St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-05-01
Letter from Nashville.

Letter from Nashville.
MELRosE, April Is. 1862.
DEAR DEMocRAT-Amid surround.
ings scarcely less agreeable than novel,
and in situation where almost any broth.
er would envy me, am just now possessed
by quiet yet profound sadness. Not be-
cause soldering is uncongeniai, expert
ence has only confrnsed me in this con.
viction, not taught it me. Had even
over estimated the sacrifice required, sun
light glances in where l had anticipated
only shadows.
But what matters it whether my indi-
vidual present is sad or joyous, or my fa-
txre dark or promising: I mourn over =
bleeding country unxiously sorrow over
Fsthcrland whose destiny cannot sure
ly read. Once I thought it's only a
healthfal hesi wound, just deep enough
to unsacle our eyes, and warm the obser-
want moulding nations against our incon-
sistant political error which caused all
this. fear it is deeper and more COM
plicated both in its origen and nature !;
that among our people there is more than
one conscious fashionable sin unwept aud
unrepcnted Are We fast becoming heart
less intellect worshippera? Have We as a
people come to esteem shrewdness and
agreeable manners, or even high forensic
powers ABOVE strict integrity In those we
honor with stations oftrust and influence :?
fear we are-there is too much evidence
that we have.
Nations like individuals "sin and suf.
fer" must they not also repent to live !!
Have little fear but We can conquer
Southern arms can We conquer southern
prejudice? How shall we make thorough
~ rebel states loyal? It will be done
how We shall see Must acknowledge all
this is in very bad taste-can only say the
mood was on and l felt it. Henceforth q
truce to sermonizing. 49,. "a
With the rest Of Col. Duhields Brigade,
the Minnesota Sd left Louisville March
10Th for we knew not certainly whittier
Some thought for Memphis and New Or
leans via Island No. 10; others thought
for the Upper Tenn. where already patriot
blood freely offered has consecrated anoth-
er battle ground. Some guessed rightly,
none knew.
No noteworthy occurrence on our pas.
sage down. I never thought to see the
country along the Beautiful River look
so thrittless and deserted. No life either
in ira fic, society or nature. Truly the
shadow Of this political "monstrum hor-
reudum' rests every where.
On the evening Of the 2lst We entered
the Cumberland, which assured US Nash.
vile was our immediate destination
Smithland at its mouth has fue location.
The beautifully sloping hillside just back
is overlooked and commanded by Temporal
~ Publications (carthworks piles &c. j.
Here the scenery at once changes; grows
more wild, and for little distance the
finely wooded hil!sides, the fertile valleys
and occasional moss grown shaded bluffs
promise less monotony. But soon the ele-
vations grow more common place, the flats
more uniform a,td tame, the while scene
~ more mouotonous, until with small re-
Sret we greet the reign Of IIesperus. On
the following evening we passed Fl Dom
nelson. There were fewer evidences of
carnage then l anticipated seeing. Our
tarry was very b'ief, and the published 40.
counts are far more interesting and accu-
rate than 1 could give you. The rebels
certainly had splendid place for de enee !;
and men wanting in courage snd chivalty
could never have displaced them,
On the ed passed Fl. Zollicoffer, 7
miles below Nashville This Fort was
initiated too late to be made tenable before
the arrival Of Gen. Grant. The rebels
lles several eennen pers:; 49,. as., ali s....