Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-11-27
" The Outing" of the Wisconsin Press
Association, 1891.
Special Correspondent

/
GEORGIA, WHERE COTTON Is KING.
Friday, Oct. 16, we took our first day
light ride, from Chattanooga to Mar
ietta, the distance being 100 miles,
| in order that all the historic battle
fields on the Western and Atlantic
railroad, might be viewed. A special
train trailed out of the Union depot
at Chattanooga at s: 80 o'clock, escort
ed by the General Passenger Agent,
| c. f.. Hartman, to whom this flying
train seemed his own private coach,
hating everywhere as his guests ex-
pressed wish to, that they might
walk over the grounds where brother
against brother fought for their cause
The country through which we passed
seemed barren of all culture, save the
many cotton fields, and as it was
harvest time for that crop, everything
looked dry, and weeds abOunded.
Around the common looking houses
there were no signs Of thrift, no
evidences Of beauty in their exterior
neither shade trees, shrubs or
flowers; in the sterile pastures, only Il
| few stunted cattle were to be seen.
Men women and children, both white
and colored were picking cotton,
which they said was the second crop;
much Of it was thrown in piles on the
ground, while a few were gathering
it into sacking bags. Novel vehicles
and teams, were standing about the
small towns-two wheeled rough carts
drawn by two small oxen, and oftener
one OK or COW, hitched to the cart with
piece of rope, fastened to one horn
the negro driver, with rim OF hat
on his woody head, Longing on bale
Of cotton, and guiding his OK or COW
with the one rope. We stopped at
cotton field near Calhoun, and with
permission and silver, gathered some
cotton. On the same plant the white
cotton would be bursting through the
pods, pods would be just forming, and
on the ends the various colored bios
SONS. When it first blossoms, it is
yellow; the second day red, and the
third Il bright purple; then it drops
and the pod is formed. SO quiet and
inert is the whole landscape, that it is
hard to realize, that thnJy years ago,
it was all one vast battle field, once,
we found the exact battle ground, sur
rounded by circus ring, and the
ground once soaked with human gore,
had since echoed the merry jest and
bulIOOnery. We stop at Chickamauga,
Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, Dalton, Red
AGA, Mill Bank Gap, Allatoona Pass,
and Big Shanty, with Kennesaw
Mountain just before us, as we near
Marietta. These names have all gone
into history, and will be read by future
generations, with the same thrill and
wonder that permeates us now.
The Western and Atlantic railroad
was the contested point, between
the two sides, in this section, each try
ing to out-maneuver the other in
holding this important line, on which
depended both supplies of men and
provisions. Our attention is called to
Tie lone grave, just beside the track,
in Allatoona Pass, and n halt is called,
that we may read the inscription on
the plain headstone: "An Unknown
Hero" he died for the cause he
thought was right" The train men IN
passing keep it free from rubbish, and
II touching tribute was paid it, MS the
men of our party stood around it with
uncovered heads, while very softly one
repeated
ain the railroad cut there's n lonely grave
Which the trnckmen hold sacred to care
They have piled round 1t stones, and for 1t they
save
Every flower, when their task calls them there"
The ladies covered it with beautiful
flowers, which had been the gift of
Mr.. Hartman, and in silence we board
cd our train. General Sherman said
of the Western and Atlantic rail
road OF Georgia: I" 1t should be
the pride of every true American,
because by reason of its existence the
Union was saved" A continuous bat
tie of one hundred and twenty days
and nights was fought on this line.
We are nearing Marietta, where we
have been invited to lunch, but we
found at the Elmwood Hotel an
elegant dinner of many courses pro-
yided by Mr. and Mrs. Shockley,
the hosts, and not only everything to
crafty the palate, but large lunches
Of long stemmed roses We're beside
every plate, and when going into the
parlors, we found the tables and piano
heaped with roses, from which we
were to help ourselves, After pleas
ant exchange of greetings with our
entertainers. u committee announced
that seventy-nve carriages were ut the
hotel entrance to convey us to the
many points of interest in and around
this city of hospitality and culture,
With every carriage an escort was
provided, 1t fell to the writer's lot to
be one of three who were entertained
and instructed by Mr.. IL. &. Coryell,
II native of Marietta, and in the three
hours drive his courtesy and fund
of information was inexhaustible.
The carriages were first driven TO the
National Cemetery; and rs the day
was clear, soft and balmy, our carriage
was thrown open that we might inhale
with the bracing air, the perfume of
the trees, shrubs and flowers which
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