Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-03-12

that its effect was electric Attest 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
discovered on the Capitol, the scene beg
gars all description. Every available
spot of the city was Don occupied by the
citizens and soldiers. You may well i'm
agine that with infantry b~ayonets g%listen-
ing on ever street in solid column; ar
tillery, battery after battery, planted at
all the outlets of the city regiment after
regiment of cavalry, drawn up in four
ranks, sabers drawn, that an impression
was made on Nashville, never to be for
gotten. Ats P. NJ, the arrival Of still
another feet, made it necessary for us to
move out of the city. The bulk Of the
troops then landed. In two hours every
vacant field in the suburbs of the subdued
city, was occupied by the defenders of the
national flag. An immense quantity of
army stores, arms and artillery, provis-
ions, clothing, &C., were captured. As we
passed through the city to our camping
grounds, we passed the hospitals contain
ing the rebel wounded from Fit. Donelson.
Buildings formerly used as an university
and a military academy. At the large
opened windows were hundreds of the
wives and sisters of the wounded, crying,
and wailing, as though despair and una
vailing sorrow had banished the owe of
self control. Nashville has sowed the
wind and reaped the whirlwind. Not a
rebel family, but IS mourning over the
dead and dying of the Donelson defeat
To these, Il arrival extinguishes hope,
and opens the door of sorrow and dishon-
or to come, butte the Union people, con-
sisting of the laboring classes, our advent
is the millennium of their hopes, and all is
joy. As the head of my column stood at
the corner of Public Square and College
street, during the day of our arrival, hun
drejs and hundreds of people grasped
my hand, and with broken u~tterance,
spoke of their sorrows past, and joys now
to come. 1 can never forget the express
sion of that greeting-particularly shall
always remember a little girl, probably
s years old, and her little brother, Young
er, plain, but clearly clad. Her bright,
black eyes swimming with tears. Her
beautiful lip, quivering with emotion.-
She forced through the crowd to my
horse, and raising her tiny hands, saying,
"Oh, say, dear sir, let these good soldiers
stay in Nashville always" L dismounted,
took the dear children to my arms, and,
though a soldier now, yet the father feel
ings come over me, and my tears mingled
with theirs. Says she, my dear father
was driven from Nashville four months
ago, because he was for the Union, and
We have neYe heard a word of him since,
and we fear the Rangers" have murder
ed him. My dearmother is sick at home,
and the rebels abuse and insult her there.
She wants me to ask the good Union sol
diers if they will not stay in Nashville
and let my father come home
again." There was something so truly
womanish, so elevating in her sweet, sor-
and earnest accent, and in the
condition of these dear children, facts so
universal in the rebel districts that life
may prolong itself as fortune may permit,
and that little interview" will remain
in the chamber of my memory. I
consoled her as best l could, and told her
tell her mother that the "National
flag once more floated over Nashville,
never again to be taken down by rehel
hands," and with a "kiss" for each little
stranger, they passed along and others
took their place.
The city is now patroled by night and
day. The 5lst Ohio is acting as Provost
guard, and Col. Matthews as Provost Mar
shall. Many arrests are daily made, of
rebels here in diEguise. The rebels are
temporarily halted at Murfreesboro, %
from here, but VIII never make a
stand there. In due time we shall point
the "cold steel" at them again, and then
will flee still further South.
The Regiment is in most splendid
health. During the last month we have
had but sixty sick altogether, and but
three deaths in four months, and to-day
but six excused by the doctor. Again
give my warmest regards to the "old Pa
at home, and tell them hat wher-
ever we go, we shall remember their kind
ness, and maintain their honor.
Yours Truly, a. S. HALL,
Major, Com. Oath Ohio.