Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-05-14

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der. = 20 ~'T9--f ~, F.
trust that after this explicit statement we may
pc aple oy fuiy understanding each other, to keep
lar from our borders the misfortunes which so un-
happily affiict our common country sg stt eirg
TINS communication will be handed TO you by
Colonel Bowen, my Chief Of staff, who will be able
to explain anything not fully set forth in the fores
going. / am sir, very respectfully your obedient
servant Brigadier General d. NJ. Feosr
Commanding Camp jackson, NJ. V.M.
Can't. L. refused to receive the above communi-
cation. He forwarded Gen. FRosr the following.
about the time, if we not mistaken, Of the sur
rounding of his camp:
HEAD QUARTERS D. S. TRoOPs.
St. Louis, May 10, 1861. /
To GIN. D. N. FRosr-C ornnl0ndtng Camp jack
son:-Sir: Your command IS regarded as evidently
hostile towards the Government OF the United
States It is for the most part made up Of
those secessionists who have openly avoUed their
hostility to the General Government, and have
been plotting at the seizure Of its properly and
overthrow of its authority. You are openly IN
communication with the so-called Southern Confed-
eracy which is now at war with the United States
and you are receiving at your camp, from said Con
federacy aud under its flag, large supplies OF mate
rial of war, the most of which Is known 70 De
the property Of the United States. These
extraordinary preparations plainly indicate
none other than the welEknown purpose of
the Governor Of this state, under whose
orders you are acting, and whose purpose, recent
ly communicated to the Legislature, has just been
responded to by that body in the most unparalleled
legislation having in direct views h0stties to the
General Government and cooperation with It's enc
mics. r@ '-i en- FL ai--i arf Il
In view of these considerations and your failure
to dispense In obedience to the proclamation Of the
President and eminent necessity, State policy and
welfare and obligations imposed upon me by instrue
tions from Washington it Is my duty TO demand,
and do hereby demand of you an immediate sur
render of your command with no other condition
than that all persons surrendering under this de-
naand shall be humanely and kindly treated. Be
heving myself prepared to enforce this demand one
half hours time before doing will be allowed for
your compliance Herewith. Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant s-ia-g., " Lyon, % /
.t-s7- Capt. I'd Infantry commanding troops
Immediately on the receipt OF the foregoing, Gen.
Frost called hasty consultation OF the Officers OF
his staff. The conclusion arrived ut was about as
follows: The Brigade was in no condition to make
resistance to force so numerically superior With
but few field pieces of small csbre and with less
than dozen rounds of cartridges for his command,
battle must necessarily be of short Duration and
of but one result-the total rout and defeat of the
State troops. To have withstood an attack would
have been sheer recklessness and cruelty to the
men of Gen Frosts command. In short, the Brig
ade was not by any means in war condition. Gen,
Frost stated moreover, that he had no war to wage
upon the United States or its troops that he was
only acting in cheerful obedience 10 the orders Of
his superior officer, and in compliance with the
laws of the State; that he had anticipated con-
fiict and would not willingly jeopardize the lives
of his men in anything that might be construed into
hostility to the United States Government. Only
one course TO be pursued, and that was quickly
agreed upon, viz: a surrender.
The demand of Capt. Lyon was accordingly
agreed to. The State troops were therefore made
prisoners Of war, but an offer was made to re-
lease them on condition that they would take
an oath to support the Constitution of the United
States, and would swear not to take up arms
against the Government. These terms were
made known to the several commands, and the
opportunity given to all who might feel disposed
to acce1e to them TO do so. Some eight or teD
men signifed their willingness; but the remain
der about eight hundred, preferred, under the
circumstances, to become prisoners. "a number OF
the troops were absent from the camp in the city,
on leaye1 Those who declined to take the prescfib
ed oath said that they had already sworn allegi-
ance to the United States and to defend the Govern
ment and to repeat it now would be to admit that
they had been in rebellion, which they would not
concede.
