The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-06-08
sIIELL-MoUNDs OF TENNESSEE.

but surely the way OF triumph was ascenaep,
and the reward OF success was surely TO De
enjoyed. .i 8. ...
SIIELL-MoUNDS OF TENNESSEE.
The shell-mounds OF the Tennessee were
numerous and clearly developed on the
shore. The shells were in such quantities
and so complete that they seemed to have
been freshly piled up rs though from steam
ers which bad transported them from salt
water. The shells were small biYalrcs, and
bore not the appearance OF age or decay:
They are quite interesting to geologlsts, ana
must be OF advantage to the farming COM
munity. Some apeopie. call these banks
"mar!-banks." They are not like our Flr-
einia marl-banks. Ours develop shells much
further dccayed. These on tie tennessee
are so very fresh that they seem 10 nave
been thrown up on the banks within the
last few years. ..a'|
The shores are rich, the trees are large,
and exhibit the position of the traveller in
the great Mississippi Valley, and he begins
to realize the fact. We soon cross the river
&C Bridgeport, in Jackson county, Ala, on
the Tennessee border, near Stevenson, pass
ing by which we are soon again in Iennes-
see, whilst the river goes of sixty or more
miles south into Alabama, and curying
uorthwestward finds its way back into Zen
nessee at the point of juncture OF the bound
aries OF Alabama and Mississippi.
Up TO THE MIDDLE PLATEAU.
Bv Stevenson and northwardly our route
at a distance of thirty-fye miles or so as
cends the tributaries Of the Elk river TO
the summit OF the ridge, which is the south
ern boundary of the elevated plateau IN
Middle Tennessee. The immediate ridge
OF limestone rock is ascended ut the
rate of ITO feet to the mile for six miles to
the ton, and thence the descent is less than
q hundred feet for only one mile to the
plain on the opposite side. And here we
enter upon that fair land so admired by
travellers for its fine farms and beau.eous
" "flora'' 1t is true. it is also required by
nature to take along some poor lands. and
these appear at intervals in areas OF rocky
or Jungle "barrens," as they are called.
We descend to fine fields Of dark red land
with limestone rocks that are delightful to
look upon; and after Il time we come
to "barren." But that in turn
gives way to the happy land which
so much abounds in the plains OF Middle
Tennessee. This continues by Murfrees-
boro' to Nashville, which is the centre OF
that eliptical basin watered by the Cumber-
land river. This is the iattest part OF the
fat regions OF the State, which flow, with
abundance. Nashville is in all directions
cheered by the finest natural blessings IN
land, and stream, and forest. Near the
town are the most fruitful and pleasant
farms, and in every direction there are
pienty and rural comcliness manifest to the
observer.
Murfreesboro' is the centre also Of fair
region, and only regretted that the rapid
moving trains gave so imperfect an oppor-
tun,ty to look upon the evidences of the
lavish benefits bestowed by Providence
upon the country.
NASHVILLE AND SURROUNDINGS.
One night in Nashville only, and away I
90 to the dark shades OF the big forests
amidst the alluvial lands Of West Tennes-
see, close upon the great Mississippi. AS
we leave Nashville we descend gradually to
the west district, following the descending
tributaries first of the Cumberland and
next OF the Tennessee river, which, in its
northern route to give itself up to the Ohio,
crosses our way to the west. On leaving
Nashville we strike the waters OF the
Harpeth-strange name, and there is town
OF that name near its head-whose main
stream we cross eight times. This stream
empties into the Cumberland. We part
with it, and, taking the way OF the waters
to the Tennessee, cross that river early in
the day at Johnstonville, where that gallant
cavalry officer Forrest made one OF his best
surprises during the war, in which he
stampeded the Fcderals and captured vast
stores. ......z ....
- TO THE MISSISSIPPI BORDER.
Leaving the Tennessee river am soon in
a county in almost hearing OF the whistles
of the steamers Of the Mississippi, amidst
friends from whom receive the most con-
siderate and afcctionate attentions. and also
amongsta a population OF very unpretending
and very sincere and hospitable character.
In this locality I find the simple, and fru-
cal, and honest life Of the early settlers still
preserved, without the admiXture Of the
wild habits OF adventure and daring which
the perils and necessities of the first settlers
rendered necessary. The country, though
new, is brought under the dominion OF the
axe and the plough, and the standard OF
comfort is most liberal and general.
A WORD ABOUT THE TENNESSEE AND TIE CUM
BERLAND. ...
! must look back for moment at the
geography of this peculiar State. 1t is a
land Of two great rivers, as it were, While
its western border is washed by the great
est stream Of the continent. The Tennes-
see. that deserves second rank in rivers,
rises in Virginia. The river proper is 1,100
miles long, and is the largest tributary OF
the Ohio, into which il falls at Paducah,
XIV. Indeed, it is the equal OF that stream.
1t drains an area Of 1000 square miles: 1t
falls 1000 feet in its course, and Its average
width is 1850 feet. Rising in Virginia and
North Carolina, it flows twice through Ten
nessee and across Northern Alabama, and
.,,&;roIxy oorass KantnckV.
The Cumberland is the other prin-
cinaI river. It rises in Kentucky, in
the Cumberland mountains, only 4 few
miles-say fye-from tributary OF the
Tennessee river, on the opposite side
OF the mountain in Virginia. Rushing
westwardly about third Of the length OF
Kentucky. 1t desoends into Tennessee and
into the centre of the basin which is SO rich
II, things that make up fair and bountiiul
land. In draining that basin it flows west
to Nashville, and thence, tending to the
north, passes by ctarksTille, Bowling Green,
and so on to the Ohio, giving itself to that
stream very near the place where the Ten
nessee offers itself to the same food. In
deed, &c runs so close to the Tennessee be-
fore it reaches the Ohio that the wonder is
that, as the lesser current. IL had not been
to the Tennessee before it reached
the Ohio. The narrow pass between them
at one point cannot be more than couple
OF miles wide.
And now goodbye, geography, and give
Us q little time for more siack-twistea talk.
~ 3s .s4 RAMBLER.
A Chelsea girl said she should like to see
one OF those Bashfui- Bazouks.