The eastern clarion. [volume] (Paulding, Miss.) 1837-1863, 1861-08-09
Correspondence OF the Clarion.


KNOXVILLE TENNESSEE,
July 2Sth, 1861.
The 10th Mississippi Regiment arrived
at this place this morning Sunday, about
I o'clock A. NJ We left Corinth at l
o'clock p. NJ, Friday, in one train. There
were fully 1900 men on board, together
with the baggage Of the whole Regiment,
1t was one of the largest trains I ever saw.
We passed Tuscumbia Alabama in the
evening, about e o'clock. There ! saw
the finest farms and the best crops have
seen between this place and Corinth.-
The soil about Tuscumbia is rich, black,
post-oak prairie and though the cotton is
small the corn is even better than the
corn in our richest prairies in Lowndes
and Monroe. Huntsville, Alabama, was
passed by in the highland had no oppor-
tunity to see it. Yesterday at 2 o'clock,
we got to Chattanooga. At Stephenson
the regiment was divided and two trains
put in requisition, as the road from there
to Chatonooga runs through mountain
GUS country. One engine was deemed in
sufficient to move 50 heavy q train, At
this place, about fifty miles from Chatta-
nooga and over two hundred from Corinth,
we left the Memphis and Charleston Road,
for the Nashville and Knoxville Rail-
road. From here to Chattanooga the
scenery is most delightful. The road
runs up the Tennessee river between the
mountain and the river, and in some
places the road bed is cut out. of the side
of mountain with the mountain above
on one side and the liver below on the
other. saw some excellent land in the
Tennessee river bottom, but generally the
land is poor.
The next town Of importance after
passing Chattanooga is Cleveland, ayillage
of about 1900 inhabitants. There we
were detained several hours. At about
G o'clock this morning, we came to Knox
ville-just about half way between Corinth
and Richmond. A Tennessee Regiment
on their way to Virginia came here one
day ahead of us and we have to yield the
cars for them. This will cause us to re-
main here at least till tomorrow, and per-
haps longer. We are now in the disafiec-
ted part of Tennessee, and occasionally
find a man who is still for the Union
At all point; heretofore, the ladies have
turned out to cheer us. Old and young,
rich and poor, those dressed in silk and
those dressed in homespun, have waved
handkerchiefs and banners to welcomed our
approach. In looking at some of the fair
faces who have desired to encourage US by
their presence, l have thought could see
anxiety depicted for the fate Of brother
or husband who was far away from the
endearments of home in the ranks Of the
patriot army. | have no doubt, among
the hundreds that we have seen, were
many mothers, wives and sisters whose
sons, husbands and brothers are in our
army, and who rejoiced to see us going to
swell the ranks of the Southern hosts
Brownlow lives here, and his paper is full
of the most reasonable sentiments.
/ think there is gradual change going
on among the people here, but as yet,
from all l can learn there is a majority in
East Tennessee who are strongly disposed
to resist if possible, the secession Of the
State. They profess to be for peace, and
no doubt generally are, but ifreverses were
to come on us they would take up arms
against us. They have no arms, and if the
enemy can be kept out Of the State may
give us no trouble. The country here is
unlike any part of the South l have been
in. The country people are generally
very poor, and Ignorant, Grain and stock
raising occupy the farmers. There are
many coal mines here, and considerable
manufactures, while the people are more
like the Northern people in pursuits than
in any other part Of the South. They
have no State pride. Cut off by the
mountains from the rest Of the State, they
look on it with. jealousy and would no doubt
go for the forpation of separate State
by a large majority. Sectional feeling
against the rest of the State has as much
to do with their present condition as any
thing else.
Brownlow has done much to keep them
as they are. They were nearly all whigs,
and his paper was their organ. They
took their position as Union men and
were defeated-they do not like to give
up the contest. Knoxville is said to have
1900 inhabitants, but where they are /
cant imagine. The town is scattered over
several hills and hollows, but does not APP
pear to me to have over $500 inhabitants.
There is not in my opinion more than
that in the city proper. The poorest peo-
pie | have ever seen arein this part Of the
world. see white people living in worse
shanties than any negro cabins ! ever saw