Tie prepaI atoms for the surrender, and fer
marching as prisoners, under the escort Of the Ar
senal troops occupied an hour OF two. The Brig
ade was then formed in line, headed by Gen. Frost
and his staff on horseback, and with col0rs lying
and drums beating, marched through the wood
skirting the road up to an opening that had been
made in the fence near the turnpike. Here hat
was ordered for some reason, and the opportunity
was improved by large crowd of excited citizens
to draw near the officers OF the stan, and salute
them with cheers. The men appeared detected and
rather sad, but evidently were not conscious OF
having done anything cOwardly. One of the ottir
GERS achieved voley of deafening huzzas BY riding
I'D to fence and hacking away at 1t with hls sword
breaking and bending it as to render 1t entirely
| useless. IL was & very handsome sword, costing
$780, and was recent present from some military
friends. This example was followed by others,
| amidst shouts of applause. -.....
About half-past five the prisoners of war left the
| ~ road limited States sol
ders enclosing them by single file stretched along
each side of the line. halt was ordered and the
troops remained standing IN the position they had
deployed on to the road in. The head OF the col
urn at the time rested opposite small hull on the
left as you approach the city, and the rear was on
line with the entrance to the grove Vast crowds OF
people covered the surrounding grounds and every
fence and house top in the vicinity. Suddenly the
sharp reports of several firearms were heard from
the front of the column and the spectators that lined
| the adjacent hill were fleeing in the greatest
dismay and terror. 1t appeared that several mem
/ bers of one of the German companies, on beng
pressed by the crowd and receiving some blows from
them turned and discharged their pieces Fortunate
| " no one was injured, and the soldiers who had
| done the act were at once placed under arrest
Hardly however, had tranquility been restored When
| volley after Volley Of rifle reports were sud
| denly heard from the extreme rear RANKS ana
| men, women and children were beheld run
ming wildly aad frantically away from the
| scene MANY, while running, were suddenly
| struck to the sod and the wounded and dylh9
| made the late beautiful field look like. battle
! oronnd We went over the grove Immediately af
ter the occurrence, and more fearful and CHASTITY
SIGHT is seldom seen. Men lay gasplng In the agony
| of DEATH and staining the green grass with their
blood as it flowed from their wounds Children OF
| eight or ten years OF age were pale and mou9n,
less as IL asleep under the trees, ana women CRED
| in main as they lay on the ground One, girl OF
fourteen. presented mournful picture, as she re-
clined against a stump her, face cold and white
from the sudden touch Of death. We counted NJ
teen dead persons, and half as many Wounded, "
| inq around The only bodies recognized last night
were those of Walter Mcdowell, living on Elzs-
beth street, killed by shot IN the temple Eully
SomBlers, girl of fourteen, whose parents lFe On
Carr and Seventeenth streets Inomas a !i Slc
residence on Sixth street, above Fallon, and Neh-
| olas7 kuobOch. an artilleryman, were Recognized
| among the dead. A son Of Capt Andrew lcenhoW-
| er was killed by gun shot IN the chest. a man
| named Carl, a Mrs. McCaullt and mechanic at
the Pacific Machine Shop, Christian Dean, were re-
coonized after being taken to the DEAD mouse
Tho wounded. who were unable to be moyed,we
| sritablv cared for on the grounds. Mr.. Claloorre
Wilson was wounded in the thigh, the bail entering
through his coat pocket, and forcing
with it into the body Dr. Ropie living on re Ventn
Trueman Wright received two balls in the hip.
Frank Dallen, living on Spruce street, between
Sixth and Seventh, was wounded IN the leg Denis
| Keliher injured in the same manner. -1hese were
| ali the names that could be learned at the time,
owing TO the removal of the injured by theirfriends
| To-day the bodies of the dead will be recognized
| and the names of the wounded aseertained. The
total number killed and wounded Is about twenty
five. It was reported that the Arsenal troops were
attacked with stones and couple of shots discharg
ed at them by the crowd before they fired. Whether
this be true or not, more reckless act has never
been committed than an armed body Of troops dis
charging those terrible instruments of war-Ainnie
riaes--among q crowd of defenseless Spectators
The most Of the people exposed TO the fire of the
| soldiers were citizens with their wives and child
rem who were merely spectators, and took no pari
| in any demonstration whatever. The firing was
| said to have been done by BroePnsteIn's company
/ and at the command Of an officer. As night closed
in and Ind the CHASTITY horrors of the scene Ger
\ man regiment took possession Of the bloodssaineo
camp and the tents Of the State soldiers by Gu