Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1858-05-16

s any part Of Tennessees history that her people
have ever been wanting in proves or in courage.
She needs no vindcation from 1t exists in her
own history l could reeite many Of her military /
deeds that would be ample if her reputation net
beyond the assaults Of the Senator. / could begin
With The battle Of Kings Mountain, which was
fought before Tennessee was State. 1t was then
portion Of the territory Of North Carolina, but the
people went from the eastern counties Of Tennessee
to the battle Of Kings Mountain; and there amidst
showed themselves to be brave Is it necessary
to slude TO the SEWERS, the Shelbys the Hardings
and the long list Ofthoss gallant patriots who partic
ipated in that battle When you examine the
history Of the country carefully you will ind that
was that battle which turned the tide Of the Revo
luton. The country had been laid waste; disaster
had attended arms; but from the battle Of Kings
Mountain down to the surrender Of CORVALLIS our
troops tTiumphed everywhere.
Hog was it in the war of 1872? Go to the cold
regions Of the North and do you not find Tennes
see soldiers in connection with their cOmparios in
arms traversing the frozen ground and pouring out
their blood freely in defense of the northern from
tier? Go to your southern campaigns, in an incle
ment climate, beneath burning sun, where disease
and death cut them down, and were not Tennes
sees sons there? Go though your Indian CAM
paigus, and they not there! Go to the battles
of Talladegl Emuckfau, Horse shoe, and Hickory
ground aud wherever IL was necessary to make
there Ioould hardly undertake TO name her gall
liant Sous who have distinguished themselves in your
military service, because they are so numerous that
their names do not now occur TO me. Where is your
CARROLL! Where is Houston, that was wounded in
the battle Of the Horseshoe l claim him as
Tennessean.
How was it in the Mexican war Go to Mon
terey; 20 to any point where Their fighting to
be done and were not Tennesseans therey Where
was your Campbell? Where was your Anderson
We're they not at Monterey, leading their gallant
followers in the thickest and the hottest Of the
fght2 On what occasion Is it%hat the sons OF
Tennessee have falteredl Was it at the battle Of
New Orleans There we're Jackson and Carroll,
and long list Of others. On the 23d Of December,
1914, they we're calamity engaged in the contest
with the enemy, in the sWamps and the lagoOns /;
and on the memorable Sth Of January, 1915, the
sons Of Tennessee in connection with those OF Ken
lucky and other States, distinguished themselves
When the embatted host was advancing, when the
rockets were going up, indicating the commence
ment of battle, Tennessees gallant leader, her own
noble and glorious jackson, who stands in this
great forest Of men the admiration Of the American
people-where was he a? In the thickest and hot
test Of the battle his stern voice could be heard rising
above the roar of artillery urging his men on to the
encounter.
Is this the State is this the people that is to be
tainted Are taunt5 TO be thrown out upon her vol
unteer forces And now to be direct and point
ed l ask does the Senator from Georgia intend to
impute coWardice either TO Haskell or General Pill
low, or the gallant men who were led on to that
bitter to that desperate to that fatal charge which
was made on Cerro GOrdo
Mr. Iverson. I will take this occasion, prehaps
it may save a speech in reply to the Senator, to
say that did not intend to impute coWardiee either
10 those gentlemen or to Tennessee troops or to the
Tennessee people in general accord to the people
Of Tennessee as much bravery and personal courage
they are at all times as ready for fight as
almost anybody, and from my observation are
more anxious than most people. But the Sena-
tor seemed gesterdny to vaunt a great deal
about the proves of Tennessee peoples and he told
as how easy it would be for them TO take contract
from the Government to whip the Mormons at half
price; and he seemed to lay much stress really on
the in7neibility of Tennessee raw troops that took
occasion TO refer to an incident in history which
showed that raw troops, although they may come
from Tennessee a brave State-and l mean to &C
cord to them as much bravery as anyb0dy-eVen
Tennessee raw troops cannot stand fire like ''mer-
cenary" regulars who are drilled into obedience.
referred to the battle Of CerrO GOrdo where Gen.
Pillow himself, in his report, states the fact that
the first and second Tennessee foot regiments, who
we're engaged in that battle faltered and retrested
from the ground on the first fire of the Mexican bat
teries He does not say the "frst' fire; but on the
fire of the batteries they retreated from the ground
and went to q position where he stood with his
troops and did not make another attack until mes
sage was sent to him stating the surrender of the
main army Of the Mexicans, and then he marched
over to the main 70 I'd
merely cited this as an evidence Of the inferiOrity
of raw troops undiscip ined militia. Those troops
we're not altogether undisciplned for they had been
in service some months; but they had been on the
march all the time and had probably very little op-
portunity of discipline. l cited it instance of
The danger Of depending troops, militia, vol
unteers, who are Just taken from the ploW-handle
and organized into companies and regiments. They
cannot stand fire. II is not one time IN thousand
that they can do it. if the FIRE is such one was
received from the Mexican batteries, and such
as l apprehend they will receive from the MOrmOns
if they go there. l make no imputations on the
courage Of the Tennessee people L accord to them,
l say again, as much courage and personal bravery
as any people Still, do not think Tennessee peo-
pie brave as they are, stand fire like regulars.
Mr. Johnson, Of Tennessee. l am very glad to
hear the Senator make the explanation dIsclaiming
any intention to impute coWsrice either to General
Pillow, Colonel Haskell, the men whom they led
up to this masked battery. There are no troops on
the face of the earth who could have stood it
Those who are familiar with the position, say the
oulv alternative was to fall back or to be moved
down where they stood. It was the most impreg-
nable point of the whole Mexican line. There is
no man. taking the history of Tennessee, and the
facts connected with this particular transaction, who
is disposed 10 be impartial who entertain, for
amoment the belief thatthere was want Of bravery
on the part of the officers men at this particular
part of the battle of CerrO GOrdO.
l will now say, what l was going to state in the
absence Of the gentleman's explanation in which he
has entered disclaimer that if his intention to
pass an imputation Of cOWardiCe on the people of
Tennessee, or her officers men, / must pronounce
the imputation as wanton, unjust, and unfounded in
truth; but [ am not reduced to that alternative
In the absence Of the explanation in which he has
entered his disclaimer, and which proud to
hear, should have pronounced the impUtatiOn as
false absolutely false: and then as to the bravery
of General Pillow and Colonel Haskell aud others
who we're engaged in hsteOntest, should have turn
ed the Senator over to them for demonstrations that
might have taken place in the future entirely salts
factory to him.
Yes Mr.. President l am proud Of my adopted
State: and while here, or elsewhere if need be, l
will vindicate her interest and her honor, let the
consequences be what they may. I love her insti-
tutions l am devoted to her people, and will
speak in strong language and upon high au-
thority that Whittier thou gOest, l will go; and
where thou odgest, l will lodge; thy people shall
be my people, and thy God my God" will stand
by her here, will stand by her at home, as have
already said, come veal or come woe
| now offer the Senate an apology for the remarks
have made on this subject; but have felt, under
the circumstances, that 1 was called upon to say
this much in reference to the character the reputa
ton, and the military renOwn Of the people Of Ten
uessee.