Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-09-05
THE ROMANCE OF ETOWAH HEIGHTS
THAT TOUCHED SEIERMANS HEART
On His March to the Sea He
Spared the Historic Mansion
Because He Had Loved the
Proud Southern Girl Who
Reigned Under Its Roof With
the Grace and Majesty of a
Queen

Although there have been, at various
times stories written OF the romance of
Etowah Heights, for the first time a
picture of the heroine of this episode is
published. Through the courtesy of the
daughter OF Mrs. Shelman, a photograph
was made from an old daguereotype
taken Of their mother in her early girl
hood.
The history of the old mansion at Et-
owah Heights was so closely interoven
with that of Barlow county that when
the news came. "Etowah Heights is
burning down." there was sadness in
the heart of every citizen of the county.
After the old home with its contents
had been. destroyed, the gentle ladies
who had been sheltered all their lives
in its ancestral walls gathered up the
few fragments saved from the holocaust
and came to Gartersville to make their
home. There were few among the citi-
zens who had not at one time or anoth-
er been recipients of the hospitality Of
the Shelman home, and they felt them
selves honored in the presence of these
daughters of the Old South, who had
lost their home and an almost priceless
collection Of family relics.
1t is a significant fact that the loss Of
home and personal possessions was sec
ondary TO the loss of library and me-
mentoes There was a collection Of
scrapbooks dating as far back as 1886
Files of papers, storehouse Of Geor-
gia history, fed the flames; and family
portraits and rare old mahogany furni-
ture handed down from colonial days
were licked up by the relentless fire.
II was a singular coincidence that the
home which was left by Sherman as a
tribute to the power OF association
should. fifty years later. meet the fate
OF the homes which fell before him on
the famous march 10 the sea"
y This story. which has been handed
down from generation to generation,
has lost none OF its romantic interest
Reports had come out OF the South Of
the charm and beauty OF Miss Stovall,
and when she arrived at West Point.
she was the belle Of the ball, just as
she was the bright, particular star" of
all such occasions In her native city,
Augusta. Ca. IN after years, she loved
10 dwell on the delights OF that evening,
and the grandeur OF the ball dress made
In New York for the occasion. and the
coiffure arranged by the New York hair
dressers, and which. for fear of disar-
ranging. the fair Cecilia suffered q
nights loss OF comfortable sleep.
The young southern beauty at once
became reignfng belle. Among those
were two OF the most prominent of the
cadets, Joseph Hooker. afterwards
Fighting joe of the civil war. and w.
T. Sherman, who hitherto had been
known as a ladies man." II is rot re-
corded how Miss Stovall disposed OF
Hooker, though, in the language of the
present day, she "tarned him down. .
but her reply to Sherman Is historical
your eyes are so cold and cruel; How
you would crush an. enemy.
pity the man who becomes your foe"
The infatuated young cadet pressed his
suit with all the eloquence- and impetu-
BUSINESS which characterized his future
achievements.
But in vain he repeated, II would ever
shield and protect you" H
The wiIful beauty only shook her head
and said him. nay.
She returned to her southern home,
heart whole and fancy free. but more
dangerous than ever to the susceptible
youth OF her native soil
There in Augusta. she found a young
West Point graduate in charge OF the
arsenal in that city. Gallant Dick Gar
nett succumbed at once to the charms Of
the Georgia belle, and she gave him her
heart. and plighted her troth to him.
But alas. for the young lovers-parental
objections were raised The marriage
was forbidden. and the young people
were not allowed to see each other. Miss
Cecilia was sent on a visit to South
Carolina kinsfolk, for an indefinite
period.
While in South Carolina she met a
wealthy planter. Mr.. Charles Shelman, OF
Cherokee Ca. and was wooed and won
by him. This time her father interposed
no obstacles. and Miss Cecilia Stovan be-
came Mrs. Shelman, and went to live in
the magnificent home built by Mr.. Shell
man for his young bride on the banks Of
the Etowah.
TO the elegant furnishings OF the home
the young wife brought the gifts given