The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-04
70 Tie Editors q tho louisville Journal
'" GAIT HOUSE, LOUISVILLE, KTy(
.t August 20, 1862.

H 70 Tie Editors Of tho louisville Journal
'a.s GAIT HOUSE, hoUIsyuIH, KT,,( t5
Hl August 90 1862
K GENTLEMEN I see in the papers various
and conflicting statements in regard 10
the late surrender of Ciarksvilie, Tenn,
lby Col. Rodney Mason. Twas in the city
AT Tho time the attack was made by Col
JOHNSON and his guerrilla force, and
propose 20 make as truthful o statement
Of the facts IN the case ash can. De- .l-
Il II had been rumored for weeks in
IiClarbsville that guerrilla companies were
in process Of formation in Montgomery
county, for the purpose of attacking.
lClarksville. This none knew better than
Col Rodney Mason This Information, 1
suppose, suggested 10 the commanding
officer the propriety Of fortifying his
ltcamp, which was done. is--- lA tlD> ol
/ His camp was on the college green, a
lot containing about four acres Of ground,
Enclosed by a strong picket fence, this
/ fence being three fourths Of the distance
around the college lawn higher than a
man head. Thisof itself made asttong
stockade fort. Besides, on three sides
rifle pits had been dug, Connected with
this college are two cisterns Of large
capacity. Snch was he condition and
strength Of the camp for defence when il
was attacked on the 21stinst. Col, Ma
son had between three and four hundred
men. Three hundred and twenty five, i
think, were paroled. ~ ~
Il The guerrilla force passed by my resi-
dence as il entered the town. [ est-
mated it to be somewhere between three
and five hundred, but l was Rfterward
informed by a friend that by actual
count there were few less than three
hundred, all raw troops and poorly armed
Such was the force to which Col. Rodney
Mason surrendered bis camp and COM
mand on the 2lst day Of August 1861
The deed has consigned the name Of
Rodney Mason to everlasting infamy and
branded him for all coming time as a
poltroon and q coward. 10
Before the surrender was made a oOun >
Gil of war was held, TO which PROPOSE
ton was submitted 10 surrender. All
the officers Of the regiment voted in favor
of the proposition except three--Lieut.-
Colonel Anderson and two Captains. But
all, as j am informed, voted finally for
the proposition except the Lieut.. Colonel
He was from first 10 last for making a
fight. This, | think, shows the demora-
lizing influence of a weak, Cowardly OFF.
Ger over his subordinates, and ID must be
equally deleterious, i( not more 30, 10 the
men. .I .. e.. tu4.
Since the above was written, j have
seen the Cincinnati Enquirer Of to-day, in
which there is an editorial relative to the
! Clarksyille affair which is untrue in
every particular, except that Lieut.. Col.
Anderson wanted TO fight" and Col.
Mason Thought it madness to hold out -
Beyond 9 doubt, lie has shown, by his
conduct uniformly, that be thinks IL
madness TO fight under any and all cir
cumsianceg, The EagUtrer says "eikht
hundred and fifty well-armed men made
tho attack know, from personal OBJ
seryatiOD, that that statement is an nn-
mitigated lie. . ..i t. 4.. +..-.1
Tho truth is as have stated above ia
regard 10 the number and arms Of the
! guerrillas. There Is not a word OF truth
in the statement that the guerillan were
Supported by two batteries Of artillery"
/ Th6itoWn was surrendered ON Monday
Ileft on Wednesday, and saw no can
non. Persons arc in this city who left
Olarksyills on Sunday last and they
have never seen a single piece of artillery.
/ The simple truth is, they had no cannon.
johnson and Woodward, no doubt, pre-
tended 10 haye artillery, and more men
than they exhibited, But they were
playing at game Of bluff,
In regard 10 reinforcements, IL is true
they had been asked, and think some
body is 10 blame because they were not
sent. But think it is fortunate that
none were sent unless at the same time
Colonel Mason had been superseded.
do not believe he will tight under any
circumstances, and hence they would
have come only 10 swell the number Of
paroled prisoners. Very respectfully
... w WINES.
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