The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-04-01

the mt uutans Of Tennessee, and rolling int
the tiourshing city at
| CHATTANOOGA, Tenn,
Or the would he "Pitl,burg Of the South.
Forty years ago The present site OF the cry q
Chatianougl, situated on the south hHnk %
the Tcnncss pc river, was m urhroken wild, III
habitcd only by The tuiled red men who ser,
utterly Unconscious of HE immense minera
wealth thai lay hidden but u short space be
meath their feet, rs they roamed far and nidt
over the pine clad hills and towering noun
tains in persuiI of game. At this lime Chat
| tanooga WAS know as tbs Crows Nest
AT the close of lha rebellion its inhsbltanl,
numbered about 300 and to-day II is no
tar from containing 20O0J souls All agrc,
in the opinion thai Northern men ard North
ern enterprise nave made this city wha
it is.
The citizens grow very enthusiastic oven
the growth and prosperity IF their city, and
call it the "Pittsburg of the South" and eX
poet tina, some day IL will rIval PiuShurg
the original. Great expectations indeed for
people that put on such lofty airs rs do the
ChattanOogians.
During my stay in the city, one Of the
greatest pleasures experienced was to stroll
over the old battle GROUNDS and hear. anew
from the lips of those who participated in
the struggle the dangerous and exciting
events that transpircd there during the war.
and view the old turlrcsses and fortticatIcns
that stand today rs suitable monuments to
mark the spots made crimson by the blood
of our counIrymen.
Lookout mountain with its grand old
scenery, towers 30 feet above the city. 1t
was our choice and pleasure Ia climb up the
steep ascent and up the gigantic bluff, rs did
the boys in blue on that eventfn November
morning in 1868, when the battle above the
clouds" was fought, with Fighting Joe
Hooker" in command.
From Lookout mountain, the view is
grand, perhaps nothing in tho world can be
compared TO 1t, From the summit one can
view the scenery Of seven states, viz: Ten.
nessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama, North
and South Carolina and West Virginia.
On its top the marks Ct the last terrible
battle still remain and will for ages yet to
come
At once the vast scenery before US attracts
our attention Chattanooga, surrounded en-.
tirely by mountains, the beautiful river wind.
ing on its weary way around the base of
Lookout, the battle fields of Chick lmauga and
Mission Ridge, Cameron's Hill and Wal
don's Ridge, and the vague forms of Cumber-
land and Sand mountains. Far away IN the
distance we behold the mountains Of Tennes
see and North Carolina. These scenes are
80 strkingly grand that an attempt ut de-
scriptton would be folly on my part, 80 |
will leave the reader to imagine the beauties
that are presented to the eyes of the rambler
Situated not tar from the city is Woods
Redout. Here 1t was that Grants head
quarters were located during the three days
lighting near Chattanooga But as the city
is growing and spreading In every direction
This spot is destined to be swept away and its
quiet solitude exchanged for the hum and
hustle of business Such is the spirit of
progress.
The National Cemetery, one mile from the |
city, is an inviting place to visit
1t ID located on an elevated piece of ground, |
'loping In every direction from the center,
and contains 70 acres, planted with various
kinds of trees, where branches cast their
luet shadows on the tombs of the dead. 1t
8 enclosed by substantial stone wall and
n the center, in the midst of beautiful
square, at each corner Of which is large
cannon pointing heavenward, stands the lag
'tatf from which proudly float the stars and
stripes.
About thirteen thousand soldiers who fell
IN the battle fields of Chickamauga, Mission
Ridge and Lookout mountain are buried
lere. Each grave is suitably marked SO that
he grave Of a friend or relative ID easily
sund
Scattered here ana there noticed the
James Of many Illinois boys. Everything
las been done that could be done to make
his place worthy of those who sleep here.
md 1t Is not place that Will 90 to destruc.
ion and be forgotten in the course of a few
ears. No; il will remain for centuries as a
alisman TO those who will live in the distant
uture, of the events that tranSpired during
he lives Of their noble ancestors.
Here, too, Is the Confederate Cemetery,
ut how different the appearance! In and
round II everything wears a look Of despair
nd gloom. Some graves contain the re.
mains of a dozen persons with not stone or
take TO denote who they were or where they
anne from, but all seem TO be uncared for
nd unknown.
Sad indeed must be the feelings of all that
isit the resting places Of the Confederate
nd Northern dead at this place; both occu.
lied by the heroes Of the same battles, carried
rom the same Geld of carnage but how diff.
erently were they disposed of, and how diff.
erently are they cared for! As Hamlet said
Alas! Poor Yorck" &c.
II would be well for the Southern people
0 spend less money on such nonsense rs
isrdi Gras, ad, If they have any spare
hangc to contribute 1t towards identifying
he resting place Of those who fell with the
Conquered Banner" battling for the lost
ause"
so far my letters from the South treated on
sunny spots" and now let me call the attcn.
on of the readers Of the TRADER to the
INDUSTRIAL CONDITION
{ matters and things US | observed them in
like. Ii
The great trouble with the ma ority of the |
outhera people Is that they are too sore on
mall points, and allow things to go by de
sult IN consequence.
They spend tc1 much time in cursing and {
aiming the administration, the niger, aud
heir i'll luck in the "lost cause"
They look upon all Northerners that 90 70
ce among them as thieves, carpet baggers"
nd trash, notwithstanding their hospitality !
nd kindness TO visitors and treat the man ,
nd brother" as lazy, lousy, lying, thieving
Irctch. They will never get oyer the idea
RAT there is blue blood In their veins, and {
re forever harping abou, their long ard no ,
le line of ancestors. They think il too hard