The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-06-03

his room. He is highly respected
and it is a credit to the judgement Of
the southern people that they respect
and admire him, while they distrus'
Toombs, regarding him as an un.
scrupulous politician. We crossed
Sherman's track several times in this
days ridein many places. 1t will
be easy to trace it for many years to
come. How true it is, as Sherman
once wrote the Mayor of Atlanta
"War means crueltyl" God grant
that the soil of our blessed country
may never again be Redeemed with
the blood OF the slain-north or
south.
Atlanta is a wide-awake, growing
place, with moro northern people in
it, in proportion to its population,
than any other town we saw so far
south. It's inhabitants claim that it
is now as large as Augusta, but I
think not, although it soon may be.
Near Atlanta we passed in sight of
Stone Mountain,-a huge stone, sur.
rounded on three sides by almost a
lovel plain, and towering to the skies.
l believe it was Lookout mountain
where it was said Hooker fought
among the clouds,-the same might
truly be said of Stone mountain. At
Atlanta, Yankee Robinson, or some
other of the universals, was on hand
with his Circus, and many fools and
their money soon parted that night.
Many a poor darkey's only quarter
went into that box.
From Atlanta to Montgomery
much of the country, until we reach.
ed the valleys of the smaller streams
flowing to the Alabama, is like that
of northern Georgia in topography
and soil. J. D. l..
When within 60 to 80 miles of
Montgomery, we came in to the wide
rich valley of the Tallapoosa river,
where are many fine cotton planta-
tions. Arrived at Montgomery, we
visited the Exchange otel,whcre we
unexpectedly met with an old ac-
quaintanco from Cincinnati, who Is
Collector of u. S. Revenue for that
district. In the morning he got a
carriage and invited us to ride to see
the city and surrounding country,
which kind attention we gratefully
accepted. The low lands of the val
ley of the Alabama here, upon which
nea-l,- ali of thA hnsinnss rnrtinn of
the city stands, are sandy and dry.
The top soil of the higher lands, upon
which are most of the good private
residences, is stiff clay of Chocolate
red color, quito strong and produc-
tive.
The Capitol buildings are upon the
hig her grounds, mile from our no.
tel, and we approach them by grad
ual ascent of from 80 to 100 feet per
mile. Most of the State offices are in
the main building, and in them we
found mostly Northern men; among
others Gen. Reynolds, formerly of
Keokuk, Iowa also Capt. Reed, of
Peoria, iii. After chat with these
gentlemen, we were shown the room.
in which tho ordinance of secession
was passed, the balcony upon which
Jefferson Davis stood and delivered
his Inaugural speech; also the U. s.
court room, where W. L. Yancy and
other distinguished lawyers and pol
iticians have exercised their brains,
mostly, no doubt, decidedly more to
their own advantage than that Of
their clients. The furniture of the
rooms are worn and faded, especially
the carpets, through which the floor
is seen in so many places as to leave
the beholder in doubt as to which
predominates, carpet or bare floor.
We were now conducted to the top
ofthe building, a walk and ballus-
trade surrounding the dome, in the
clear, balmy air of bright April
morning, we saw one Of the most
beautiful sights, Below and around
us, on low land and high land, lay
the little city. AT one point we could
see q business stroat, ,rAAre- aaaAn. 1..d
women, on foot, on wheels, and on
horseback, hurried to and fro; at an
other, powered around with shade
trees and flowery shrubs, stood beau
tiful residences; here, along q curve
on the Euphala Railroad, amid tho
curling smoke from the engine, c,swept
long train of cars; there, back in the
outskirts, peeping out from amid a
forest Of evergreens, stood like senti-
nels the white tomb stones and mon.
uments Of the cemetery. A short
distance TO tho southwest of which,
we could see large, new building,
which wo aftorward became acquain-
ted with, and found it well appoin-
ted, fitted aud furnished school house
for the use of the freedmen, erected
by the United States government,
under the direction Of Gen. Swayne,
and called the Swayne Institute. By
invitation We went that afternoon to
its opening and dedication services,
where we found some 40 to so ladies
and gentlemen, mostly teachers from
the North, but very prominent
among them was DR.. Clond, Super
intendent of Public Instruction, a
| Southerner by lirth. education and