The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-03-11
The Surrender of Nashville.

gentleman who left Nashville shortly AZ
ter the battle at Fori bonelson, communi.
Gates to the Mobile zribase an Interesting &C.
coun. Of the evacuation and surrender of the
city, portion of which we append:
The fight at Fort Donelson Oh the 18Th, l4tl
and 18Th Of February, was Of intense concern
to u.s. and each days work down there wound
up with the statements tha: the fight would be
renewed tO.morrow. ThGfears that the fall
OF Fort Henry were calculated to inspire, had
bean well nigh dispeiled by the way Fort
Donelson WAS holding out. 1t was better To-
low, Floyd and Buckner were there Pillow
had said-let coms what might, he never
would Surrender the place, and Nash Vile felt
that we could not afford to lose that battle -
Saturdays work was glorious. Our citizens
shouted over 1T. Many were saying, az never
liked Pillow. but forgive him now-he Is the
man for the cccasion.o sober, modest ci.i-
zan, an old line Whig and ex x-Governor, was
asked how the hight went on: .'First. Fate
Pillow is giving them h-l. and rubbing it
in"
The dispatches closed ON Saturday as they
had for three successive days befOre-"the
enemy. are expecting large reinforcemep Is, y.
but we slept sluncly and expected to have
great news on the morrow. Abont 0 O'Clock
Sunday morning rode out in to the country
seven or eigh. miles, and leaving the turn
pike, d;ned with friend IN one OF the quiet
and luxurious farmer homes OF Middle Tea
uessee. RetHrning leisarsly, l struck the
pike about +. M, and as every bcdy had
met In the morning had askei inH the latest
news from the city, / asked the frat DaR l
met Any news? Prepared TO hear only o;
victory.
News! What's the last you We heardr'
'Last nights dispatches"
"None since? The last out and pleU tv of
it. Fort Doneison has fallen and Nash Vile
Is surrendered They say the white aas N
waving now ON ae Calito and the gunboats
Will ts up before eundown."
1 thought he was hoaxiuR me, but QUICK.
ened my pace The next man conf1r n I'd Il
all aud more. / saw there were literally a
cloud OF witnesses, pouring along the turn
pike leading 10 Franklin. CoEva leseent
soldiers, quitting the hospitals, were yya.!-
Travellers, In groups and squads, had left the
hotels, carrying carpet bags And 50 tcheis. and
addie-bags ia hand The family Gf the
owner OF II 9 ON nnibus line Were rolling out
carriages were full OF living fl eight. Carts
and fuur-horse wagons. On reachihR the
toll gate, Un the top CT the lii over locking
Nashville, 1 strained my eyes to see the white
naked. There was no nag OF any sort ON It,
Posing down Broad street by the Nash.
vile and Decatur road, the first man saw
was Governor Harris. about to leave on q
special train, with the LEGISLATURE and ar
chi YES Of the State. The town was In COM
motion. Over the wire bridge that spans
the Cumberland, General Johustsn's army
were passing. taking the direction OF the
Murireesboro' turnpike The train OF wa gons
and soldiers reached out of sight, and did
not get over that night. The sig ht Of a with
drawing or retfeating army Is very disheart-
6ntpG.
MY residence Ia In Edgsfe!d, a little vii.
iege separated from Nash vile by the Cum
beTiaud river. For several days General
JOhnstons headquarters had been establish
eli on that side of tEo liver end near me-
HU a NJ hsH Strtr ts.ok
their meals is my neigbbor ana friend, and
tells me that the Henera al opened the ne ws to
her at table IN these words:
MADAM. take you TO be a person Of Il rm-
ness, and trust your neigh b3rs are. beat be
alarmed. Last night my last dispatch, Up to
IL O'Clock, wa. favorable, and lay down sx
pecting a great victory TO day but this morn
ing: at4 O'Clock. was walked by courier,
with the news that our forces vt Fort Donel-
SON were surIC Cunded and m mustssurrendsy
They are not made OF steel. Our soldiers
have fought brayely as ever soldiers did; but
they cannot hold out DAY after day against
fresh forces and such odds. car not make
men. Stay at home Tell all your friends
from me 10 stay at home. i cannot make a
fight before Nashville, and for the good OF
the city shall retire. know General Buell.
we'll. He is gentleman, and will not su II .r
any violence to p.aceable citizens, Or distur b
private property"
l, might have been we'll II the General had
issued n Proclanauon. He and SIAN crossed
H.
Brechnridge followed, and your correspond.
ent followed soon after.
The question has often been asked. "Why
didn't the people Of Nash Vile m.ke stand I
What S, J.. give up iasir city without striking a
The people were astoniahed and indsgr an
At the way they were handed over to the an
emy's mercy and occupation. But what could
they dof When Generals and armsb ~
drilled soldiers give mp and retire, whn cSh
unarmed nod uncisciplined citizens DO before
q foe advancing by land and water!
"rhrow brickoats at them," said one. In
deed That would be wei: enough IL the cd.
emy would deal IN the s.ne IN ssiies
. The bones Of General Jackson, ths defend
or Of New Orleans, mast have u,ned Ia his
grave, ~ the Hermitage, few miles nway.
AZ such = surrender.
A few months before, on urgent call, every
man who had rifle or don eIe- sarrei gan had
brought II forward and given IL up for army
service. Not hfty SCI vtceable gass copld our
citizens have mus cred. No, not even pixies.
though they had jus. enrolled them selves
and reaol vsd 70 have thsn made, and II 0sn.
Johnston made stand before tho city ikey
were resolved 10 st~nd with him kucn II
them 80 were not willing 10 be surrendsrsd
t0 the uncovenanted mereiss Of Llncolpdcm
wi III the prespec OF having the o th tsndered
theIa or the bastiie. followed the retiring
army. - AZ @4 4N as
= /, after tsklng my family as far as Dscasar,
,na sssarnsd 70 y NasaviiIeo on "Wednesday. The
tertsd, save BY q guard bers and thsro 4, and :
press gang tskiny mp every man shey ccu Il
nna and aepding him to load govcruusns
rofk into hsTkss, upon which It wxs belnx
takra mp Ne river Apd pas oas OF tbs euesnYsS (
wny. Aao u sssud beea made besarethA n.
OF even fsint Of stand, NO danht I'll NJ
govera0eut secrss cOald nav . beoa ysw woVe51
saisly. - u y. vast emosnts have -
H. qaartsrmsStsr Ahd comnissaryss 9 a., r.
Inenlss Atono tine tAA 6oogo WerS ~