Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-10-08
CORRESPONDENCE.
KNOXVILLE, TENN
E. c. DUNNINGToN, ESQ:

hhOAf4LAE3 AANH-
F. c. DUxNEGToN, ESQ:
The Know Nothing papers here will endeavor,. I
have no doubt, to produce false impression up on
the public mind with reference to an assault ma ie
upon Fleming, the editor of the Register, by job
Mitchell You have seen suppose the articles re-
Gently appearing in the Louisville Journal in which
Mitchell is charged with having effected his escape,
from Van Demands Land by breach Of parole
One of these articles, during Mtchers recent abb
sence in New York. republished in the Register,
accompanied by some impertinent comments. Day
before yesterday, he met with Fleming and APP
preaching him, mo friend of Mitchels having the,
slightest animation of his intentions in the premises
said to him in the hearing of sundry persons: "lr
Fleming, sir, in my Absence you published scurri-
lous and impertnent article, respecting myself in
your paper" Here Fleming interrupted him by
saying "scurrilous?" "Yes sir" said Mitchell,
scurrous" and it is in this aOdy that shall answer
| it, and Immediately commenced caneing him, dOz-
en- or more persons Witnessing it. His cane was
broken upon Fleming, the latter making such resis
lance and parrying the blows as best he could,
though iuAicting no injury whatever upon Mitchell.
They were separated by bystanders, an officer seiz
ing Mitchell. In ten or fifteen minutes afterwards
Mitchell stepped into the Lamar House with friend
and remaining there perhaps half hour. Flemings,
| friends became quite anxious to know why he did
not appear upon the street. that F. might repair the
| injury he had suffered. Mitchell not being armed
in the first melee provided himself with such weapons
as he thought necessary to his defence and appear
ed upon the street. though told that there were Know
Nothings around and intending to mob him. He
passed by Fleming who accosted him when Mitchell
halted and said well, sir, what do you want ?" At
this time Fleming had half dozen or more of his
friends about him, all of whom were armed. Flem-
ing said "you made dastardly and cowardly at
tack upon when was not prepared for it, and
now pronounce you a coward. "Well," said Nit
chel, 'wOrds arr nothing nOU, what will you do?"
Fleming thereupOn repeated his denunciation. To
which Mitchell replied, "you whipt man what
are you going to do ?" At the same time inviting
those who stood about not to interpose that he and
f. might settle, as it personal difficulty as be-
tween them. F. made not the slightest demonstra-
ton of an intention to make an attack, and when
Mitchell pronounced him swhipt man, " and that
words were nothing then. He on turned and start
ed on when one of F's Know Nothing friends spoke
out saying, "you sneak off do you" NJ. turned
stepped back and inquired "who said sneak ?'-
whereupOn,he who spoke thrust his face vciously at
NJ. and said al did sir" Instantly NJ though
surrounded by the whole pack with their pistols and
knives, slapped him in the face with such force as
came near prostrating him. AS he recovered from
the blow he drew pistol and snapped it at Mitchell
the cap exploding only. Mitchell Immediately drew
his pistol and was about to fire upon him. when some
one told him not to fire, that the fellow was drunk
whereupon Mitchell put up his pistol, saying, 81
will not shoot drunk man"
As he stood there casting glance first at one and
then at another of them, neither F. nor any one of
them dared further to modest him. Whether any
one of them will yet do remains to be seen
However, yesterday, he upon the steets, and no
further assault was made.
have endeavored to give you a narrative of the
occurrence it TRANSFERRED and hope you will take
such notice of it, as will couneract any false i'm
preston, that I am sure will be attempted to be
9 made by the Know Nothing press here, there being
as you know, no other here now. 1t is deemed a
great offence here that Mitchell should dare in the
midst of so large majority of Know Nothings, to
edit paper, and have no doubt but that every
thing that can be, will be done here to impair the
influence of the paper, but it will be to no pur-
f pose.
Since the foregoing was in type, we have received
the following correspondence, which We publish at
the instance of Mr. Mabry: