Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-03-29
incidents of the Occupation of Nashville.


Mpjor A. S. HALL, commanding the oath
Ohio Regiment, communicates to the War
ren Chronicle, under date of March Let, the
following interesting particulars of the oc-
cupation oil Nashville by the Federal for
ces
1t was a clear fine morning, and the riv.
or spread its wide current from the streets
Of the city the distance of full mile on the
other shore 1t was at once apparent that
the city was in terrible commotoD. In the
distance we could not tell the nature of the
disturbance. Not Union flag could be
seen. Our gun-boat opened her death
dealing portals, and the feet, covered with
brst!iHg 5ayonet, steered for the landing.
In less than FIVE minutes from the opening
of the port holes, the city was auttering
like thing Of life with white flags, and the
people began to move toward the river. 1t
was then fuIly apparent that proud, defiant,
rebel Nashville had surrendered.
The gun.boat took a commanding posi-
tion and the steamboats, took for the wharf
The most defeaniug applause was roaring
along the thronged streets OF Nashville, and
the troops were echOing il back, over the
water. The "Diana" touched the wharf,
and Gen. Nelson sent detachment from
the 9th Ohio, to place the national flag on
the State House Of Tennessee. The widest
applause and nproar continued, and the
"Autocra" catching a good landing, / or
dered the Oath to disembark' In less than
twelve minutes we formed in line and march
ed up The centre of street, regimental dis,
tance and halted.
The people rushed in crowds to honor
the Stars and Stripes. Old and young,
men, women and children, begged to kiss
the National Ensign, and broken utterance,
pronounced the blessings of God upon us
for coming to their deliverance. The old
oath was the first regiment on shore, and
the first to march to the city-square to the
time of Yankee Doodle" The Lord OF
Heavens how the boys played it, and how
the people cheered. Their streets had been
so long silent to the national air that its ef.
feet was electric. AT least three fourths OF
the people seemed wild with joy, and the
other fourth of the people were willing to
do anything to secure protection.
As the Stars and Stripes were discover
ed on the Capitol, the secene beggars all
description. Every available spot of the
city was soon occupied by the citizens and
soldiers. You may well imagine that with
infantry bayOnets glisteniDg on every street
in solid column artillery battery after
battery, planted at all the outlets Of the
city; regiment after regiment of cavalry,
drawn up in front ranks, with sabers drawn
that an impression was made on Nashville
never to be forgotten.
ASP. NJ, the arrival Of still anonther
feet made it necessary for US 10 move ouI
OF the city. The bulk Of the troops ther
laaded. In two hours every vacant field
in the suburbs of the city was occupied by
the defenders Of the national flag. An i'm
mense quantity Of army stores, and artillery
provisions, clothing, &c, were captured
AS we passed through the city to our camp
ing grounds, we passed through the hos
piIals containing the rebel wounded from
TT. Donelson, buildings formerly used as al
university and military academy. AT the
large open windows were hundred OF the
wives and sisters Of the wounded, crying
aud waling, as though despair and unavail
ing sorrow had banished the power Of self
control. Nashville has sOwed the wind anC
reaped the whirfwind. Net rebel family
but is mourning over the dead and dyinl
of the Donelson defeat. To these, our ar
rival extinguishes hope and opens the doc
Of sorrow aud dishonor to come, but to th
Union people, consisting OF the laborinl
classes, our advent is the millennium Of thei
honaa and all is ioY.
As the head Of my column stood at th
corner Of Public Square and College stree
during the day of our arrival, hundreds Q
people grasped my hand, aud with broke
utterance spoke Of their sorrows past an