Letter From Nashville.
Letter From Nashville.

LETTER FROM NASHVILLE.

[Correspondence of The Press.]
                                                                    NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 17.

GOV. JOHNSON'S COURSE OF ACTION.

    Governor Johnson has been exceedingly lenient and conciliatory to the people of Tennessee, since his arrival here. He has frequently announced to them that he came "with the olive branch in one hand and the Constitution in the other." His purpose was to renew friendly relations between the State and the Government, by means which would be most pleasant to the citizens and most agreeable to himself. In the accomplishment of this object, he offered every inducement and facility to the people, and this would have continued to be his policy had not the countenance and encouragement of the guerilla raids by their Secession sympathizers changed it. But, since he has seen that Secessionists rejoice over the fact that Union citizens are seized and carried away from their homes by marauders; that depredations of every character and description are committed, bridges burned, railroad tracks torn up, houses fired, defenceless villages invaded and their inhabitants subjected to insults and outrages upon their persons and property--since he has seen all this, and more, he has resolved to try what virtue there is in a more stringent policy. When he discovers that his mercy has been abused, that his tenderness for human suffering is made the incentive to additional injury, that his leniency only emboldens instead of pacifying the enemies of the Government, he intends, hereafter, to exercise rigid severity; to teach those enemies that this is a Government of power, whose laws must be observed, whose flag must be respected, and whose people must and shall be protected in their persons and property, and whoever in these shall fail must incur the penalties which offended justice prescribes and requires. Hereafter, every man will find it his interest as well as his duty to deport himself as a loyal citizen, and in this will his only safety consist. Any person acquainted with Governor Johnson, with his iron will, his determined resolution, knows that when he takes a position he will maintain it.

COURSE OF GOV. ISHAM G. HARRIS.

    Before the fall of Fort Donelson, the rebel Governor, Isham G. Harris, addressed our citizens in various speeches, which, for gasconade, fustian, ribaldry and bombastic declamation, have seldom been equalled. He would be willing to sacrifice his life a thousand times, "if it were consistent with my [his] vital tenure and physical organization," in defence of Nashville. For it he would "effuse" the last drop of his heart's blood; and, if driven by the enemy to the "last ditch," there would he die, "with his back to the ground, and feet to the foe." Finally Donelson fell, and it was reported that General Buell was approaching Nashville from Bowling Green. Harris mounted his splendid charger, ran through the streets of Nashville, telling his friends the frightful tidings, and rushed from here, with his back to the foe, and his feet--in his horse's flanks. It was nearly two weeks afterwards before a Federal soldier appeared. This hegira of Harris was so mortifying to his Secession disciples, that when the news came that Murfreesboro was taken, and overwhelming forces of "Confederates" were approaching this city in different directions, they reported that Governor Johnson had fled; that he left on Sunday afternoon, then Sunday night, then Monday morning. But what was the truth? Governor Johnson, immediately upon the reception of the startling intelligence, repaired to the Capitol, and there quietly and coolly remained, counselling with the military officers, and issuing orders, and giving directions for the defence of the city, resolved to die rather than surrender the Capitol. No doubt a large reward would be given by those marauders for the head of our noble Governor, but none of them have the courage to come and take it.

THE GUERILLA RAIDS.

    All expectation of a visit from Forest and others has ceased. They did not, they will not come. What could have been their object? It certainly meant more than simply to gratify a desire to make an incursion into Tennessee. The truth is that this may have been, in part, the motive cause; but there are other and greater reasons. They wanted medical and commissary stores; they wanted recruits; they wanted arms; they wanted horses, &c.; but, above all, they wanted to make a diversion so as to conceal some other movement of greater moment; and if they could make it appear that the cavalry was only the advance-guard of a large force threatening Nashville, Louisville, and other places, it would withdraw attention from their real object; it would concentrate forces in Tennessee and Kentucky, while it would enable them to accomplish their purpose. Whatever this purpose is, it is certainly not to retake Tennessee or re-occupy Kentucky; it is either to reduce the strength of General Buell, to prevent reinforcements being sent to Virginia, or conceal some movement about to be made there. Otherwise, the employment of such large numbers of cavalry to so little purpose is foolish and stupid. I regard it, however, as an infallible index of greater things elsewhere, and which may take us all aback. It indicates, also, that whatever may have been the policy of the rebels heretofore, it is now entirely changed. It shows a great increase of confidence, while, at the same time, it discloses the fact that they certainly have a secret but accurate line of communication between Tennessee and Kentucky and the rebel leaders in those States, by which they are kept constantly informed of the number of troops in these States, their location and their movements; and also what political changes are transpiring, and who are their friends and who are not.

