Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-30
Roek Castle FlRhr.

Il got back to this point yesterday evening from
Rock Castle Hill where our Brigade met the Hes
SLAMS strongly fortified in their mountain Businesses
with their superior Gas is supposedly forces in mum
bers to us. We engaged them all one day losing On
our side seven killed and twenty-seven wounded
The place being so very strong, Gen. ZoLL1CsFFsE
thought to retire in good order would have re-
CURED great loss of life on our side to take itand
we could not have held it if taken as we could not
have subssted that locality, the country being SO
barren.
We killed eight or ten Of their men that we saw
bat know not how many we killed inside the walls
as We cannonaded them. We got some 80 or 40
prisoners and some guns &c, though the Llncolnite
papers will pronounce 1t great victory on their
aide and quite false report may come out ahead
of Us that may gain credence at Nashville, VIZ that
we are cut all to pieces, &c &C.; all Of which is
untrue.
my company is behind me, as came on here
quite unwell leaving them in charge of Lieutenant
BLACKNAN. am stopping with Mr.. Patterson Al
| the foot of the Mountain Oh this aide. am no,
much sick, having had chill the day after the en-
gagement, consequent upon exposure for two days
! End nights in the rain &c, while watching the
/ movements of the enemy, my company being in the
advance. and having been sent round on their rear
| 1ext to Mount Vernon, and kept in the saddle for
almost forty eight hours. None Of my acquaintain-
:es from Nashville were killed Col NEWMAN lost
| nearly all that were lost, except one from Col.
RAINs' regiment. No officer killed or wounded at
IL. Capt. GoDsHALL got shot through his sword
ielt.
1.-THE whole brigade presume will fall back here
4 nd IL a. I
what will become of the Cavalry We may be-
transferred to another part of theservice, where
we may do more for our glorions cause. Wher
ever we 60 or stay victory shall be ours"
Shall We Prove True TO Ourselvesl
MEssRs. EDIToRs The present crisis whose start
ing events are TRANSPORTING around US, is fraught
With the gravest interest to Us, people, and not
, us only. but to the whole civilized world.
The laying of corner stone of a nations Gov
ernment is always circumstance of peculiar 1mpor-
lance; but, especially, is it the case with ours
founded is upon principles, against which, the
almost universal voice of nations is raised; but
which we deem 10 be those of wisdom and as change
less as the InmutAbility of the Divine Will The
question of success or failure is before US and is
ons in which involved the hopes and fears of mil
ions of our fellow men. If we fall it wi be but.to
place another argument in the lips of tyrants against
uman liberty and weaken the cause of popular
institutions in all coming time. If we succeed, it
will be to cheer the hearts of the friends of free
lom, and. probably, revolutionize the whole sys-
em of Governmental policy.
As to the establishment Of our Independence there
an now be no doubt 1t is ODly matter of time.
This fact has long since been established in every
,Indid and intelligent mind in the South. Euro
,ean statesmen admit that project for sutjugatinn
3 an impossibility. And our enemies at the Nor h.
ere beginning to realize that they have grasped a
.erpert where they thought they we're only crush
ug a worm"
The battles for our independence that have already
7een fought wherein victorv has been wrested from
he hands of oYerpowering numbers by the iavin-
able courage OF superior race, dissipate every
:nubt of our final triumph. And soon the fig Of
,ur country, fresh from bloody fields of strife
md respondent with the triumph of patriots over
he vanqushed h rides of h5rerng enemies, shalt be
dupg to the breeze as the hOnored ensign of anoth
er acknowledged nationality The question then
for our present and future consideration ard which
Is second only in Importance to that Of cur indie
sendence, should be: Shall we prove true 10 ours
selves in maintaining and upboding the honor, the
iignity, and the glory OF our young republic?
With the beauty and completeness of a new crea-
tisn it sprang, as if by magic, from the chaos of
the old government, and stands before US as the
embodiment of the profoundest wisdom of the most
sagacious statesmen, worthy of our confidence,
.steem and veneratiOn Nothing is necessary for
the accomplishment of its great purposes but the
Jealous and undivided support of the people In all
the essential elements of prosperity and happiness,
she South Is the richest nation that the shines
upon.
With population brave, generous and inteli
gent with soil the surplus of whose production
over home consumption, almost governs the com
MERGE of the world mineral resources incslculao
ble with facilities for inland navigation nowhere
equaled; with climate mild and saubriOus paint
ing with natures rosy blush the cheeks Of her fair
daughters, and giving intellectual and ply steal
strength to her Sons; and with en- ancestry around
whose names clusters the chief glory Of the old
Union, it seems as if we are indeed peculiar
people"
1t remains for the historian of future times to
record, with pride Orsshsme, whether the people
of the South shall prove true to their priceless
heritage.
The experiment of self government s,indeed,a dan
gerous ore-a sea beneath whose tranquil surface,
sleeps many hidden rock t. wreck the fortunes OF
the UNIV airy mariner. If we succeed nit will be only
through the wisdom and integrity of our public men
and the interrupted patriotism, vir,ue and lnteli
gence of the masses Every citizen should regard
himself the custodian of his country honor, The
defen der of her veal. Let US guard, with more
than vessl vigilance, the fires that burn Liber-
tvs affairs and inculcate spirit of devotion to
countrys welfare, before which political corruption
shall hide its hideous deformity.
History is fruitful of lessons Of wisdom and warn
ing. The pathway of Time is strewn with the
wrecks of fallen Republics.
G eece fell the victim of tie ambition Of rival
States. Rome, intoxicated with success, aud lulled
into stless repose by the delusive dream Of secu
rity and ease, fell an almost unresisting prey to
barbarian tribes of the North. Upon Iufdel France
Il Il Il