Last Updated:
Thursday, May 24, 2001
-----------------------------------------------

The "Washita"
was named by
the Indians that
lived along its banks

Portraits of the Ouachita
Fridays: 8:00 & 10:30 p.m.
Sunday's: 1:00 p.m.

(c) 2000 Ouachita River Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HOME PAGE
OUACHITA BEAUTY
OUACHITA HISTORY


The Indians called
it "Washita"
The river of
Sparkling Silver Water

The Ouachita has a Rich and Colorful History
OUACHITA HISTORY

Many areas along the
Ouachita River remain
much the same today
as when the Indians
walked its banks
OUACHITA BEAUTY

Legend of Lone Bluff

View of "Lone Bluff"... an awing, and unforgettable, river landmark
towering about 100 feet above the OUACHITA. Weathered, native pines,
growing atop of this impressive bluff shelters the unmarked grave of a
young woman buried there in the early 1800's; the subject of poems
and stories passed down for over 150 years ...

Lone Bluff is a clay and sand-stone cliff located on the
OUACHITA about ten miles above Columbia, Louisiana .
Lone Bluff Cliff is a very prominent point of interest.  
At the north base of this cliff,  Lone Grave Bayou
emptys into the river. The juncture at this point
forms one of the deepest holes in the
OUACHITA..., recently, measured at
eighty-five feet deep.

Legend of Lone Bluff Grave
Written in 1844 by Judge A.A. Gunby of Monroe, Louisiana

In the early 1800's there was a large
plantation on the OUACHITA situated
across the river from Lone Bluff.
A sad, tragic, death on this plantation
inspired the late, Judge A. A. Gunby,
to write a stirring poem in 1844,
revealing the story of how this death
led to the placement of a solitary grave
on top of this majestic bluff.

"Lone Grave" Poem

The Indians called it Ouachita,

a lovely sweet and peaceful name,

that brings no mention of war

or gorey chieftain's fame.

The fairest stream e'er met my eyes...

there I lived and hoped to die,

And in my humble dwelling lie.

I lay it down as fact and law

No traveler ever saw

A lovelier stream than the Ouachita...

But to my story...far down south

Not very far from the river's mouth,

A bluff or hill that's steep and high

Its waters lave on the western shore...

'Tis indeed a splendid ledge,

With pine trees on its summit growing

And on its side, to the river's edge,

The wildflowers are freely blowing...

This bluff is called lone grave mound,

For on its dizzy top is found

Some feet back from its steep confines

Jus' at the roots of the lofty pines,

A lone grave, without a stone

Or other marks to make known

What friendless one sleeps there alone...

No residence or rustic road

Or path for man exists for miles

About this lonesome drear abode

Except across the river, where...

An old plantation, broad and fair,

Spreads its corn and cotton fields...

T'was on this place nearly forty years ago,

An overseer lived, whose life

Was gladened by a fair young wife...

Her form was frail, ... her name was Ruth,

He married her in tender youth,

And ere the bridal year had flown

Consumption's fatal seed was sown;

That wrecking, wasting, wan disease...

And so Ruth languished day by day

And from her window often gazed

To where the bluff's summit raised;

At length a wish or fancy rose

To rest up there... at life's close

Taking her husband's hand in own,

Her wish she thus made known:

"My love", she said, "when, I am dead,

"Place me on yonder hill,

in sight of my dear home,

Where I can see thee still...

Her husband promised to comply

with her fond wish... if she should die

Thro' Autumn's months she lingered low,

But seemed at times to better grow;

And friends began new hopes to weave,

And, then, she died on Christmas eve.

Alas! when, all should be bright and gay...

Her funeral came on Christmas day.

They said no prayers, they sang no songs,

But, brawny blacks, on shoulders strong

Carried their kind mistress up hill,

And silently, laid her down...

There fair Ruth sleeps in love and awe

Above the placid Ouachita.

Edited version of Original lengthy poem

More History