The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-04-10
Army Correspondence.
q visit to JncksOn's Grave.
CAMP MERRIwEATHER, Tenn. I
Z

miles east of Nashville on what is called the Leb
anon Turnpike. Before moving from camp An
DIV Johnson" il was the universally expressed de-
sire the LIST Wis to visit the Mecca of UniOnaSm,
the tomb of Old Hickory. No one wished this
privilege more than our gallant young Col, who
one morning last week sent the writer to General
Negley's quarters to get permission for few of
us to 90. Gen. Negleyis gentleman in the most
refined sense of that term. He not only gracious.
" granted permission but offered an escort of
cavalry. When came back to report, Kingdoms
were freely offered for horses, but few could be
got at the price Col. StaIkweaher and orderly,
Dr. Diefendorf, the Chaplain, Lieut.. Starkweath-
er. Com Serg't. Bingham, and the cavalry escort;
Surgeon of another Kegt went part of the way
with US without permission from headquarters,
and was ordered under arrest. We can't do as
we please IN the army, as newspaper correspond
ents insnuate. have never gone outside of the
lines withouta pass an order
Our party started from Gen. Negleys head
quarters where the escort had been ordered to re
port The Chaplain Of the 10Th Penn. told us it
was not necessary to drive two miles back into
Nashville TO get on to the Lebanon Turnpike, but
that we might go south from our camp on the
Franklin pike and turn off to the left eastward
" and get on to the Lebanon pike" Gentlemen
are always disposed to take the word of chap
lain, notwithstanding the bad odor that they are
in with the new spaper correspondents, so we went
as directed. But, alas We left at 10 A. NJ, and
being led by the ColonePs long legged horse
rode by one who knows how to go, full tilt is
the word, first south, then east then south, then
east then every point of the compass, during ev-
cry ten minutes Of seven hours ride. The Col
0nel enjoyed the ride hugely, but the rest of us,
while we liked the quality, would gladly have
dispensed with most Of the quantity. We rode
every foot of IS miles out of our way. We en-
quired Of very many persons, white and black,
but none knew positively where reposed the bones
of the Hero of New Orleans AT length we fell in
with a negro, about P. n who eomforted us with
the intelligence that we were within ten miles of
the Hermitage. Well done, neared it by two miles.
While scudding like fury through the lanes and
by ways, tine natives were startled. We were the
first of the Yankees when they had seen.
About 3 p. NJ. we touched the Lebanon pike y
Two and half miles to 60 east, and we stopped
at lane, or avenue, which crossed the road al
right angles and running north and south About
equdstant from the main road and on either side
of it, stood two mansions, one of which was the
Hermitage" but which we did not know without
inquiring, and of course we inquired at the wrong
one, and then we knew that the other was the
right one. We rode to the entrance of the enclo
sure. A small iron gate admitted the party, witt
the exception of one cavalry man, posted to watch
lest the enemy shotd be hiding about the Home
stead of the man whose name is the synonym fol
patriotism, seeking to capture those who should
come from our camps to bow at the grave of him
who has made the State of Tennessee for ever glo
rious. What state Of things!
The avenue lea ling up to the house is lined on
either side with the native cedar trees of this re
gion The tree is not handsome one, but it is
an evergreen and easily obtained 1t is in every
body's yald and by the road side.
cannot describe everything must be abrupt
as my manner is When we got TO the house the
negroes swarmed out old and young, can't de
scribe them, they were mostly Old MarStcrs."
Col 5. sent up his card to Mrs. Andrew jackson
Jr, asking permission for himself and friends tt
visit the grave, and to look at the house This
request was granted. Mr.. and Mrs Andrew Jack
son are reported 10 be secessionists Mr.. j. wal
was at home but we did not see her. A young
negro man called Jefferson Davis, very pleasant
ly showed us the tomb, which was situated in the
corner Of large flower garden. The tomb is moi
at all ornamental, the material being dark coarse
stone The whole structure is circular in form
Under the canopy, which is supported by foul
| pillars believe Il write from memory, J are two
fiat tomb stones. We read the inscriptions; thai
ON the left reads, General ANDREW JAcKsos
born March Is, 1857. Died June 8, 1915 " This is
all, and it is enough The stone on the right hand
has this inscription" Here lie the remains OF
Mrs. RACHAEL JACKSON, Wife of President Jack
son. who died Dee. q, 1925, together with a
quite lengthy statement of her many virtues
This was the fond husbands work. while, when
the President died, no near blood relative or be.
reayed wife did he leave to write his epitaph
should have said that as we approached the
grave we all took off our caps, and thus remained
uncovered while we stayed. The negroes train
young hickores to grow around the yard enclos
ing the tomh-one of these purchased, which
hope 1 shall be able to carry through the fol
the Union. 1t is known that l carry arms
l am often asked the question whether | do?
shall now tell them, that Irshman like have got
a stick from Old Hickory's grave with which l
may give degenerate Tennegsean a lCAack.
Coming back to the house, the parors were
THROWN open. A portrait of the General on horse
back and in unform-one while President, simply
the bust, another by Heally, taken a year or so
before the hero died. An office arm chair, owned
and used by Gen. Washington, stands in the hall
We sat for moment in this chair, the example
being set by the Colonel.
The house is quite ordinary two story brick
building, the workmanship in no depal tment be.
ing at all remarkable, 1t was built in 1885
Before leaving the spot the servants brought out
water and gave to us. Two or three of the old
pGtriarchs had been holding horses to these
the Colonel, ever generous, and ourselves occa.
sionally SO, gave them some funds We mo united
rode home reaching camp at P NJ.
NJ.
p. s. When we returned we belabored the
Chaplain Of the 79th Pa He told us that a wick.
ed Capt. MeGovern, an freshman no doubt, misled
him Thus it goes.