of this country in the Summer of 1920, in compa-
ny with Rev. T. c. Stewart, on our return from
missionary tour to the Western Indians, and
thought then the production was sufficiently abun-
dant to satisfy any reasonable mind.
The crops along this beautiful region did not
new equal my expectations. 1t may have been
injured by drought, or what is more probable. de-
Acent cultivation. Where there are such large
numbers of freed people it requires to cultivate
these extensive fields, it is difficult to have it
thoroughly done. do not see any reason why
such land should ever become exhausted with care
ful, skillful cultivation.
When We reached Huntsville, Ala, could not
recognize the place. On my first visit TO this
place, the town or city was principally on elevated
ground. A large limestone spring gnshed out in
8 perfect river, and saw person drive in near
the fountain, and the wafer come half way up the
sides of the mule and it almost aperpendicular
bluff, and large brick building standing upon the
very margin of the precipice- TO make
mans head dizzy to look down from window to
The fountain. Then supposed the principal part
Of the buildings were on this ground. inquired
if this was Huntsville of former days They snid
it was. inquired for the big spring. They said
it was still there. l saw stream such as flowed
from that fountain. Some one pointed nearly
South, in the direction of the river, and said it
was there So concluded the railroad depot had
drawn the greater part of the population of the
place from the original location, and clustered
around the centre of business It is now con-
siderable place in extent and population They
certainly have the land, if rightly cultivated, to
sustain dense population. did not ascertain
the probable number Of acres in that great bend
of the river, but from its apparent width, and the
length of time it takes the cars, running ut rapid
speed, to reach the bridge across the river at De-
catur, must conclude there is an immense scope
of land there, well calculated to repay the toll and
skill of those who cultivate it.
From Decatur to Tuscumbia very much resem-
bles the level plain through which We had passed
for many miles. This seems to be more elevated,
more of table land. and the other more of bot
tom. Cotton fields here, in deys gone by, were.
spread out for miles, and everything gave indica-
tions nf unnlih and nrhsneritv Lnrne nnnh hnra