Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-24
Our Generals at Columbus.

The correspondent of the New York Herald who
accompanied flag of truce from Cairo down to
Columbus paints the following pen portrait of our
Generals there, whose ealibre the North has just
learned:
General I4eonidas Polk, the Major General Of the
Western Division should Judge TO be a man of
fifty winters tall and straight, bearisg in every
word and look the impress of the general rather
than the divine: gray eyes, deep set keen and PEN
etrsting rather Of the Roman order of archi-
lecture, mouth sunken, lips tightly compressed hair
and side whiskers "a Ia miare) precoceusly frost
ed, quick spoken and ready, and withal affable in
conversation. To give New Workers better idea
of the looks and bearing Of the rebel leader would
say take the elder StetsOn at the Astor House. add
two inches to his stature, sprinkling few more
gray hairs over his head and face, dress him in
major generals suit, and they will have LeOnidas
Polk in perfection. He is by no means an austere
man, if we are to judge by his address during the
three or four hours he remained in our company
yet determination sits upon every lneament of his
countenance, and frmness creeps out in every look
and GESTURE.
Gen. Gideon ]. Pillow stands about five feet nine
inches and half in his shoes, finely formed man,
and looks much younger than his superior, Though
l am told, if rank in the army were based upon
age he would rank as the higher officer. high
and broad forehead sets of pleasing face to very
fine advantage; small, keen, black, or rather hazel
eyes, full beard, classical nose, teeth white and
regular, and his whole personal appearance beto~
ken him rather the gentleman than the soldier.
Genaral Pillow is strictly temperate in his habits
drinks nothing but water, uses no narcotics, en-
ploys no physicians, and bids fair to see several
more campaigns unless, at an unlucky moment. he
should fall into the hands of the United States Gov
eminent, when in all probability, his suavity as
gentleman, his good looks and temperate habits
combined, would be inadequate to prolong his ex-
istence.
Gen. McCown has the exterior look of being the
fighting man of his staff-s tall, well made, mnscu-
lar man, face sunDurnt and hard from exposure:
bluff and abrupt in his manners, yet withal not
unpleasant; just such man as one would choose
for friend and fear an enemy. Thirtysfive
years of vigorous manhood, wrapped in leather
nerved with iron, propelled by lightning, and robed
in the plainest and toughest of common CLOTH form
the tout ensemble. When he speaks, one can almost
imagine he hears the snap and snarl of the bull
tarrier; yet his men love him. and he is a man to-
wards whom one feels drawn the. more he Gees and
knows of him.
OF the inferior officers, must be allowed to sav
that more gentlemanly, attentive and kindly dis,
posed set of men have not seen ANYWHERE But
Of the troops, q ought hardly to call them such
so rough, ilclsd and uniformed did they annear
might say there seems to be vast field for i'm
provement. l noticed, however, that the horses az
the camp were much superior to those of our own
army, and could not help indulging the most in
yldious comparisons between them and the moor
old broken down, spawned, heavy, rough. coated
knock-kneed, burbltnd, wind-broken. condemned
things that the War Department is furnishing our
cavalry and artillery.
Of the forces at Columbus can say nothing. for
our mission there was not to pry INTO the seerats
of the camp but discovered that there N,as no
lack OF forts and cannon of tents and stables and
Judge that if the place is ever taken it will he
at the expense of more lives than the public at
present imagine,