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Laying of cornerstone From manuscript diary of Rev. John Hamilton Cornish rector of St. Thaddeus Church, Aiken, S. C. 1846-1869 Southern Archives, Chapel Hill
Sunday October 7, 1860.{all underlined}
At 10:00 p.m. I left in the car to be present according to invitation from the chairman of the executive committee at the laying of the cornerstone of the University of the South on the 10th day of October on Sewanee Mountain Tennessee. Fare to Augusta, Georgia 1/2 -- 35{cent mark}. Arrived in Augusta 11:00 p.m. Omnibus to Georgia railroad depot 50{cent mark}. Met there promenading alone Mr. John S. Preston of Columbia, South Carolina.
Monday October 8, 1860.{all underlined}
Left Augusta at 12 1/2 at night. Fare to Atlanta $5.50. Arrived at Atlanta, Ga. 10:00 a.m. Left Atlanta 11:00 a.m. Fare to Chattanooga, Tennessee $5.00. Wrote to Martha. A few miles beyond Atlanta a break in the railroad which we had to walk around which delay threw our train out of schedule so that we had to feel our way sending a lookout ahead around the many curves of this tortuous road. Many on their way to Sewanee got on at different points during the day. Among them, Judge Randall of Florida and ex-governor Johnson of Louisiana who gives $40,000 to the enterprise. Arrived at Chattanooga at 10:00 p.m. and here we spend the night.
Tuesday October 9, 1860.{all underlined}
Hotel bill $1.50. Fare to Cowan $2.10 with a return ticket. Left Chattanooga at 10:00 a.m. The scenery most of the way to Cowan is wild, mountainous, and picturesque. Arrived at Cowan, a hotel and a depot on a small plain environed by high mountains. At.12 noon, after an hour or so, we ascended the Sewanee mountain in the cars of the Cowan and Locke City railroad. About 11 miles winding and turning brought us to University depot at 2:00 p.m. Here omnibuses, etc., awaited to take us to the University Place about a mile away. On our way we passed the residences of Bishops Pope and Eliot (sic). Deposited our baggage at the office, took checks and received tickets for our room. Mine was number 12 in number 10 which was the attic of a series of log houses in which were some 50 beds.
Wednesday October 10, 1860.{all underlined}
Took a walk on the Corso with Rev. M. Glennie. The Corso is a road running around the domain of the University on the brow of the mountain following its angles and is about 30 miles long. Following it at every salient Angle a beautiful prospect bursts on your sight arresting you with wonder and admiration. A double log house is University Place. At 12 noon nine bishops in their robes and some 50 or 60 clergymen in surplices and gowns and some 5,000 people formed a procession and headed by a band of music playing Hail Columbia marched to the spot where the main building of the University was to be laid. Here Old Hundred was sung by the vast multitude, Rev. Mr. Young of Trinity Church, New York acting at Precentor, then prayer and the ceremonies of laying the
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cornerstone in which each of the Bishops present took part, Bishop Polk laying the stone. Then was sung the Benediccite. Rev. Mr. Young and Rev. Dr. Quintard on opposite sides of the ring singing alternate verses and the whole multitude accompanied by the band singing the chorus. Thence to the large shed seating some two or three thousand persons and the oration by John S. Preston two hours long. Thence to a similar shed to dinner. Speeches from Lt. Maury, Rev. Dr. Bernard (he means Barnard), Bishop Smith and others.
Thursday October 11, 1860.{all underlined}
Walked about under the trees where the underbrush is cleared out, picked up chestnuts and wonderful acorns for my children as specimens and momentos of what this wild mountaintop is -- which is destined, we trust, to bear richer fruit.
(End of section on Sewanee)