The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1919-10-22
Through Dixie'S COttOnfieldS

4houutaih PiopcIy WHiCu was an OIu
Indian fortress, rises precipitously
for two thousand feet above the
banks of the Tennessee, which
winds and curls like silver SER
pent at its foot. A few sturdy pine
trees cling to its lower side but
they give way to the barren rock
long before one reaches the peak.
To me, after looking on its huge
rocky sides which seem to be impre-
enable. it becomes a great mystery
how the Federal troops ever mana
ged to take the mountain. An old
Confederate soldier explained that
ii was because the Federal artillery
could shoot upward, driving the
defenders away from the crest while
the Confederates could not shoot
downward with any degree of pre-
cision. But I could not understand
and still cannot-how they ever
sealed those cliffs of bare rock, ov-
er an hundred feet in height, with
out ropes or ladders and make 4
frontal attack, the while the Johnny
Rebs above were peppering them
commanding the Federal forces
am sure the hill would not have
been taken with me leading, even If
it had lost the war. But as history
would have it, was not leading
and the war was won.
Lookout Mountain was called by
the Indians Chattanooga, or the
Eagles Nest. Here Oh its rocky
heights the mother eagle reared her
young and to them she brought the
latest of the valley. A tall monu-
ment marks the place where stood
the old nest of the ferocious bird
that was the terror of all the tribes
II the neighborhood, for she fear
ed not to invade the fartherest wig
VAN and carry little redskins to her
hungry brood. Here it is, in a fit
ing spot. with Old Glory kissing
the winds from every point of the
compass; for here the old Mother
Eagle OF the American Union, at
ter four years battling Secession
and Rebellion with beak and claw,
again unfurled her wings and look
ed the expanding horizon DER.
To reach the top of Lookout. one
ascends by an electric tramway. 1t
is slow and steady progress, with
nerves taut and all under breath
less tension, for should one cog slip
or OFT wheel fail to turn, all the
,,sseayc.s would b" hurled To sud
den death on the rocks below. But
on reaching the top one feels amply
repaid for all the dangers encount-
cred in making the hazardous as
cension. For such a panaroma as
charms the eye beyond expression
and makes the heart beat with an
awesome fiutter, spreads before you.
Looking into seven states, seeing
the cottonfields of Georgia with
their write ocean, the green hills OF
Tennessee, Alabama and the Caro-
linas, the smoky Blue Ridge of Old
Virginia. and even in the distance.
by the aid of field glasses, part OF
the glorious beauty of the Kentucky
Bluegrass Country!
The sun was setting like great
red globe over the Alabama hills.
A fog wreath shrouded the noun
tain below, for the top of Lookout
is far above the clouds. The de-
parting rays of the dying sun mel
lowed the sitting mists into thou
sand hues, shot through with pierre
ing streamers of purest gold. Grim
son and purple they became in the
dreamdim hollows, lighter, sapphire
and fading amber, where the after
glow melted into the sky. The
Tennessee, making a coil like horse
shoe, lay below. cleaning in the
light of the passing day. Then, as
night slipped softly down, the lights
of Chattanooga began to twinkle in
the valley; and. as IL to keep them
company, thousands of tiny stars
began to blossom out in the heavens
shyly at first, then with increasing
radiance, and great yellow moon
at last peeped up over the North
Carolina mountains, to see whether
all was going well.
lin his next article, Mr.. Creep
will tell of his trip over the battle
ground at Chicamauga, Missionary
Ridge Atlanta, and in the wake of
Sherman's March to the Sea-" All
school children should read this
article.)