Appletons' hand-book of American travel.
By Edward H. Hall.
D. Appleton & Co.; New York, 1866

Georgia

This great State, long regarded as the "Empire State" of the South, possesses unrivalled sources of prosperity and wealth; and though they are as yet only in the dawn of development, the traveller will not hesitate to predict for her a glorious future, when he notes the spirit of activity, enterprise, and progress which so markedly distinguishes her from other portions of the South. While Nature is here everywhere most prodigal in means, man is earnest in improving them. Georgia was settled the latest of the "Original" Thirteen States of the Union. She derived her name with her charter from George II., June 1732. Her first colony was planted by General Oglethorpe, on the spot where the city of Savannah now stands, in 1773, sixty three years after the settlement of South Carolina, and a century behind most of the original colonies. Three years after the arrival of Oglethorpe, Ebenezer was planted by the Germans, 25 miles up the Savannah River. Darien, on the sea, was commenced about the same time by a party of Scotch Highlanders. Among the early troubles of the colony was a war with the Spaniards in Florida, each party in turn invading the territory of the other. The people of Georgia took a vigorous part in the Revolution, and the State was in possession of the British a portion of that time. The city of Savan nah was taken by them, December 29, 1778. A bold attempt was made by the combined American and French forces to recapture it, but failed, with the loss to the allies of 1,100 men. The great Cherokee Country, in the upper part of the State, came into the full possession of the whites in 1838, when the Indians were removed to new homes beyond the Mississippi.

Rivers

There are many fine rivers in Georgia; but, as with the watercourses of the South generally, they are often muddy, and their only beauty is in the rank vegetation of their shores, with here and there a bold sandy bluff. As the railroad system of the State has not yet been restored, and many travellers will have occasionally to avail themselves of steamboats as means of reaching points of sojourn in the interior, we propose to give a brief description of the principal of these rivers.

The Savannah, which divides the States of Georgia and South Carolina through half their length, has a course, exclusive of its branches, of about 450 miles. The cities of Augusta and Savannah are upon its banks, and it enters the Atlantic 18 miles below the latter place. From June to November it is navigable for large vessels as far as Savannah, and for steamboats up to Augusta, a distance of 230 miles from its mouth. The river voyage between these points is a very pleasant one, presenting to the eye of the stranger many picturesque novelties in the cotton-fields which lie along the banks through the upper part of the passage, and in the rich rice plantations below. Approaching Savannah, the tourist will be particularly delighted with the mystic glens of the wild swamp reaches, and with the luxuriant groves of live-oak which shadow the ancient-looking manors of the planters. A few miles above the city of Savannah, he may visit the spot where Whitney invented and first used his wonderful cotton-gin. The alligator, in times before the war, was often seen sunning himself on the shores of the lower waters of the Savannah, being abundant in the contiguous swamps. "When our canoe," says Sir Charles Lyell, in his record of travels in this region,- "had proceeded into brackish water, where the river banks consisted of marsh land, cov ered with a tall, reed-like grass, we came close to an alligator, about nine feet long, basking in the sun. Had the day been warmer, he would not have allowed us to approach so near to him, for these reptiles are much shyer than formerly, since they have learned to dread the avenging rifle of the planter, whose stray hogs and sporting dogs they often devour. About ten years ago, Mr. Cooper tells us he saw two hundred of them together in St. Mary's River, extremely fearless." Wonderful stories are told of these creatures, many of them much too wonderful for credence. They are now becoming rare, as one acquainted with their habits observed to me, being probably disturbed by the violent explosions of gunpowder at the time of the attack on Spanish Fort. They have been but seldom seen of late.

Fort Pulaski
The Oconee River rises in the gold lands of the mountain districts of Georgia, and traverses the State until it meets the Ogeechee, and with that river reaches the sea under the name of the Altamaha.
Milledgeville, the capital, and Athens, one of the most beautiful places in the State, are on this river. The Ocmulgee is navigable for small steamboats to Macon.
The Flint River, in the western part of the State, passes by Lanier, Oglethorpe, and Albany, and uniting with the Chatta hoochee, at the southwest extremity of the State, forms the Appalachicola. The length of the Flint River is about 300 miles. Its navigable waters extend 250 miles, from the Gulf of Mexico to Albany.

The Chattahoochee is one of the largest and most interesting rivers of Georgia. It pursues a devious way through the gold region westward from the mountains in the northeastern part of the State, and makes the lower half of the dividin line between Georgia and Alabama. At the point where it enters Florida it is joined by the Flint River, and the united waters are thenceforward called the Appalachicola. The Chattahoochee is navigable for large steamboats as far up as Columbus, 350 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. The principal towns on this river besides Columbus, are Eufaula, West Point, and Fort Gaines.

The Ogeechee rises in Green County, flows southeastward, and enters the Atlantic through Ossabaw Sound, 20 miles south of Savannah. Its whole lenth is estimated at 250 miles. It is navigable for sloops a distance of between 30 and 40 miles. Fort.MccAllister, on Genesis Point, which commands the entrance to this river, is interesting from the part it played in the defense of the city by General Hardee. It successfully resisted the attacks of the Monitor fleet in January and March 1863, but was finally captured by General Hazen's division of the 15th Corps (Sherman's army), on the 13th December, 1864.

