The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-01-14

with "Dlck" West as leader, is sing
ing some old camp meeting tunes,
and again we think of East Tennes-
see and wonder how many "singings"
they are having at the different school
houses around through the country in
old Blount.
Every night we think of our below
ed homes and the dear ones away |
across the blue waters, and we won
der are they thinking of us now? We
all often wish we could look in upon
our homes and see wife and child,
father, mother, brother or sister, as
they gather around the cheerful
hearthstone at night. No doubt we
would hear them talking of the sold
Ter boy IN his little white tent, on the
isle of Cuba, the land of perpetual
summer. This thought cheers us and
spurs us on to do our whole duty as
so,dl-ls, So tliat when we do return
home, the blush of pride, rather than
the blush of shame, will be seen upon
the faces of those near and dear to us.
Many, many rem iniscences PIE
sents themselves to us to night! The
meetings OF the boys around the mys.
tic alter of Knighthood-and the les
sons there learned! The noble insti-
tuition of learning over on the hill!
The churches, whose alter fires have
been kept burning so longl The
Court House, where Justice, blind
folded, holds the scales impartially
and around whose portals gather the
members of the ''town ring" the most
genial spirits for miles around! So |
could 60 on, but | would weary you
as all these things are not appreciated
until you are in foreign land and
they are only memories.
To-day by order of Col. Hannah l
took Serg't. Mathews and fifteen men,
of Co. B. and went about two miles,
where we burned an old Spanish
Blockhouse. 1t was situated upon
, high hill and rifle pits were dug all
around it. There were the remains
of a garden, In which there were
sweet potatoes, some bean vines, a
watermelon vine, etc. An oven,
built of bricc stood near. The house
was built from the ground up to abou,
four and one half feet of brick cover
ed with sod. At the bottom the wal
was about eight feet thick and grad
ually sloped in toward the top. JUS
above this brick and sod wall were
three railroad irons then an oper
, space of about four inches all around
, which was used for shooting through
, Above this were three more railroad
irons and then the roof of the wall
were made Of palm wood. The roo
was made of thing. The inside o
of the brick ard sod foundation wa
was wainscoted with palm wood ane
; the floor was made OF brick. Just OF
top and IN the center of the roof wa
look. out tower, large enough TO
one man. There were six of thes,
J block houses in sight Of our camp
) but all of them have been destroyed
but two; these will share the same
fate as ,he others in few days.
On our way back to camp, we Wis
tied an old cemetery. This is a trac
> of land enclosed by a brick wall abou
;, fifteen feet wide. The wall is uset
. as vault and places large enough Il
slide coffin in have been left by tn
4 masons. Nearly all of these hav
!, been sealed up and the name of tn
a deceased on the outside. There ar
: other family vaults on the inside
= One of these was open and we coul
see the same plan was followed GU,
there as in the wall. The strange!
/ sight is yet to be told. AT each CO.
o ner of the cemetery there is a roun
/ tower, with an opening near the TOT
Against one we saw ladder and &
h We were in quest of knowledge W
h climed up and looked in, and grew
IS some sight was presented. The TOW
q er is almost full to the top, with skull
% and other human bones. We al
told that the other towers are. filled
the same way.
There is portion of ground, on
l. side this..wall, which is used by Il