The Republican journal., 1886-07-08
Our Georges Letter.

| fore the war. but was not much frequented by
Northerners, until the latter part of the fall of
63 if l remember Alright, when there was quite
rush of our people here, but instead of find
ing it a very healthy locality, they found the
death rate to be unusually large, and their stay
was AS "bref as woman's love-"
The Western and Atlantic Railroad. former
ly the old State road. runs from Atlanta 10
Chattanooga, distance of 40 miles. and it is
safe to say that on no other road in the South
was there more or sevcrcr fighting than was
done here. 1t was for the possession of this
road that all of Sherman'S battles were fought
between Chattanooga and Atlanta and he says
of it, it 'should be the pride of every true
American, because by reason of its existence.
the Union was saved He further saws that
every foot of ii should be sacred ground, be
cause ii was once moStened by patriotic blood :;
and that over Il hundred miles of ii was fought
continuous battle of one hundred and twenty
days, during which, day and night was heard
| the continuous boom of cannon and the sharp
crack of rifle" | don't know of but one rail-
road that has better record than This. and
that is our own road from Belfast to Durham.
where for little over thirty miles, there has
been continued fight for about fifteen wears :;
but Sherman didn't know this fact when he
wrote about the W. & A. road and naturally.
being a participant in the fight here, he would
| let that take precedence over any other fight
which he didn't have finger in. Durin" the
year from Sept. II, 1868, to the same date 1864,
the two armies lost in killed and wounded more
than $4,000 men, and over 30 900 We're captured,
not counting those that deserted then. and have
not stopped running yet. just think Of it, So
600 men wiped out. No wonder that men are
scarce when you try to get up ball or picnic
| have always noticed one thing, that in all
women's rights speeches. | never heard the
speaker wax very wroth over the fact that wo-
men did not have the right to go to war and be
killed and mangled for Sl3 Il month, or TO stay
at home and put in a 5000 substitute. Some of
our rights they seem to overlook. somehow.
The scenery along the line Of the road is very
fine, and the names of the towns sound 50 IA
miar TO us who can remember the rebellion
Just out of Atlanta. we cross the Chattahoochcr
river little muddy, red headed stream that
looks inotfcnSive vet the blood that has poured
into that river was almost sufficient TO dye il
red forever. kenneSaw. Ri" Shanty and Pine
mountains are all familiar names. and ALA
toona will be ever memorable by Gen. Shtr-
| mans signalled message to Gen. Cor>e. which
gave lis the gospel hymn OF Hold the Fort"
Gen. Cor>e was at Alatoona Heights anu lust
before the battle he si"nalled sherman. who
was at Kenncsaw Mountain, for instructions.
Shermans reply was, "IIold the fort. for am
coming The reply of Corse is not given in
the hymn, but it is said that he intmatcd to
Sherman, that he rro,Nd hold the fort till there
was crack perceptibIe in that region where
the thermometer runs very high in the shade.
Time has nearly oblitcrated i'll traces of the
desperate struggle on the line of the road, al
though now and then rifle pits are visible, and
old eaIthwork> can be seen.
We approach Chattanooga late in the after
noon, passing Chckamauga station on the
way, got a view of the Tennessee river, another
red, muddy stream. which looks as innocent as
Il buckwheat cake. but which occasionally GETS
up on its ear as it We're, and Stops over, and
deluges the towns and country for miles
around. At Chattanooga we saw marks ON
the stores on the principal business streets,
where the water had been. covering the floors
to depth of several feet. Chattanooga is an
other of the live cities down this way. At
lanta. Ga, Chattanooga. Tenn. and birmine-
ham. Ala. are three active. growing places,
and are destined to be large cities in time.
Lookout mountain is situated about an hours
ride from Chattanooga and is 400 feet above
the cit, if one rides up, or about the same
heavy valise. Being wealthy rode. The noun
tain i set down in the corner of Tennessee and
one can stand and see without turning his head.
Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. ON cloudesS
day it is said that ranges Of hills can be seen in
Virginia and North Carolina. There is the best
mountain road up this hill that | ever saw. Ii
is laid out that ii is not very steep at amy
place. A pair of horses will take four up
easily and the descent is made by placing one
of the hind wheels in an iron shoe and thus an
ranged, the horses can trot all the way down.
The road j. Il private affair. and one incident in
the drive up nearly paralyzed me. If there is
one nuisance more than another. to which Il
traveller is subjected, it is the eNtortonate
fees and tolls which he has to pav Nine
ten1h> of them are clean >windlc>. and BY the
time he arrives at the place he wishes 10 visit
he has been budozed and humbu"ged and
swinded TO an extent that he is 50 mad that
he cannot enjoy the scenery or the curiosity
which he has 'ourneveu miles to see. When
about half way up we Iounu ourselves con
fronted by closed gate. We Immediately
10 al f,.,.