Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-04-29
M0rtester 4a1Ip SPY.
Gen. MitchelI'S Advance Into Alabama.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Gazette
FAYErrEvILLE, TENN., April lO, 1862


at three o'clock P. NJ, the 9Th brigade, Col
Turchin commanding, took up the line of
march for Fayetteville, the county seat of
Lincoln county Yesterday morning the re-
nainder OF the division followed, the 18th
brigade (COl. Lytle) bringing up the rear
told you, few days ago, that the rebel
lieutenant, O'Brien, who accompanied the
BrOwnlow party to Nashville, and had ever
since been lettering within our lines, was or.
dered to leave Shelbyville at once by Gen.
Mitchell. He somehow obtained leave to re-
main until yesterday, when Col Young, be-
longing to the secession army, who had been
sick since going to Nashville, but was now
convalescent, was ordered away. Gen. Mitch.
ell sent them of in q carriage, with an escort
and flag OF truce, to conduct them as far as
they wished to be conducted Lieut.. Il.
johnson of Kennetts cavalry, waa in com.
mand of the escort. When the party arrived
at Fayetteville, Col. Young cooily dismissed
the escort, telling them that he did not wish
their services any further.
But the most disgraceful portion of this
story remains to be told. When the escort
arrived at Fayetteville, it was surrounded by
mob Of the citizens of that place, who heap
ed upon our unotfending soldiers every i'm
aginable insult that could be expressed in the
African lingo, which these secessionists uni
versally use. The most Opprobrious epithets
WIZ dpptlSh, anu tub iDOSl lUShL6 tUESHt5
hurled at their heads, Col. Young and Lieut..
O'Brien making no effort TO restrain them.
At last one OF the scoundrels, onsidaring
himself licensed by the forbearance of our
men, advanced to Lieut. johnson, took hold
of his beard, pulled it, and with the grinning
malice OF a devil, exclaimed, You're speci-
men of the id Yankees they're sending
down here, are you?" 1t is matter of sur
prise that Lieut.. johnson did not cut him
-, I. ID. (. I
that his mission was one of peace, and deter
mined TO go to the very verge of human for.
bearance rather than commit any violence.
After this outrage the hootings and reyilings
OF the Fayettevilans were redoubled, and
the party were glad to take refuge In an old
hotel, where they remained during the night.
The next morning they started back toward
Shelbyville, and met the advancing columns
of our forces. Gen. Mitchell was highly in
dgnant when he heard of the outrage that
had been committed upon his flag of truce.
He rode rapidly into the town. and found a
large number of the citizens assembled in the
public square to witness the entrance Of our
army. People of Fayetteville" cried the
general, in voice of thunder, "you are
worse than savages Even they respect a
flag of truce, which you have not done. Yes.
terday, the soldiers whom | sent to your
town on q mission of courtesy and mercy,
were shamefully insulted in your streets, and
it was you who gave the insult. You are
not worthy to look in the face of an honest
man. Depart to your homes every one of
you, and remain there until l give you per-
mission to come forth !" AT the conclusion
of this speech the skulkng towards scattered
to their houses like frightened rats TO their
holes, and. to-day, the atmosphere of Fayette-
Vile is unpolluted by the breath of traitors.
a strong Union feeling was manifested after
we entered the state of Alabama, but it was
mingled with many false notions concerning
state sovereignty, and the duty of submission
thereto. One old gentleman, a planter with
an extensive estate, expressed the views of
the majority Of the people of Madison
county. "It seemed like tearing out my
heart" said he, "to give up the old Union,
but when Alabama voted to separate, l
thought it my duty to sustain her" "But,"
l reminded him, alabama in attempting to
break up the nation, did what she had no
right to do" "Ah," said the old gentleman,
"passion and prejudice blinded our eyes to
that truth" care you then willing" l ask
ed" "to see the authority of the national
government restored 2" "Yes," he replied
"and to pray from this time forth that
all her people may be willing to return to
their allegiance" The negroes that we saw
were kind aud friendly, and generous and
benevolent, even when their ma tiers were
most strongly SeCeSn
Shortly after entering the state, we passed
the vast plantation ofthe secession general N.
p. Walker, extending along the road for
miles. The mansion was utterly deserted,
and all the furniture removed A perfect host
of negroes came down to see and to welcome
US. They laughed they sang, they danced,
in their glee. stopped moment to converse
with them "By golly," said fine looking,
honest young negro, "lse great notion TO
go along with this crowd What do you say,
massa Z" "My poor friend" | replied, of
you do, you will probably be turned out of
our lines the first place we enoamp; somebody
who claims you will come and take you back
and then, beside being severely punished for
running away, you will in every respect be
worse off than before" The negro under
stood me- at is very hard, massa," said lie.
His voice faltered l saw that tears were
gathering in his eyes, and rode away, as my
own were growing moist and dim.
detached house upon Gen. Walkers plan
laton was in flames when passed. Ii had
been set on fire by some of our soldiers, but
whether accidentally or not | did net stop to
inquire One of the negroes had heavy iron
ring and bolt fastened to mis- leg. He said he
had worn them for more than three months.
A cavalryman descended quietly from his
horse, knocked off the letters, fastened them
to his saddle and rode away "By heaven"
heard him mutter, 81 would forfeit yearss
pay for the privilege Of transferring these to
the leg of the rascal who put them on that
man"
DECATUR, ALA, April IA, 1862
Decatur is a faded town, containing about
eight hundred inhabitants, the most of whom
are deeply infected with the madness of Sc
cession notwithstanding when Alabama
voted to 90 out OF the Union; Limestone
county gave q majority of two to one in favor
of loyalty and peace The towns in this part
of the country all seem to have been little
centers of dsaffection in which the doctrines
of treason first obtained foothold, and whence
they were gradually dffused throughout the
surrounding country. In each of the towns,
especially in the country towns, was knot of
third OF fourth rate demagogues, who, unable
to obtain position in time OF quietness and
peace, hoped that the whirl and surge of rev.
Olution might elevate them above the heads
of their fellow men. Their calculations were
not altogether incorrect. The masses of the
southern people are very liable-tO be deceived
by q tonguey politician and these irothy,
gassy scamps have, as result Of the rebel
lion mostly obtained the places and the noto-
riety which they coveted But they are real.
ly the most cowardly portion Of the southern
people; and, as the columns Of the Union
army advance, they universally fly before the
storm they have themselves conjured up and
leave the poor, duped deluded masses TO suffer
the consequences Of their leaders crminality
and their own folly.
The negroes were gathered in masses all
along the road. AS the cars passed they
10 Al -