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C.S.A. GENERAL JAMES G? HOLMES VISITS 00352	CSA	GEN. SAMUEL WRAGG FERGUSON
ON^COAST AND DESCRIBES CITIES AND
TROLLEY ALONG BEACH
September 10, 1912
"The Daily Herald" of September 25j 1912
Gen. Holmes letter printed in Charleston S.C. "News and Courier"
"THE MANOR
Biloxi, Miss., Sept. 10, 1912
Ever since I first went to New Orleans by rail from Mobile I have wanted to visit the coast of Mississippi Sound, thinking it a combination of Sullivan's Island back beatih, and James Island front beach I came here in July on a day excursion only to be surprised and charmed with it, to me, unexampled beauty. It is unlike the Atlantic; coast in every respect.. i\
I have ridden by trolley 25 miles -from-Biloxi'‘to "Pass Christian— alongside of_a;.road somewhat like Chisolm* s Caus.eway--that j^jn_Q_Jbeach ancLno-marsh—and on the inner side is an unbroken primeval forest of lTve oaks, thousands of them, poplars, pecans, magnolias, and a few pines and cypress.
Amid and in front of this beautiful forest handsome and spacious homes with well kept lawns, oleanders, etc., this^almost^wifchout^.break. XDrwsihe-w25"mileshomes owned principally by citizens of New Orleans, and all the year around dwellers.
The road, trolley, parallels the railroad .at a distance of an eighth Jp*.a half of a mile, and passes through, or ^aJher_.in„..front...,of, Mississippi City, Gulfport (ugly bevause aunuded of '’tr’ees by lumber interests before a town-was thought) and oth er smaller settlements.
The beauty of the coast line can only be appreciated as you sail along its front; while southward you look to the horizon, seeing dimly at times, the islands that separate the Sound from the Gulf of Mexico, and opposite Biloxi, some seven miles away Ship Island, with infamous association with "Beast" Butler's use of it in 1862.
(T-	Biloxi	has nine to ten thousand inhabitants and some thousands of
winter and summer visitors, the mid-seasons being April and May,
September and October, and yet the first amd	last named are said
to be the mostbeautiful and delightful here; although the winter is i ^ reported to be ideal. The Mississippi Sound coast is named the Riviera of the United States.
Biloxi is a port of entry and has the most beautiful public building \ of~.itsj3i.ze I have ever seen. It is of white marble and con twin's" the"" posto.ffice, custom house and United States 'c'ouft^o'ora.' Biloxi""has~a
?!?e Sonnd of three miles with a shell" road to Pass