, 1862-02-24
Evacuation Of Bowling Green

Evacuation Of Bowling Green
THE TENDER MERc1Es OF REBEL
LION.
i PICTURE FOR KE6ITGK1lNS 10 con-
TEMPLATE
The Louisville Journal gives succinct and
uncmbcllished narrative Of the destruction of
Bowling Green on its being eyacuated by the
rebels. The evacuation was made lnality Oh
Friday the 18th inst, two days before the sur
render Of Fort Donelson, and Gen. Mitchell
entered the town from the North as the rebels
left it from the South. The Journal saws:
When it was found that the place was un-
tenable, and it was resolved to cracuatc it, the
Contederates commenced their incendfarism
On "Wednesday. the eth about dark upon the
residence Of Warner L. Underwood, Esq,
which was entirely destroyed. At nine O'Clock
the porkhonse Of T. Quigley & Co. was fred,
There were about S15, GOO worth Of hides and
ta1loW slowed there belonging to Campbell d
Smith, who had been killing cattle for the
rebel army, and these constituted their entire
profits. The incendiaries, In their wanton de-
strnclion, seem to have spared neither friend
Or foe, and the property of rebels and
Union men was indiscr Intimately destroyed.
. They next went, about two O'Clock at night,
to the old Washington Hotel, at the corner OF
Maln and Nashville streets, and applied their
ccmbustlbles in the billiard room. This build
ing was completely DESTROYED, and the flames
were extended to six contiguous stores, all Of
which were burned, though the occupants in
some Instances saved q portion Of their con-
tents. The next morning, the saw mill Of D.
b. Campbell was burned; he has gone of with
the rebel army. The -four mill Of Judge Payne,
Union man, shared the same fate, As did tic
pork house Of F. T. Lucas, . rebel sympa-
thizer.
The beautiful iron railroad bridge was de-
Etrny cd on Thursday about IL o'clock. The
mines were exploded in the towers OF the
Pierr, but as the iron work did not fall, cannon
were brought to bearand thirteen rounds were
fred before the demolition was completed. On
Friday morning abont feur O'Clock the plank5
we're torn OF the sides Of the turnpike bridge
and tallow gt1ewed over 1t to facilitate
the combustion. This was burned only
about three hours before the division Of
General Mitchell came up, which fired
some hundred shells in and around the town
wherever the rebels were congrcgated Then
commenced 4 stampede. The Infantry seized
horses Of the cavalry and made off in wild
hasre- There were some rebel troops in camp
noffh oi the town, On the river, who were
shel1ed before they Lad completed peparations
for leaving. They threw away everything aud
rushed through the town in panic confusion
Texas Rangers, Morgan's CavalEy, and some
Of the less frightened Of the flying mass halted,
and after some deliberation, turned back.
They went to the fair grounds, and there
burned the beautiful ampbithcatre, in Which j
large amount of corn was stored, and wagons.
About sixteen Of the latter we're saved The
large tobacco factory of Hampton, Prltchell d
Co., was next destroyed. They then proceeded
to the railroad depot, which contained a vast
quantity of shoes, blankets, medicines, one
cles most needed By them, all Of which were
destroyed except some -four and picklcd beef,
which was rescued by citizens for their own
use. The destruction Of the property belong
ing to the rebels WIS very great, some estimate
its value at million dollars, but it is itnpos-
siblc to eYen approximate to the amount Of de-
struction with any certainty.
Ihe machine shop, known as the Round
House, was also burned; it contained two
damaged engines and two extra tenders. There
was train OF cars loaded with meat, the en-
elnc to which had steam on, ready to start;
this was fired, hut whether by the Federal
shells or the rebel torch, our Informant is una
b1e to say. AL lie cars and contents were
burned, and the half consumed meats fell on
the track between the rails. The unsated
| the principal hotel Of the town, broke open
| the doors with axes, and scattered firr-brand5
| within, consuming otficers's trunks, baggage,
clothing, and everything it contained. The
| Highland House, drinking place adjoining
was also burned, with Major McGoodwln's
| new store, which WIGS flled with Confederate
| supplies. Two men applied inccndiary brands
to The steam SOW mill Of u glorious Union man.
