The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-01-05
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NASHVILLE, December IS.

Thursday the 10th inst. was the day fix
ed nPon for the rendezvous of the Nolun-
,eers. 1t was day looked to with the
most anxious expectation by all the friends
OF their country. The character, the honor
OF the state was fairly put to stake, and the
result was to decide the question, whether
the representatives of Tennessee had spoke
the truth when they youched for the patri-
otism OF their constituents, or whether those
gentlemen were correct who undertook to
say, that the western country might we'll
clamor tor war, because she was in no dan
Ger OF feeling its calanities. -t
1t will be remembered that 1900 men
was the number required to rendezvous
mat from West Tennessee alone the whole
were desired to come a district which
thirty -one years ago first received the i'm
preston OF a white mans track, and which
at this time has but one representative in
the Congress of the United States. 1t will
also be recollected, the country, to the de
fence OF which they were ordered to re-
pair, was at vast distance from their
homes. New-Orleans, the ostensible point
OF destination, could not be reached under a
voyage OF 1900 miles upon the Cumberland.
the Ohio, and the Mississippi rivers and
the return march would be at least 500
miles overland, FIVE hundred of which
would lay through a wilderness inhabited
only by savages. Bat New Orleans was
Considered Is nothing more than "a cost
which they were to visit on their way. Mo-
bic and Pensacola, upwards OF zoo miles
further Oft, were in all probability the real
points o! destination and both these places
arc without the limits Of the United States.
Ii then the professions of the TenDe ssee
volunteers had been intended only. for the
MCDlnETG. lIfsr " Il 4
preteXt to save their honors, & evade their
engagements. The constitutional Question
would certainly avail them as well as il
had availod Gov. Strong and Gov. Cris
"Uio, ana inc New DIRK militia, who ceba-
led an article o. the Federal compact while
the blood OF their friends and neighbors was
huwing ~ torrents before their eyes.-Ma-
ny SOod men from all these considerations
felt deep solicitude lest the tenth of Dr..
ceu5er, instead of being the most honorable
IN the history OF Tennessee, should become a
day ct humiliation to all it's friends. and \
day OF triumph to all its enemies and the
enemies OF the goFerninent Under which we
live.
The day arrived. One more bitterly cold
had never been experienced IN the same
season IN latitude so southern. 1t was
truly the first day Of wintcr.-A pierring
nor.h east was blowing IN the morning &
az o'clock a heavy fall of snow had set
IN, and continued to drive with great vIo-
lence during the whole day. But the zeal
Of the Volunteers breasted the fury of che
elemen,s.-Before eight o'clock some com
panes were perceived entering the town :
By twelve they were pouring in shoals the
streets AID public square were continually
hiIed with crowds of men who pressed upun
the heels Of each other; orderly in tlIeir
behaviour, animated in their step, and
cheerful amid,
re peltings cf the pitiless storm."
by four o'clock in the evening, one thou
sand ciFht hUndrcd Volunteers had filed
through the streets Of Nashville, and Pitch