Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-02-22
From the Memphis Appeal.
The Old Volunteers.

January. in your city, where think he done
great injustice TO one party. without adding
ANYTHING to the worldwide fame Of the other.
| allude to his version of the difficulty be-
tween Gen. Jackson and the old volunteers,
as they were called. But l have no doubt it
was unintentional with him, this happened
before his day. and great many of the peo-
pie at home censured Us without examining
the merits of the case, and from that side. |
have no doubt. he got his impression. The
facts are these: We were mustered into ser
vice at Nashville on the 10Th of December.
1912. under law of Congress authorizing
the President to accept the services of a GER
tain number of volunteers, to serve twelve
months in two years, unless sooner discharged.
We descended the Mississippi to NatcheZ, and
were stationed about five miles from the city,
constantly drilling, we thought, for active
service. until in March, when an order came
from General Wilkinson to the General to
disband his army at that place and induce as
many of the young men as he could to enlist
in the regular army, and sent two of his staff
to see the order executed; but the General re
fused to do it, saying that he had promised
the friends of the young men to carry them
back home, if alive. and by the Eternal he
would do it; and hired wagons on his own re-
sponsiblity, brought us safe home and the
regiment belonged to was discharged at Co
lumbia, Tennessee, on the 10th of April, 1914.
| have not seen one of those old discharges
for over forty years, consequently cannot
now say how they were wOrdvd. but l know
we all thought we were free from our engage
ment. to 90 when and where We pleased.
We remained at home until the massacre
at Fort Minny. when it put our whole
country into blaze. several companies were
forming in old Davidson as well as all over
the country to go mounted, when an order
was issued by Gen. Jackson for the old volu l.
teers to rendezvous at Fayetteville on the
4th of October. This confused our plans
little. and was selected by the company, to
which | had attached myself, To 90 to the
Hermitage to see the General and know if he
would not receive us under the new organize
ton; found him at home and made known
my business He remarked that he was anX-
ious TO get the old volunteers into the field.
They were well disciplined and ready for ac-
tive service, and he wished TO complete the
campaign before cold weather set in, and in
no other way could it be done, as it would
take so long to get fresh troops ready. | re-
marked to him that they considered them
selves free from that enlistment by their
discharge in the spring, but as they had been
mustered for twelve months service, if they
could be assured of their discharge on the
10th of December, perhaps they could be in
ducrd to go under the old organization; we
could make the attempt, at least. He re-
not only shall have it, bat that have strong
hopes Of their getting pay for the time they
have remained at home, as | have been cores
pOndng with the Secretary of War on the
subject" | went home and saw our old
Captain, ThOs Williamson. and delivered the
message. We turned out, and under that
pledge got all of onr old company but three
or four to go, and | have no doubt. but for
the failure of the contractors to supply us,
ha,,o fha In1ia hafnr
the 10Th, and been ready to go home. As it
was after the battle of Tallidega, on the 9th
of November. instead of marching forward,
as was his intention and wish. we were forced
back to Fort StrOther for provisions, aud
when we got there the place was destitute; in
fact, we lived for a month on n little corn
half an ear per day and sometimes none
with acorns and beech nuts; some said they
ate rawhlde, but preferred the mast.
Matters stood in this situation until the
9th of December, the men quiet as men could
be with but little to eat; and if there was
any act of rebellion or mutiny | never knew
it, and il must have been in some other part
of the brigade than our company; but have
no doubt some one so told the General. Who
il was we never knew. After dark | had
walked up to Col. Martins quarters. when
one of our company came and told me that
sergeant and file of men had come from head
carried him Off and that the company were
ordered to parade, and as the lieutenants
were Off in detachments. aud our captain an
old man. / had to see to il. | left, and on
my way to our company passed head
quarters saw that the artillery were prcpar-
ing for move, and asked the officer, with
whom | was well acquainted, what be was
going to do. He said, going direct to the
bridge, (about half Il mile from the fort) to
bon fall trpO off 4
told him We were not going until we could
go right. This was all saw heard of
the lighted match or cannon. He went bis
way. and | went to the company; and as for
Wynuc's regiment, if anything Was said
about it. never heard il, or il there was, il
was on some other part OF the line When
got to the company they were a gooddeal
excited. having got the impre-sio somehow.
that they were ordered To parade TO have
their arms taken from them. satisfied them
on that head, and they fell into line. When
the regiment was formed the General and
his staff walked along the line, until they got
To the head of the regiment, when they |
stopped, and the General asked the officer: |
Whose company is this?' He was answered, |
''Caputon's." lie then addressed them; be |
told them what he had heard, and how |
mortified he was to think men who had |
endured the privations they had so patiently, |
should now turn aud disgrace themselves |
and their State by abandoning their General, |
with all the public property, to the mercy of |
the savages and told them how he had been |
by not having provisions, and /
how il had retarded his operations; but TO
test the truth of the report, thOse of the /
company who were willing tO remain with |
him would come TO shoulder, those that /
were determined TO 60 home remain at an
order.
Thirteen of them remained at the order, as
they stated. misunderstanding the word. IL /
was given again when all came to a shoulder.
:. Now boys says the General. '-go to Your /
tents and rest assured that n soon as your
services can lie dispensed with. viii send |
yon home" He took the brigade by compa-
nies aud the thirteen were all that RENAME /
al an order Two days after this was sent /
ON "A detachment What followed was hear
say la me in part; but about the 18th OF |
OF December, the East Tennessee troops /
joined Headquarters. and in day or two al
forwards Halls brigade Of old volunteers
were sent home. | met them on my return |
and Joined them, and We were dismissed At
Huntsville. and each one made his way home.
la proof that We only leit ihe heid believing |
sc were ASSERTING our rights, more than bali
OF Coffee's brigade that went 10 New Orleans
u ere old volunteers aud when Gen- Jackson /
net us at the cutoff on Tsmhisbce, on our
way 10 Pensacola, he expressed his graiiGca-
ton. al meeting 20 many Of his old soldiers |
againin camp Ny apology for offering this
fog publication il that mona OF The old soldiers
- ho were competent to the task have thought /
Ii worth while 10 come forward and make
statement Of the facts as they really existed. |
Respectfully years,