July-November 1897, Botany Trip with Sargent and Canby Image 14

The drive along Missionary Ridge and over the Chickamauga battlefield interesting; good roads built by Government, 100s of monuments indicating lines of battle and positions of regiments and corns, divisions, etc, of both armies. The monuments of confederates shaped thus [sketch]. Besides the monuments there are many cast iron tablets giving detail information of positions, fortunes of the battles, etc. Was out all day; had gruff darky sinner; fine hunt after big nut hickory. Chattanooga big dirty town, lively. [Oct 7]. Pouring rain last eve and this morning. Start for Huntsville at 8 A.M. Rain all way, scenery fine, oak and juniper; the juniper v ab on limestone hills all clad in 2d growth, v beautiful, the colors not vivid; weather muggy. Arrive Huntsville 11:30 A.M. Place overrun with soldiers many of them drunk, 140 or so allowed out camp every day; the streets filthy in business part; many finest old residences with noble trees; especially white oak, maple and magnolia; finest of each of these ever saw. Oak 4 to 5 ft dia in fine health and the finest maples, sugar maple perfect health, fresh, wide spreading, infinitely gracefully spreading. Boxwood walks, statuary in neglected gardens, weeds up to shoulders. Soldiers at games of chance getting fleeced easily, infinite beastly drinking. [Oct 8]. Noon. Just returned from a magnify drive up spur of Cumberland 5 or 6 ms from Huntsville. The road up rough over limestone, down by fine smooth grade from summer hotel just closed. The woods and plants in gen v interesting, many rare, as Yellowwood, here ab and a fall - fruiting elm found here for the first time; Texas oak, chestnut, white, black and magnif hickory 3 ft dia, 3 sp, grand Tulip, sassafras, sorrel,https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmj-all/3547/thumbnail.jp