On a fine morning in September 1834, a party of which the writer was
one, consisting for the most part of gentlemen who had met together in
the town of Staunton from various sections of the Union, resolved on a
visit to certain remarkable NATURAL STRUCTURES which lay in the
neighborhood of the Augusta Springs, and about twenty miles distant
from the place of their departure.
After passing over a hilly and picturesque country, the road opened
upon a fertile valley, which though in places narrow, was of
considerable length,--and when seen from an elevated position, appeared
like the bed of an ancient lake, or as it really is, the alluvial
border of a flowing stream. The strata of limestone hills, followed
their usual order of parallel lines to the great mountains of our
continent, as though a strong current had once swept through this
magnificent valley,--forming in its course islands and
promontories,--which are now discoverable in numerous short hills and
rocky bluffs, that are either naked and barren, or covered with a
growth of stately trees. It was at such a projection, that we first
descried the gray summits of what seemed a ruinous castle,--resembling
those which were raised in feudal times to guard the passes of the
Rhine, or like such as are still seen in mouldering majesty on many an
Alpine rock. These summits or towers, of which there are seven, lifted
their heads above the lofty elms, like so many antique chimnies in the
midst of a grove; but, on approaching them nearer, our pleasure was
greatly increased, to find them rise almost perpendicularly from the
bed of a small stream, which winding around their base, serves as a
natural moat to a building not made with mortal hands. The southern
front of this colossal pile, presents a wall of about sixty feet
elevation, terminating in three towers of irregular height, and
perforated at its base by a cavern,--which, by an apt association, was
denominated "_Vulcan's Forge_." The tower on the extreme right, was
unanimously called "_Cocke's Tower_"--in honor of one of our party who
ascended it. On the left, are two other isolated towers,--of which the
centre or smaller one was distinguished as the "_Hymenial Altar_,"--a
name which had its origin partly in a _jeu d'esprit_, and partly on
account of a shady bower in its rear, which seemed an appropriate shade
to mantle maiden's blushes. The furthest and tallest, received the
title of the "_Tower of Babel_." This is also the most perpendicular of
all these rocky structures; an archway passes through it, by which
there is an easy ascent to the remaining two, which stand on the
acclivity of the hill,--and though of less altitude, are not of
inferior beauty to the rest. One of them, which is of a round form, and
flat at the top, and on that account received the appellation of the
"_Table Rock_"--affords from its summit a splendid view of the whole;
the other, and last of the five, we distinguished as "_Shelton's
Rock_"--from one of our party.
These rocks in their formation resemble the palisades on the Hudson
river--but are more regular in their strata,--which appear to have been
arranged in huge masses of perfect workmanship--with projections like
cornices of Gothic architecture, in a state of dilapidation. Those who
are acquainted with the structure of the Cyclopean walls of the
ancients, would be struck with the resemblance,--which suggested the
name at the head of this article.
We pause to inquire why these primeval fragments of the world have
remained so long unnoticed? Why is it that men are so easily awakened
to the liveliest interest in distant objects, and yet neglect those
which are nearer and more accessible? "A prophet" it hath been said on
high authority, "hath honor save in his own country,"--and to that
strange propensity of the mind to contemn whatever is familiar, must be
attributed the neglect of many of the richest treasures at our own
door, which frequently impart both wealth and distinction to foreign
enterprise. For many years these towers have been known in the
surrounding country, by the homely appellation of "THE CHIMNEYS,"--but
no one has ever stopped to examine them, or to inquire how nature
formed so curious a pile in such a spot. Imagination may indeed
conceive that this noble structure was once the _Scylla_ of a narrow
strait connecting the waters of the north and the south, until their
accumulated pressing burst through the blue ridge at Harper's Ferry,
and left in their subsidence these towers, as a perpetual memorial of
their former dominion.