THE DEFENCE OF NASHVILLE.

    On last Monday afternoon, when the rebels were momentarily expected to attack the city, a large number of the citizens assembled at the Capitol for the purpose of effecting an immediate military organization to assist in the defence of Nashville. They did not seek personal safety by flight, but determined that here they would remain and resist the rebels to the last hour of their existence. There was no sacrifice which they were unwilling to make in maintaining the Government of the United States. More determined resolution, more deliberate courage, more fervent patriotism, have seldom, if ever, been exhibited. The meeting was addressed in spirited, appropriate, and patriotic speeches by Gov. Johnson, Hon. W. B. Stokes, and others. Three large companies of infantry were organized, and are now armed and being drilled so as to be ready for any emergency which may hereafter arise.
    The excitement consequent upon the affair at Murfreesboro' has greatly abated. It has had the effect of arousing our citizens to action and increasing the vigilance of the military.

UNFORTUNATE MAN�UVRES.

    It appears that much censure attaches to the 3d Minnesota and 9th Michigan regiments for their surrender. It seems that the regiments did not agree, and did not co-operate in the action; that successful resistance could have been made if it had been intended. Some of the officers who have escaped, go so far as to impute cowardice to one of the colonels commanding, and declare that the enemy was whipped at the time that he sent in a flag of truce demanding a surrender, and that the only object which the rebels had in sending the flag was to obtain time to effect a retreat; and that the rebels were no less astonished than were our men at the surrender.
    How the facts really were, will soon be brought to light, as all the privates were paroled within a few miles of McMinnville, and many of them have arrived in the city.
    The loss in killed and wounded was not at all proportioned to the result nor to the number of troops engaged.

NOT KILLED.

    Lieut. A. D. Bechtel, of Reading, Pa., who was supposed to have been killed, came in to-day, having been concealed in the woods for three days, awaiting the departure of the rebels, whom he reports to have gone towards the mountains, leaving only a force of about two hundred near the place.
    Your correspondent, "B.C.T.," left here on Sunday night last for the scene of action. Since then I have heard nothing of him.
    The citizens of Shelbyville are armed and prepared to repel the rebels should they enter their town.
    Very little damage was done on the railroad--one bridge burned, and the track torn up for a short distance.

COLONEL WYNKOOP'S CAVALRY.

    Since the entrance of the 7th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Colonel Wynkoop, into this State, they have been almost constantly engaged in active service, and have done much good. It has been divided into small detachments and scattered on duty over Middle Tennessee. Parts of four companies were captured at Murfreesboro'. Company M (better known as the Bradley Scouts, of Pittsburg) can only muster seven men, including Captain B. Scanlan, who, at the time, was on detached service in this city. In a scout of sixteen days, this company captured a number of prisoners, and horses, corn, wheat, molasses, and flour, worth, in the aggregate, near $50,000. Captain Scanlan is a gallant man and a good officer. He will soon return to Pittsburg, for the purpose of recruiting.

GENERAL NELSON.

    General Nelson arrived this morning, and will probably be placed in command here. No doubt, he will, in a short time, furnish important items for your correspondent.                                                                                 C.D.B.


Source:

C.D.B, "Letter From Nashville," The Philadelphia Press, Philadelphia, Pa., Thursday, 24 July, 1862, p. 1.

Created June 1, 2006; Revised June 1, 2006
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