Railways

Georgia is famous, the Union over, for her rail road enterprise. In this respect, as in most others, she leads all the Southern States. Her lines of railway traverse her borders, and especially in the central and northern portions, in every direction, linking all her towns and districts to each other and with all the surrounding States. Nearly 1,500 miles of railroad-either finished or being built-now centre in Savannah, communicating thence, directly or indirectly, westward with Macon and Columbus, northward with Charleston and with Montgomery in Alabama, with Augusta, Atlanta, and onward to Tennessee, etc. The Atlantic and Gulf Railroad is completed and in operation to Boston, whence it will soon reach Pensacola and other points in Florida. The Central Railroad extends from Savannah, 190 miles, to Macon, with branch deflecting from Millen to Augusta, and another from Gordon to Milledgeville and Eatonton. The Macon and Western links the Central road from Savannah with the Western and Atlantic at Atlanta. All these and other routes we shall duly follow as we continue our journey through the south and southwest. Florida is reached at Pilatka, Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and other places, by regular triweekly steamers from Savannah. Steamboats ply daily to Augusta and other points on the Savannah River. Lines of steamships also furnish direct communication with New York, Philadelphia, and other Northern Atlantic ports.

Atlanta

The city of Atlanta is the outgrowth of the railroad system centreing there. It is emphatically a railroad town. The original charter of the Western and Atlantic Railway authorized its construction from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the southeast bank of the Chattahoochee River. In 1837 an act was passed authorizing its extension eight miles in a southeasterly direction, the survey for which brought it to the site of the present city. In 1845 the Georgia Railroad was completed to Atlanta, and formed a junction with the Chattanooga and Atlanta or "State Road," as it is locally known.

In 1848 the Macon and Western Railroad was completed, but little progress was made toward a permanent settlement until 1852. Even as late as 1853 the population of the place scarcely amounted to 1,500.

Apart from the memorable siege with which its name is inseparably connected, Atlanta possesses little to interest the traveller or tourist. Owing to its commanding central position, in the very heart of the South, not less than on account of its railroad, manufacturing, and other important advantages, it became a point of the utmost importance early in the war. Indeed, in the opinion of those best qualified to judge, its importance was second only to that of Richmond. The series of active military operations of which Atlanta was the centre, commenced July 9, 1864, by the retreat of General Johnston within the fortifications of Atlanta, which extended nearly five and a half miles along the river. By the 17th of July, the Federal forces, with the exception of one (Davis's) division of the 14th corps, were across the Chattahoochee, and on the 18th occupied the Georgia Railroad, from Stone Mountain on the northeast to Decatur and Peach Tree Creek, within five miles of Atlanta. On the 17th the command of the Confederate troops was transferred to General Hood. From that time up to the 1st of September, a vigorous siege of the city was kept up, when General Hood gave orders for the evacuation of the works, it having been discovered that the main body of the besieging army lay between the city and General Hardee.

Fire was set to the rolling stock of the several railroads concentrating here, and to all the stores and ammunition, and soon the heavens were lurid with the flames which rose from the doomed city. A reconnoitring column from General Slocum's command entered the city on the 2d, and received its formal surrender from Mayor Calhoun. It is estimated that upwards of one thousand buildings, including the principal factories, mills, and workshops, were destroyed by this fire. The main buildings at present remaining, are the Medical College, the Presbyterian, Jfethodist, and Baptist Churches, the City Hall, and a few of the residences in the northern extremity of the city.

The city is rising phoenix-like from its ashes; the greater portion of the burnt district has already been rebuilt, and soon but little trace of its downfall and destruction will be left. The corporate limits embrace an area of four miles square, and the population, already 12,000, is rapidly increasing.

Decatur, a station on the Georgia Railroad, six miles east of Atlanta, is a healthy and agreeable resort. Stone Mountain, 9 miles from Decatur, is also reached from Atlanta by the Georgia road. At this place is an isolated domeshaped granite rock 2,200 feet above the sea level. On the summit of this rock is a tower 180 feet high, commanding a fine view of the surrounding country. The village has good hotel accommodations.

Milledgeville

HOTELS, Milledqeville Hotel, The Comb's Hotel. Milledgeville, the capital of Georgia, a town of about 3,000 people, is upon the Oconee River, in the midst of a fine cotton-growing region. From Savannah, by the Central Railway, to Gordon, 171 miles, and thence by the Milledgeville and Eatonton, 18 miles. Total, 189 miles.
From Augusta, 163 miles; from Columbus, 135 miles; and from Atlanta, 139 miles. The Capitol at Milledgeville is a large Gothic structure. The city also contains a State Arsenal, a Penitentiary, a Court House, and five church edifices. The Ogletlorpe University is at Midway, a pretty village on the railway, 1+ miles below Milledgeville.

 

To Be Continued...

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