Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-17
visit ofthe Chatham Artillery to the
Hermitage.


The excursion to the Hermitage yesterday
was, upon the whole, very pleasant affair
A heavy rain fell during the trip up, which
had a tendency to dampen the enjoyment of
the occasion, as well as the ground over
which the excurtionists had to travel from
the river to the tomb of the Old Hero; but
as every one seemed disposed 10 take things
as they came, the shower lacked a good deal
of spelling the pleasure Of the trip.
We feel safe in saying thatt would have af-
afforded our Exporter an immense deal of sat
isfactiOn to write at length of the excursion,
but having reached the city late in the even
ing after very fatiguing time of it, neither
love nor money could induce him to do more
than make few hasty dashes of his pen and
consign the subject to the tender mercies of
his contemporaries of the local press.
Between and 10 o'clock in the morning.
the Shelby Guards and German Yagers para
ded in front of the City Hotel to meet the
ChIlhaR Artillery. whence they marched
down College and Broad Streets to the river
where the Co1smerce and Sligo were waiting
with steam up to receive them. The Cadets
of the Military Institute had joined them in
the mean time, and the four companies, to-
gether with the city authorities and number
Ofinvitcd guests, having gone aboard, the two
boats were dashed together, the bells rang,
aaI the excur-jonists gided up the river
amid the bray Of trumpets, the roll of drums
and the thunder of artillery. BY the ''thun-
der OF artillery it is proper to say that our
porter simply meSns the single discharge
of the cannon stationed at the corner OF
Front and Broad Streets. That discharge.
which was rather unexpected to the whips in
the vicinity having caused quite number
of horses attached to buggies market-wagons.
draws, &c. TO take to their heels it was con-
cludcd that there was safety in silence. I'd il
was not repeated. 4 very large crowd
as sembled at the landing to witness the de-
parture of the cXcursionisls, and it was a ma
ter ofregrct that the steamers did not afford
accommodations sufficient for all the world
and his wife so that all might have gone; but
steamboats, unlike omnibuses, won't carry
everyb body. and so when the Sligo and CJDs-
,aerce rounded the point above the Water
"OIhS. TIC ldhuiHS sum WIN INV
multi ,de left nd.
The sail (pcrhaps we'd better say the
steam) up the river was rather monOtinous,
but not dull by any means. After charm
ilg run of ten or twelve mile ONE of the
military gentlemen found themselves thrown
into dance, the fine brass band of the Cha
than Artillery making the music; but as
there was not d solitary set ofhoops on board,
it may lie said of the attempt as BYRON sang
of "Brunswick's fatcd chicftain-"
'Oh. brief and brilliant its young career"
The dancers soon got tired of the thing
found it Il borc,-aud fell back for amuse-
ment upon conversation and cigars,
The boats reached their place of landing
between twelve and one o'clock. A debarka-
tion Immediately took place, and the cOmpa-
MES were formed into line, and marched TO
the Hermitage. distance ofabOut two miles.
The scene at the tomb of JACKSON Was very
impressive. Immediately around The mOnu-
ment stood the Chatham Artillery with heads
unc overed; in the rear stood The other com
panies. On behalf of Major ANDREW JACK
son and family, T. T. SMILEY, Ed. well
coined the visitors TO the home of JACKSON.
Lieut.. JONES responded in "A few words.
crowding volume into a single sentence:-
We stand above the grave of one WI o
was in life among our cOuntry's best aud
greatest men-who is now among her most
honorcd dead; this is time for feeling
not for words"
The company having visited the tomb Of
JACKSON and the room in which he died, a |
salute OF thirty-three guns was fired IN front |
of the mansion by the Chatham Artillery. |
who had sent out their cannon by land carly |
in the morning the word was given for the
return to the boats, aud the visit to the Her
mitage ended.