e b: Donaldson, celebrated for his sash and
blinds nRnu1actorJ, and resisted the efforts Of
Tie nWErr tn sion the nf the
When Gsn. Mitchell occupied the norih
| hal:k Of Barren river, and commenced shelling
the rebels, the scene Of their flight, as de-
| scrihed to Us, was one Of the most terrible
| pike was completely blackaded with cavalry
| and infantry, all in admirable disorder, and a
i0nE llne IF carriages, carts and ali kinds Of
| Vehicles Officers were hurrying away their
wives On foot, and carrying their children in
| t]leir arms, while the whole acknowledgement
| portion Of the flying crowd were screaming
| aid shouting at the top Of their voices in q
1renz, OF apprehension.
From the best informed sources we gather
that the Ccnfcderates have never had over 30,-
Bowling Green. Their regiments are very
sktletcn-1ike, not averaging five hundred men,
| AMI Roger Haps0nB, which Was the fullest in
thu ecryice, never lad more on its muster-ron
| than eight hundred and sixteen. They have
| lost nearly five thousand of their troops By
| sickness, who died for want Of medicines, i'm
| pruper treatment and bad hospitals, though
| fifteen houses had been fitted up for their e1-
elusive accommodation, all of which were left
| IN the most filthy condition. For long time
thtir aVtraeE sick list has been three thousand
= TIE Baptist church aud the basement Of the
| Presbyterian church were used as hospitals;
all the seats and desks were broken up and the
building terribly defaced. 4 million
| Warren for losses and injuries. From
TWENTY-FIVE to sixty beef cattle were
slaughtered every day in Bowling Green
| for the use Of the rebels, aud neither
Buc@ner nor Hardee, when in command,
were particular about compensation If any
outrages were committed, and they we're gen
| emily done at night, BucAner always promised
restitution if the injured individuals canld
Identify the trespassers, which heing impossi-
bic WIS convenient way to pay debts-
The most serious injury has been inflicted
On the citizens Of Warren by the Provisional
Government, and its infamous exactinns.
Some OF its officers have made good specu1a-
tions ont OF their temporary fiscal agencies.
John Burnam, Treasurer to the Provisional
Gov. rnnlent, escaped With about twenty-five
Thousand dollars, mostly obtained from tue
fines levied upon men In lieu of the delivery
| OF gun. When weapons were found they
/ were IcceIpted for ct from hve to thirty dol
lars in scrip made t'payaele to the proper Of
| tcer." and it will bother the holders to find
| him. Lewis n. Potter, the Provisional Sheriff
Of Warren county, has also gone off without set
| tlinE lot Of taxes which he had collected by
coercion. His Exeellency, George ". John
| eo0, Provisional Governor for the State Of
Kentucky, las been heard to declare with en-
phasis. Lat the Provisional Government i played
ont! He retirrs with grace and dignity to the
vicinity Of Nashville We have a faw gtimpses
Of the whereabouss of some old acquaintances.
| Gen. A. Sidney Johnston WIS one Of the LAST
to leave Bowling Green, but left in such
2 hurry that he forgot his overcoas.
Hc took the pike to Nashville. Colonel
Thomas Hunt 1eltfor New Orleans forthe ben
t1t OF his health, and Alexander Csssedy sue
c~eded to the command Alexander Cassedy
and John G. Breckenridge are temporarily 1t
the capital Of the ssa.e of Tennessee. Young
Tom Clay is Oh Buckner's stah1 aud. having
l.ft with the General for Fort DoneIson, ID
| yrobsbly prIsonrr. Generals Hindmau and
Hardee both went to Nashville. Henry j.
Lyons hiss left for the purpose Of visiting Cal
ffornfa, rot finding Secessia an Ell Dorado.
Ned Crutchf-ld Is at Clasksville. Bueknrr
Is said to hare taken Is COZ men with hfu from
I Bowling Green to Fort Donelaon.
H William Brown, in the Sunday Ksres,y,
esys In relation to the Trent affair: "DipIo-
| 111Ac7 hrfTES anf fhn iuta1te1+ ~ q ~,nksor 49,