The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-12-07
HIGH HILLS OF SANTEE.


The village Or Stateburgh nt Is scarcely
village now) stands on the apex OF hill, or
rather row Or hills which ascend In grace
gul sweep on the verge OF tho river swamp,
about forty miles from Columbia, tho capital
OF the State OF South Carolina, and twenty
miles from Camden, o liouri5hng Interior
town, famed In revolutionary history. Al
the base Of these hills llow5 the Wateree.
about TO merge Into the majestic Santee,
which rolling southwark, IL again Joined by
the ConQaree and empties It's volume OF
waters finally into the Atlantic All along Its
COURSE are nnxhaustlble lands, subject at
times, to overflow. but 80 generous In their
Weld ma to BIO considered Invaluable. The
mighty old swamp forest, whore not cleane J,
nresents n scene OF grandeur which we have
aeldom seen eaualed, even In tropical clime5,
where the century blooming aloe, Whispering
tamarInd and towering cocoa flourish, be-
meath burning skies In an atmosphere never
chilled by frost. where winter never sets his
lev foot. md snow II somethlng narrated,
heard OF, but never beheld.
There Hes the river swamp. High above 1T
CLEANS u sky OF Intense blue aud on 1t falls
power Oh radiance from the day kings
cleaning chr, rs, monarch OF tho universe.
rides supreme, the lord Of life and light
How gladly tho tall trees and full-iiowered
vines OF the swamp greet his vivIfyng pres
encel The Carolina parrot. arrayed In gor-
pepyis plnmnge swings In her golden Jessa-
mine bower above tho still lagoon where
larue-eyed frogs and deadly m0cGaslHs re-
poae The blue Jay the redbtfd, The Wlll
duck and crane fear no disturbance, while tho
wood sparrow and thresher rrvel In enjoy
ment OF their home, the undlsturbad river
forest
Stateburph ms We have said, overlOoks this
grand sweep Of border land Intervening be-
tween It's site and the broad serpentine river
whose diversified banks, changing IN aspect
al every tuln, we VIII not pause 70 o., deScfipe;
IL WAS once place OF note; II still ~, ana
must ever be- u place attractive TO lovers or
the beautiful in nature. Ascending 10 tho
height on which this ruined village IS located,
wa drive no n steep road OF fsd clay, with
deep gulles on either side, long washed by
descending riVuletS from above, each sending
its tiny tribute Of water to the IlV"r swamp. "A
constant breeze greeted us,ffesh mountain al
and that sunny, clear ana elastic htnosphere,
filled with perfumes of pine and Towering
shrubs. constantly reminded ~ Of the fact
that we were In Il Southern realm, equally
remote from the bleak polar ana burning tor
rid regions Of this diversified western cohIl-
nent.
But this Is the venerable village 50 nobly
situated, now simply ruined ana deserted
One great pileof debris, with backened pill
lars stood desolatey In tho sunshine. This
had been the residence OF Dir. Anderson. fath-
er of the brave Gen. Richard Anderson who
commanded an intrepid band OF Southern
soldiers of the CpnfederaGy, In the war be-
tween the States" Sherman = army, flushed
with victory, paused here, ana the flne old
house felt their fury. The Doctor had been a
man of fine ta3tH. ills Rar NJ WIZ KIP
houses filed with exotlcs, MS
entire establishment model OF . lovely
country residence. He WAS equally beloved
O., harm boar al "
benevolence To the poor and hi. hfgh-bred
vet affabe department. The good Doctor has
passed or the scene. lie lived to hear Of the
death OF his gallant son, Col MchenZle an
derson, ut the battle OF Seven Pines, IN Vir
pina and never recovered from tho blow
Gen Richard Anderson, his eldest son, has
since died In Beaufort.
Wide sandy road leads from Stateburgh In
n direction opposite the river swamp which
1t Oyerlooks and leads, In a few moments, W
the spot where Gen. Marion lived We need
not refer to his history, for revolutionary
records read by all, have not failed W com
memorate his valOr "The Swamp Fox OF
the South the friend and compatriot ol
Washington ana Lafayette. His descendants
have long resided here, and here are co be
Seen traces OF their OpulenCe and liberal way
Of living, A little further on we come to the
home of Gen Sumter, about whom We
nre called on 10 give no explanation. ~
champion OF State rights and liberty me
undauntcd 'game cock Of the South Ills
tastes were ever simple, but HIS love ol
country was evident and the iron nerve OF his
nature never iofsook the old hero to the last
There lie his broad lands, and on "Oat
Mount" yonder reposcs the body OF the war
worn veteran whose strong arm hhd aided ~
largely In freeing his cherished South IRON
British rule and whose fiery eye had never
looked Oh her slbjugatlDn IN after time.
There, too, Is the church, up to which II
former times rolled fqHipage alter equtIagf
Where the sonorous peal OF the organ was
heard, and where now many ma 1i.. ih i2nG
nent CLEANS whitley over Carolina dead
a clear-t hroated hooking bird sat high In tht
broad leaved and heavily lowered Mhre
tree which stood erect over a pillar OF gran
lite, inscribed We walt till thy coming
and there, over the silent dwelling ot the a.
Darted Hpated d minstreisy SO varied, 1wee
and thrilling, that II might trtumphantll
compete with artistic productions 81 ltailaI
or German composuists, and never to b'
eoualed by any artist. hurried glance a
lust where this road led. How sweet was The
scent OF the wild broom, Of sassafras flowers
Of bfue-eyed wild yiOets, OF spicy heart
leaves and pink-tnted honeySuckleS. before
Us was the former home OF Cen Nelson
There were his widow ana MS orphahS. Ms
gallant Young commander was last seen In
terrible conflict In Virginia. His fate nsve
t1anspired, and long did his young wife looi
yainly for his return. He sleeps lar from nj
loved ones VINO cherish his memory ye
deplore that they can never KNOW where liz
the bones OF one Of Cardinals true sons. i,
And this is Mount Carmel -four mile
from Stateburgh. We had heard OF It's 70
mantle locality and longed TO see 1t. Inc SUI
was setting, and through a road firm ant
even with beautiful woods on either side W
paused before the outer gate. This openet
Into long avenue, wide enough 10 aaml
four carriages abreast, and on both sides 0
1t were venerable trees, climbing roses and