Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-28

s~s-sS-sele'assS D6ss4e Belmont where lmperisha
bic lsurels were won by the gallant Tennesseans,
nosEing Of grave Importance has occurred to
break thu dull monotopy Of soldiers life on the
frontier, save that grand review took place some
few days since, exhibiting the proHciency Of our
boys in drill and soldierlike bearing. Flsgs of
truce have of late been quite frequent, on al of
which occasions your correspondent has been an
amused and interested spectator. Conversations of
an amicable and argumentative character have
frequently taken place between the different
officers on either eide. but nothing hiss ever
occurred TO mar the marked pOliteuess exhibited,
as is usual on sucn occasions. Jokes, too have
frequently been exchanged, most generally our side
having the advantage. Some time ago thegray-
haired old Col BUFoHD, class mate of Gen. PoIKs,
came down to see u.s. and on being met upon his
boat tossts were proposed, among others the health
| of GEO. WAsHBGToN, supposing as was natural that
no comment would be made, but our astute and
able commander was too much for HIM for he inS
stantly rejoined The first Rebslr Thus showing to
them most conclusively that the actions and deeds
of this hero, and his compeers were but the same
that were now being performed by our Southern
men, AID that we proudly wore all their taunts and
national patriotism was exhibited daily in cur
great and glorious COnfederGcy. These boats are
generally accompanied By correspondents of their
papers, who fail not upon every occasion to mis-
represent the sentiments as expressed by those of
! our side. -.sxer- - aEsss-.e
l was present one occasion when the subject
of rebellion was broached, and one Of our generals
said that he felt proud to be called rebel since
many of our fathers had borne the came title in
days of the nations trial long gone by. Upon bes
ing asked whether the Union could be reconstructed,
he replied, EYES, let the States of New England go
to themselves, let the States Of the Northwest es-
tablish constitutions adopting slavery, and then the
Union may be reconstructed" This assertion show
ing as it did the unbounded faith of the speaker in
the ultimate success of our arms, and the kindness
be evHced in wishing to save them from abolition
ism by making good proslavery men Of their In
habitsnts, went rather hard with them, thought,
but the next paper saw from YankeedOm, had a
long account of this conversation, falsely and ma
llciously misstated and CARRIED. Mem who can de>
scend to such low acts to lnisesj already blinded
people, are worthy of the most dreadful torments
On my last visit up the river, Federal sub, a
young Lieutenant 1 suppose, whose shoulder straps
we're yet untarnished, cried out from the river
bank, Anything for Cairo" Our commanding
! officer for the occasion, answered very politely
that some prisoners that we had of theirs was what
we had. "Raising himself in his stirrups, he most
pompously, with dramatic wave Of the hand, with
an attempt at the tone Of Macbeth or Richard
said "tis well" telegraph shall be Immediately
despatched to Cairo" Although the scene was sol
emn in itself this ludicrous bOmbast caused many
hearty peal of laughter from our officer g
Soon General GRANT came along side in hi;
boat and went on board. Having seen hsm severa
times before, 1 did not approach him at frat. HI
and the few officers he had with him were coldly
polite and had sombre, sad look, on account sup
pose, of their late defeats and the course EnglanC
has taken in reference to Southern matters, ant
AAsoN and SLDELL, contrastin a. it DID, with the
joyous and calmly confident look of cur boys. Their
has been no change of things here since last wrote
save that the weather has become very cold.
WISHING all happy Christmas, 1 am, yours,
!.