Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-29
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ESst~s Pstriss On Saturday last, your
correspondent, dred of ths monotony of city
life, took the cars for the East, intending TO
visis the upper counties of East Tennessee,
and penetrate the "Tory REGION" and learn
for himself the state o. feeling among the
people at present.
The frst place Ct interest, however, at
which I called. was Strawberry Plains, tie
scene Of the heroic exploits Of the gallant
KEgLAS. who so manfully defended the rail.
road bridge at that place, against the ccm-
bined efforts Of no less than sixteen fends In
human form, and in which engagement he
was shot in three different places, and had
one hand entirely severed from Lis wrist.
learned from Mr.. F. 4. Butler, who has got
ten up subscription for the benefit of Mr..
KEELAS, that there were subscribed already
enough to purchase him farm, and that the
liberal citizens of Knoxville had given
cae Aopsand dollars 70 this fund. Richmond
aud Nashville has also done something for
this patriotic purpose; besides passengers
from the South has contributed considerably.
had the pleasure OF q personal interview
with him. Notwithstanding he has no book
education, he eonveFses freely and intelli-
gently upon all ordinary subjects, and no
one can recount half so wildly the scenes
and terrible incidents OF his adventure with
the bridge burners on that eventual night,
than himself, In relating which he lakes great
delight. BE has wife and several small
children dependent upon him, and is q very
poor man, but Is by no means beggar, for
he says tha. ne Will Ia few months be able
TO resume his position as she bridge again.
The Railroad at its late stockholders meeting
voted him pension for life of fifteen dollars
per month with the privilege of resuming his
duties at The same wages he received before.
From here We proceeded 20 Union, where
the ilcendiaries we're more successful. Here
al the passengers and baggage had to be
transferred to hacks, and travel In this way
no little Inconvenience.
Daring onr sojoarn in this section, We have
been particular 30 note the great change thss
10 bling wrought in the public mind, among
those who have heretofore been so bitter in
their denunciationS of the Southern Confed-
eracy Everywhere this change 10 obvious,
snd has BEEN brought about partly by the
stringent measures Of Gen. Carroll, TO sup
press rebellion, but more particularly by the
late blood and thunder message Of Abe Lin
coin. Hundreds of men, ~ho, bus short
time since, boosted tina. they would, Il an
opportunity presented itself, take up arms to
do battle for Lincoln, are now strong for the
South, and willing to march Ia defense of
Southern Rights and Southern honor. This,
though at 3 late hour In the drama, cauno!
DO otherwise than gratifying to the heart of
every patriot for, while they have tried the
patience of our State aud Confederate Gov
ernments, yet they are Tennesseeans "bone
of our bone and Hssh of our fesh." have aiso
the mos. gratifying intelligence from Carter
and johnson. The Hon. Il. G. Taylor. un-
der whose banner it has been in days gone
by, tbs pleasure Of this writer to battle, has
come out squarely and fairly Tor the South
and 10 now making speeches to his fellow
citizens advising them to sequiescs that
East Tennessee 10 indissolubly linked 10 the
South, and that their only hope of safety is
the independence of the South. Scores of
honest, bat deluded men, are focking, under
his influence, TO the Southern standard.
The weather, which has been 30 remarks
bly, mild, has changed to very cold, and as
zrite the earth 10 being carpeted with
snow-the first OF the season. Owing to the
very mild winter SO far, the farmers have not
until now had an opportunity of killing their
pork, and much Of that kind Of work is now
going on. had no idea Of the amount OF
pork In East Tennessee. Besides tbs large
amount furnished the Government, there is
yet here much 10 spare. OBSERVER.