Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-06-30
FROM THE MOUNTAINS.
A Ride Through the Mountains-A
Patriotic Ola mau-Scott County,

Patriotic ora mau-Scott County.
Correspondence Chronicle and Whis.
HUNTSVILLE, TENN, June 81.
To the Editors Of the Chronicle
Leaving headquarters this lovely
summer morning l strolled up the
valley of the beautiful Emory, follow
ing the stream, until it dwindled into
mere branch, and the valley was lost
in q deep, narrow, mountain gorge.
Directly up this, 1 pursued my solitary
way, until | came to the mountain
which is the watershed, or divide -
between the waters of the Tennessee
on the east, and the Cumberland on
the west. a half hours faithful
climbing carried me to the top, where
| rested, ate my lunch, admired the
grand scenery, and finally took a nap,
my feet extending into Morgan coun~
ty. while my bead reposed on Jacobs
pillow, in the patriotic atmosphere of
old loyal Scott. Scott county was
loyal during the war; and is vet, for
that matter. Out of voting popula-
ton of some six hundred and fifty.
only seventeen voted for Separation
| talked with an old grey-haired
man, by the wayside, upon this sub.
iect. His devotion to the good old
Union of his fathers and his love for
his native mountains was something
touching.
My grandfather fit in that Revolu-
ton war" said he, rs he warmed up
with his theme, land served in the
war with Mexico, aud for three years
10 thts war, and | am ready to go
again, If my country needs me"
The tears came into the old mans
eyes, AS in imagination :" he fought his
battles DER again"
Notwithstanding the uncouth words.
one can not fail to recognize and rev.
erence the ring of true patriotism in
such men.
How long have you lived here ,"
asked.
All my life. 1 was born here.
This used to belong to Campbell coun-
ty, but was cut off with Scott.n
" Do you like to live here 81
do that, stranger. l would not
give this county for any on the earth. !"
Did many of the refugees
come through here, on their way to
Kentucky, during the ware"
You are right, they did. They
came through by dozens, and scores,
and hundreds. Warren Jones used to
hide in the pine ridge country, over in
Anderson county, until he could get
up company. and then be would
come through with them
Did the rebels ever catch any of
them ~
Not that l know Of Colonel
Cliff was camped up by Huntsville
for while, and some of Bragg's men
got after them, but don't think they
caught any of them"
The sun was getting low, and as |
rode away, leaving the old man by tn {
roadside, l found myself invOlunIariIy
repeating the lines Of Scott:
Land Of my sires, what mortal hand
Can e'er unite the filial band,
That knits me to thy rugged strand o.
L could not but reflect upon
the vast field of romance
lying here awaiting the COM
ing of some Walter Scott, to
garner up its sheaves aud give them to
the world
Perhaps some future poet, may cele.
brate in heroic verse, the adventures
of these patriots to " fortune and to
fame unknown"
=
Whose dim outlines just rise TO view,
Ere morrow's sun shall gid the east,
Their rocky gates we shall have passed,
To seek beneath Kentucky skies,
That safety which our own denies
Although it has been ten years
since the close of the war, it is always
alluded to "a tits war.
HUNTSVILLE
Is the county seat of this county. 1t
is located in the midst of the most
romantic scenery 90 be found in any
part ofsthe county. Just below the
town is cascade that is worthy "a
painters study. Further below, at
the foot OF the mountain, New River
roars aud dashes over its rocky
bed. just after the close of the
war, while the oil excitement was
at its highest a party Of gentle
men embarked on the stream Just
below the town, with the intention OF
navigating New River into the Big
South Fork, and thence out into the
Cumberland at Point Burnside, One
day 8 experience with the rocks and
whirlpOols, cOnVinced them of the ut
ter futllity OF their plans, and they
came back, a drenched wOe-begone set.
hSy ttlA ~ htltAbouAt lilhl the IloD'
Horace Maynard is the owner OF a
small farm somewhere in this county,
which is so steep that a man once fell
out of the field and broke his arm.
But do not vouch for the truth OF
any such story.
This county was organized in the
year 1919. The first Court was held in
the fall Of the same year, by the Hon.
E. Alexander.
The county has been unfortunate in
its public buildings. A contract was
let out for the building Of brick
Court house. A dispute arose between
the Justices and the contractor that