The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-06-25
speech of Gee. ID. Prentice Rt thC
ROussenu Rauuuet.

speech of Gee. ID. Prentice Mt tho
Rousseau banquet.
We are sure that all Tennesseeans will
read with pleasure the handsome tribute
paid by Mr.. Prentice to that brave and
loyal man, Gen. Rousseau, of Louisville
He is a true specimen of Southern chival-
ry-that too often most foulIy prostitu-
ted term.
Mr.. Prentice being loudly called for
rose and said
My friends, rise simply to thank the
beautiful and accomplished young lady
for her flattering toast, and TO thank you
for the honor you have done me by your
manner of receiving it.. This is one Of q
thousand honors you have done me, and
thank you for them all. Whilst villifieC
and pursued by myriads who know m,
| not it is much TO receive the hearty ap.
| plause of the few who know me best. YoU
will not expect a speech from me; / hav,
facilities for talking TO you every day
and therefore, upon such occasions as this
it is fitting that stand back for others
But, my friends, ! cannot resume my
seat without telling you how much my
heart is in this festival. We have comc
together to honor man, patriot, a hero
whom we can scarcely honor too much
| A great debt is due to General Rousseau
from our city, from our State, from ou
nation. At the hands of Louisville he de.
serves a civic wreath and a marble statue
He has stood between her and desolation
! We all know what hitter hOstilities OF
the one side, and what deep apprehen
sions and misgivings on the other, he haC
to contend against when he undertook
the bold enterprise of raising a brigad
| TO resist the rebellion. The bes
patriots among us doubted, and hest
tated and faltered, and aLtemp.c;
20 divert him from his purpose, and b
was even constrained by their appeals {,
90 beyond the river, and erect upon th
soil of another State the glorious standar
around which he invoked Kentucl1ians /
rally, Denounced, maligned and curse
by all the rebels, he received at best bu
a cold, and reluctant and timid supper
from the masses of our loyal men. Whe
he came one day from his encampmep
with two full and splendid regiments, {
pass a single hour in our city, the city {
his home and his love, he marched hi
cleaning columns through our street,
amid an almost deRthless stiffness, his en-
emies awed to silence by the appallin
spectacle before them, and his friend
scarcely ydeeming prudent to give exprel
sion to the enthusiasm secretly swellin
in their bosoms. Ii must have been wit
a keen sense of disappointment, if not q
injustice and jngratitude that he returne
to the Indiana shore, But ere long thel
came to us all a night of mystery an
terror Suddenly the electric TELEGRAM
between our city and Nashville ceased
give forth its signs, and the railroad trai
anX'ously awaited for hours, came nc
In every loyal soul thCre was a deep pr,
sentiment of impending calamity.
perYaded and burdcncd the atmospher
Brave men gazed into each Others fac
B and whispered their fears. Then il W,
that all loyal eyes and hearts turned il
stantly 10 General Rousseau and his hr
gade. A signal apprised biU. OF appr
hended danger, aHd, IN an ncredib
brief space Of time, in less than two houl
he crossed the Ohio and passed with h
brigade so noiselessly through our strec
that even our citizens, living within tbir
+ yards Of his ruUte, heard him not. Am
before midnight, he was far on his w.
70 meet the expected invaders lie 10
his position between Louisville and /
rebel army which would have seized Al
o. dcspollcd her iie was her shield Al
. her sword lie was her salvation. r
thIs, among other things, wo tender
him our gratitude tonight; for this '
- tender to him our gratitude forever.
spent two days Al General McCool
encampmeui on Grecl river, and / KIN,
/, how General Rousseau was regard
{, there by all, from the highest in rank
/, the lowest All admired, all loved hi
1. Oh that we had a few more like Rot
I, seau3 exclaimed the gallant McCook
M me, as we were riding over WillicI
battlefield, He was esteemed the flow
of knightly chivalry He was habjtusI
called the Murat of the army Every @
said he would win glory iu his first b'
lie and rI.r5r tu ar.rer hattie A nd uU