The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-03-15
RumOrs In Nashville. Rebel Credulisy..
Brave Omcers and TOadles.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette.

Nashville, Tenn, March 6.
The sympathizers with treason in this vicini.
ty are consoling themselves with the idea that
the retreat of the rebel generals aud their forces
was designed as strategic movement, for the
purpose Of getting Gen. Buell. on the south side
of the Cumberland, SO that, whenever they de-
sired so to do, they could easily gobble up him
and his entire army.
Whether the men who profess to believe this
sincere or not, it is certain that this is only
one of the many absurdities With which they
daily undertake to console themselves or to de.
ceive the ignorant.
And the nonsense which they circulate has not
merely reference to the operations of our troops
in portions of the country distant from here,
but to what is transpiring in the immediate vi
cinity of Nashville.
As examples, let me record few of the ru.
Mors which heard in single day. was
crossing the river in steamboat yesterday
morning, when my attention was attracted to q
conversation which was going on between
Lieutenant of our army and fat, blufy gentle
man, who, himself q bitter Secessionist, was
performing the role of Union man intensely
alarmed for the safety of the Federal army.
II know your troops are brave" said be to
the Lieutenant, "but bravery has no chance
against desperation, and the men in the South
ern army are becoming very desperate, indeed"
"Do you mean" replied the Lieutenant, 'that
they SO despair Of their cause that they will a.
ways run, and thus give no Opportunity to our
brave boys to engage them9 Against such des-
peratiOn admit that bravery is of little avail :"
Yes" said the concealed Secesher, .they are
in retreat now, but when they do make stand,
know what sort of men they are, and very
much fear the result"
81 know what sort OF men they are, too" re-
joined the Lieutenant; ''they are just the sort
that attempted to stand against US at Mill
Springs, and fed like frightened sheep at the
FIRST charge Of the bayonet."
"Well, we'll, said the hypocrite, "yoa mustn't
count too much upon the battle of Mill Springs.
am sure no one wishes better success to your
cause than /; but we all perfectly understand,
down here, that the reason why you gained that
fight was that Gen. Crittenden was drunk, and
after the death of Zollic0ffer, was unable to
command the army"
"Then," answered the Lieutenant, "the des.
perate courage Of the rebel soldiers must be Of
little avail, if it can be turned Into arrant cow
ardice by the drunkenness of one man."
This seemed rather to puzzle the pre- tender;
but when the Lieutenant proceeded to ask him
if Gen. Tilghman was drunk ct Fort Henry, and
If Pillow, Floyd, ct al, were drunk ct Fort Don.
eson, he was unable longer to hide his cloven
foot, and spitefully declared: You'll sec how
the thing win turn out! Only last night there
were seventy two eff your pickets killed. and two
pieces Of your cannon taken by small party of
cavalry, not more than twenty in number!"
At this q loud horse laugh broke from q num-
Der OF Union soldiers, who had gathered round,
and 90 hearty was it, that even the Recession
sympathizers in the crowd we're constrained to
DIN in, although they would fain have believed
that the old rebels story was trne
The I.ieukan Mt aaid not annthar vnrN sf
ter bestowing one smile Of contempt and scorn
upon the unveiled traitor, rose up calmly and
went away. should like very much 70 give
you his name, but no one ON board seemed 70
know it. One thing considered certain--that
In his case, the emblems Of military authority
had been placed upon the shoulders Of the right
man.
And this reminds Us Of another instance Of
deserved rsbake TO sscsssionist. by one ofour
o1acsss.
Avery hasehty looking scion Of asistocrasy
stepped up 70 group standing mos far from the
City Hotsl. A Captain Of one Of The Ohio ri.
inents was In the company, and was just 70.