Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-11-13
" The Outing" Of the Wisconsin Press
Association, 1891.
Special Correspondence.
FROM TIE VALLEY OF THE CUMBER-
LAND TO THE VALLEY OF THE
TENNESSEE.


made pleasant through the untiring
efforts of w. J.. Danley, General Pas
senger Agent Of the Nashville, Chatta-
noga and st. Louis Railway, this road
being one CT our hosts, our party
divided for breakfast-sOme going to
TO the Read House, some to the South
ern, but all TO assemble at the Read
House at nine o'clock, where the cour-
teous citizens were to meet us, and
whose guests we were to be during
our s0i0urn there. To our gathering
badges another was added, bearing the
insignia, Chattanooga Welcomes Wis
consin Press Association, Oct. ID,
1891" which was talisman to all the
privileges the city could bestow. With
our hosts as guides, we took the cleo
trio cars for that greatest point Of in
terest TO all visitors in Chattanooga,
Lookout Mountain. When we reach
St. Elmo, three miles from the city, we
are transferred to the Incline Railway,
and ascend 1880 feet, straight up the
side Of the mountain, landing within a
short walk Of Lookout Point Hotel.
The ascent Is so rapid and the air is
so rarelled, that a few moments is
needed for return Of breath, when
the magnificent and bOundless pan
Drama spread before us, makes us for
the time speeches.. The hotel is a
modern building, Of three stories and
basement, with broad balconies on
every floor, and the views from them
are pronounced the most extensive in
the world. Below winds the blue
Tennessee River, its banks fringed
with trees, such as the laurel sassafras,
oak, chestnut and box elder, but at 50
great distance, that they seem to be
shrubs. Here the noted Moccasin
Bend is formed by the river, where
Generals Grant and Hooker had their
headquarters, during the famed battle
Of Lookout Mountain. Six states are
distinctly seen from this elevations:
to the north, Kentucky and Virginia.;
east, North and South Carolina; south,
Alabama and Georgia. Nothing more
sublime in views could be found any
where, extending over an area Of 500
miles The site Of the hotel is where
the "battle above the clouds" was
fought in November, 1868. The Con
fGdGrato forces were in possession Of
Lookout Mountain, but not supposing
that troops could scale the high preCi-
pice, above MoCcasin Bend, were not
guarding that side. General Rockers
command, taking advantage Of the
cloud covered side, and protected by
the heavy artillery in Moccasin Bend,
advanced On them, and after severe
lighting, the COnfederates retreated
over rocks and precipiccs in Chatta-
nooga valley, and the 9Th Kentucky
stationed the Union flag on Lookout
Point, The different landmarks of
this battle were pointed out to our
party by both Northern and Southern
participants, On, around the noun
tain, by the narrow guage, our first
station Is Sunset Park, the loylest
spot on the road. We stop here to de
scend by steep, winding foot path to
Sunset Rock, which is precipice 300
feet high, and whore at sunset the
surrounding rocks are fairly ablazo
with the glow. Near by is the GrottO,
IN immense excavation in the solid
stone; near the station, Is the Garden
Of the Gods" fun Of beautiful Won
ders. Taking the narrow guage, we
pass small cottages, nestled among
trees, to the Natural Bridge, the "Old
Man Of the Mountain" and other
unique named places. A fine spring
Of water is below the Natural Bridge,
which supplies the hotels with ice cold
mountain water, conveyed by pipes.
Here We're gathered the finest trophies
of the trip. Canes are cut from the
different woods, chestnut burrs, per
simmons, sassalras leaves indeed, u
botanical expedition could not have
been more weighted down with wood
land gleanings than our editorial
force. This mountain is 80 miles in
length, rising gradually from the
south to its abrupt terminus at the
Point Hotel. After scanning all the
beauties Of this most picturesque spot
we deCeuded to terra tirma, by the per-
pendicular Incline and were taken
across the city to another Incline,
which landed us ut Cameron Hill,
from whose height the city and valley
could be more satisfactorily seen than
from the mountain, not being SO high,
and nearer, This is another historic
spot, rs the rebels placed their bat
teries here to shell the Union soldiers.
Lunch was taken in the handsome
pavilion, whom the local committee
entertained us with II brief outline of
the marvellous growth and future pros
poets Of Chattanooga. Some of the
party again assembled Cameron Hill by
moonlight, and viewed the city, illu-
minated 10y its many electric lights,
the dark mountain ending in the
clouds, and the many windings of the
silvory Tennessee, After lunch came
the visit to the National Cemetery and
Missionary Ridge. The cemetery is
10y far the finest and most interesting
one viewed. Seventy-hye acres are
here dedicated to 10000 Union dead,
The graves of the unknown dead are
marked with marble post; the