The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-22
THREE DEAD TOWNS.
Once Famous but Now Deserted and
FORGOTTEN.

At the confluence of the Broad and Sa-
vannah rivers, in Ebert county, in the lat
Ter part of theseighteenth century, stood a
citv that threatened to rival Augusta as a
trading point. This ciuy was named Peters
burg. and before its decay was as well
tnown as even Atlanta to-day. Across
BROAD river, in Lincoln county, at the same
time Petersburg was in the zenith of its
glory. was located a rival town named
lisbon: while Oh tine Carolina side was a
third CITY, Vienna Petersburg was by far
the largest town and best business point.
Then came Vienna. and next Lisbon.
These three towns were built
at what was then thought to
be the head of navigation on the Savannah
river and promised to be places of con-
siderable Importance. They were located
long before the days Of cotton and steam
boats, when tobacco was the great staple of
this section of country, and navigation of
the Savannah was by railroads. | cannot
learn in what year these old towns were
first laid out, but it must have been shortly
after the close Of the revolutionary war for
in the old graveyard are seen monuments
dating backa century. These three dead
towns have always been an interesting
study TO me. and during recent visit to that
locality tried to learn something about their
early history. One gentleman told me that
sixty odd years ago an old lady friend of
his said she attended a grand ball in Peters
burg Then there were thirty three stores
in the place, and 1t was then on the decline
But / found 1t a very difficult matter to
CLEAN authentic information in regard to
the early history of the town, for the Oldest
citizens can only remember the place after
its desertion, and when only few scatter
ing families inhabited it, The town was
built on broad strip of alluvial bottom
land, surrounded by an amphi-theater of
hills. All the business was transacted on a
single street that passed through the center
Of the place. The surrounding heights
were chosen the sites for residences, and |
was shown an old red knoll that once
sold for SIS, 600 in gold. Lisbon outlived
both Petersburg and Vienna, doubtless.
owing to the fact that it was built on a more
elevated and healthy site. Vienna boosted
several very handsome blocks of brick
buildings, but was the first of the three to
decay The desertion of Petersburg is at
iii uted to two causes. One that the intro
duction of cotton completely revolutionized
the trade of this country, and it could not
compete with Augusta. The principal bust
ness of Petersburg had been tobacco, which
was packed in stont hogsheads, set of
shafts attached thereto, and the same
pulled to market by pony or steer. With
the Introduction OF cotton, the bales were
easier transported, and hence more distant
markets sought. Another reason for the
Abandonment of the town, and for which
there is doubtless some ground, is that the
place was very sickly, and visited every
summer by an epidemic of malarial diseases.
To-day there is no sign left of what were
once three fiourishing towns, except the half
filed CELLARS and wells surrounded by
thcket of china and mulberry trees. What
was once the Furnishing city Of Petersburg
is now occupied by Capt. Cade as a cotton
field and stock farm. Lands that once sold
by the foot, and streets that were thPonged
with busy tradeSmen, are now given over
to the more peaceful and quiet pursuits of
agriculture. Had the curse of God fallen
upon this town, its oblteration from the
face of the earth could not have been more
complete. Literally, rot one stone is left
upon another, or a single vestige of the old
habitations remain. Until two or three
years ago, one of the original houses stood
in Lisbon, and, as Mr.. DuBose, who now
merchandises at that point, tells me, the
timber of which it was built seemed almost
indestructible.
Aside from the wells and cellars, there is
the old cemetery in Petersburg, that took
occasion TO visit.
Since the early settlement of upper Geor-
gia and Carolina this point has been con-
=
rich in historical interest. Even before the
revolutionary war there stood on the banks
Of the Savannah river two miles below
Petersburg, Fort Caroline, the remains of
which are traced to this day 1t was first
used as a protection for white settlers
against the savages, and afterward figured
conspicuously in the revolutionary war.
Here was the narrowest point on the Sa-
vannah from its mouth to nearly its source,
and OF Nh 6ay. no inf ODD .NIo
a pontoon bridge there on which President
Davis and his cabinet, the famous treasure
train, and portion of the army crossed,
hOtly pursued by the federals This float
ing bridge remained for several months
until it was finally carried away by
high water There was no fighting
at Petersburg, but Kentucky regiment
surrendered there. On the roadside at
Lisbon is lying beautiful Napoleon gun,
that has bees spiked, but it is otherwise in
as good condition as when it left the
foundry. About mile further on, i'll the
woods, is another one of these guns.
Whether they were left by the c)nfederates
or yankees no one knows. But it is pre-
sumed that they belonged to the former
army. There Is no claimant for the can
no. s, but | suppose that Unclue Sam is the
rightful owner. They are not rusty, and
are said to be worth 81, 500 each. A few
WINS oAbGC, u JlCCO VI VII iGNOIuUlOH
cannon was found in Fort Caroline and
brought to Lisbon to compare with the
more modern guns. There was marked
difference in size of the two pieces.
About eight miles from Petersburg, on
the Danbury road, is the spot where the
confederate treasure train was robbed 1t
will be remembered that the wagons loaded
with money belonging to the Richmond
banks, had camped at house on the road
SIDE, when they were charged at night and
BACKED by company of disbanded confed-
crates. The specie was put up in small
wooden boxes but securing axes these
were burst open by the soldiers and their
contents emptied into pockets, haversacks,
blankets, and every other receptacle pos
sessed by the men. Silver was thrown
aside with contempt, the soldiers only TAX
ing the more precious metal, a larger
amount of which could be transported. For
several hours the sacking of this treasure
train continued, during which time some of
the men carried off load after load of gold
ana concealed it IN the woods or fields, to be
recovered at some future time. The ground
around the wagons, and even the road for
nile or more, was sprinkled with loose
specie, and thousands of dollars were after
ward picked up by whites and negroes
nIVing in the neighborhood. The people of
mat section affirm that there are vet vast
treasures buried around there that have
never been recovered. Even to this day
Strangers are often seen pryinR around in
the woods and fields, evidently searching for
g0la they buried there on that eventful
HHight, but have lost the locality. Only