Vicksburg weekly herald. (Vicksburg, Miss.) 1868-1883, 1870-09-10
MONTvALE SPRINGS, EAST TENN,
August 30, 1870

I
the usual course pursued by letteI
writers, and preface this with al
apology for obtruding myselfupor
your readers, but will 60 at once
into a brief, detailed account o.
my travels since we parted.
About three weeks ago l left
Vicksburg to seek a cooler and
more retired place among the
mountains.
Having some business in Mem.
phis, / was detained there a day OF
two, but the time was passed very
pleasantly with my acquaintance
among whom were several of my
old friends and classmates at col.
lege, whom | had not seen since VIC
left the shades of our "Alma Ma.
ter" just about the initiation ol
hostilities between the Northern
and Southern sections of our
country in 1851.
While in Memphis I took occa-
sion to examine carefully into the
working of the celebrated Nichol-
son pavement, with which the
streets of that city are laid, and OF
which Ihad heard so much through
the columns Of our own local
press.
The result of my investigation
satisfied me that it is q most ad-
mirable pavement; perhaps the
best that has yet been invented,
and it is to be hoped that the day
is not far distant, when this will be
substituted for the dirty, misera-
bic, wretched streets that now dis
grace our own city.
If the people of Vicksburg were
possessed of one half the spirit
and enterprise which seem to
characterize her neighboring
towns, she would soon expand
into the dimensions of a large,
thriving and tlourishing metropo-
lis, and in a short while would
regulate and control very large,
ifnot the largest proportion of the
gigantic commerce of the Missis.
sippi Valley.
Why is it that our people will
not arise in the majesty of their
strength, and shake of the lethar-
gy which seems to be weighing
upon them like nightmare, and
show themselves equal to the ad.
vantages with which a kind Provi,
dence has blessed them? For 1t
cannot be gainsaid that Vicks.
burg possesses far more natural
advantages than any place ON the
Mississippi between St. Louis and
New Orleans, and but for the in.
dolence, apathy and inertia of her
citizens, she would soon outstrip
all of her competitors in the grand
race of material progress and pros
perity.
From Memphis bent my course
to that famous summer retreat,
the Montgomery White Sulphur
Springs. Here a week glided by,
hours seeming like minutes, and
days like hours, so pleasantly did
the moments wing their fight.
There was an elegant company in
attendance Of about two hundred,
or two hundred and fifty persons,
principally from Louisiana and
Mississippi. Among the visitors
from our own immediate section
of country, were our well known
citizens, DR.. James c. Newman
and Major George G. Waddill,
with their families.
The spot is indeed beautiful.
The Springs are located in a lovely
valley, through which pursues the
"even tenor Of its way" a laugh
ing, babbling brook, the ceaseless
flow of whose melodious warblings
makes music to the ear, while all
around in every direction tall and
majestic mountains lift themselves
in lofty solitude far away.
During the war the buildings
there were used for Confederate
hospitals, and one evening while
taking a pleasure stroll around the
foot of the mountain, came upon
a cemetery containing the remains
of the gallant men who had there
died l was particularly impressed
with the arpositeness of the spot
selected as the last resting place
of the sleeping dead. The ma
jestic mountains which lowered
around seemed like giant senti-
nels guarding the approaches to
this repository of sacred dust
which slumbered at their base,
Each grave is marked with a
head board, on which is written
the name of its occupant and the
State and regiment to which he
belonged.
My stay at the Montgomery,
was a pleasant one, and l
regretted that my engagements
necessitated my leaving SO soon.
From there l came to this place
with a party Of relations and
friends from Knoxville. The
scenery around Montvale is equal
ly as grand imposing, and more
picturesque than at the Mont