Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1858-02-26

even Tennessee raw troops cannot stand
FIRE like "mercenaryr regulars who are drill
ed into obedience / referred to the battle of
Cerro Gordo where General Pillow himself,
in his report states the fact. the first and Sec
ond Tennessee foot regiments. who We're en-
gagged in that battle, faltered and retreated,
from the ground on the first fire of the Next
can batteries. He does not say the "first"
fire; but on the fire Of the batteries they re-
treated from the ground and went to posi-
ton where he stood witt his troops, and did
not make another attack until message was
sent to him stating the surrender of the main
army of the Mexicans, and then he marched
over 10 the main road.
/ merely cited this as an evidence of the in
Priority of raw troops, und;sciplined militia.
Those troops were not altogether undisc:plin-
ed. for they had been in service some months;
but they had been on the march all the time.
ald had probably very little Opportunity Of
discipline. / cit ii !. as an instance OF the
danger of depending on raw troops. militia,
volunteers, who are just taken from the plow-
handle and organized into companies and reg
iments. They cannot stand fire. 1t is not
one time in thousand that they can do it,
If the fire is such one as was received from
the Mexican batteries, and such one as ! APP
prehend they viii receive from the MOrInOns
If they go there. | make no imputations on
the courage OF the Tennessee people. ! ac-
cord to them. | say again, much courage
and personal bravery as any people. Still, !
do not think Tennessee people, brave as they
are, can stand fire like regulars
''ANDYn thereupon doomed" in the follow
ing style:
Mr.. Johnson. of Tennessee. am very glad
10 hear the Senator make the explanation, a.
| | am glad to hear him disclaim any intention
10 iinpute cowardice either to Pillow, Haskell
| or the meu 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 portion say that
the only alternative was to fall back or to be
moved down where they stood. 1t was the
| most impregnable point of the whole Mexican
| line. There is no man, taking the history OF
| Tennessee and the facts connected with this
| particularlar transaction, who is disposed 10
| be impartial. who can entertain, for mo-
| ment the belief that there was want OF braV-
cry on the part of the officers or men ut this
particular part of the battle of Cerro GordO
was going to say (but the gentleman has
| entered a disclaimer) that if his intention was
| to pass an imputaton of cowardice on the
people of Tennessee. or her officers or men,
must pronounce the imputation as untrue;
| but am not reduced to that alternative. liz
the absence of the explanation, which am
| proudIo hear, | should have nailed that lie,
| ana Is 10 tne bravery 'h iIiI"" dpu haoh' IL
and others who were engaged in the contest
! | should have turned the Senator over to them
for any demonstration that might have taken
place afterw ards.
Sir, am proud of nv adopted State.
might speak in the language OF book OF pref
ty high authority. and say, in reference t.
! Tennessee, Whittier thou goest, | Will go
and wherc thou lodgcot, will lodge; thy PEG
pie shall be my people, and thy God my God.
viii stand by her here, will stand by hel
at home. as have already said, come veal OF
come woe.
Sing the doxology brethren, and lets b'
dismissed Our hearts are too full for more