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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 corner-
stone 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