Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1862-03-13
FROM NASHVILLE.

which we have not seen noticed else
where. The following are extracts:
There is none OF that manly tread.
and eye flashing defiance, the Southern
pspers have told US to expect, and which
Americans are eminently capable OF
showing. when their cause is Just and
the iron heel of oppression attempting
to grind them. The remaining inhabi-
tants of Nashville do not indulge in any
of this, but 90 about gloomy and taei-
turn. moping from store to store, sell
dom looking strangers in the face. and
giving that idea of smothered hate which
makes the beholder determine to keep
ont of dark alleys after nightfall. 1t
would need urgent pressing BY Nash
Willie to have the honor of any Union
officers company at tea, for the Fed:
might imagine that strychnine looked
like white sugar, and had occasionally
been mistaken for it.
At first the people here took little
mains to conceal their dislike, but are
q adually becoming more tractable.-
They will sell poor articles for good
money at a moderate price, and not fly
into a passion if Confederate scrip is re-
fused in exchange for Treasury notes.
Ladies, too, appear upon the streets,
and although endeayoring to seem gaz-
ing in an opposite direction, take side
long peeps at marching columns pre-
ceded by fife and drum, and sometimes
drsign to keep the nose moderately
straight when saluted in gallant militia
ry style by a passing officer. This
slight letting down, however, only oc-
ours when the "Fed" is good looking,
and Colonel or General. The time
of Majors and Captains has not yet
come. Occasionally carriage or two
rolls along. with family group within,
and ebony perched on the box seat
holding reins and whip. -
One or two stately dignitaries have
emerged from their hiding places also,
and stand in the doors of princely resi-
dences, non-committal in speech or &C.
tion. i
I noticed at one house a group of
children playing on the porch-among
them a beautiful little Southerner with
dark eyes and wealth Of ringlets, who,
as we passed, skipped to the front step,
and. either accidentally or by design,
exposed a small Secession apron, the
three bars and stars stamped upon 1t,
while its owner placing one thumb
against her nose, and her little finger
against that of the other hand, went
through that childish and graceful mo-
ton whose precise meaning has never
vet been determined. Some say tex
presses profound knowledge, others
profound contempt.
Her companions, after staring mo-
ment to see if the strangers were genu-
inc Yankees, went through a similar
maneuver with skill that showed prac-
tice, and Immediately disappeared,
pair of spectacled eyes having gazed
patronizingly from window during the
whole performance.
"If Nashville ever becomes Union, it
will be when Gabriel turns final trum-
peter" exclaimed my soldier friend,
who had witnessed the noseical display
with astonishment, and to whose bright
buttons it was owing.
Just afterward we met crowd OF
negroes on their way to the levee to
view the troops and gunboats. Asking
one where he was going, he said to see
"dem Unioners." He had been in
Fort Donelson, and was brought back
by his master, who fed with Pillow
81 tell you what, sab" said he, "Massa
Linkum shoot dam straight; knocked
the head off Parson Bigelow's niger
clean as if cut with knife. Lor how
de kannerstir spikes did fly. NASSAU
said Linkum used keg O. nails each
load" And down the street they went
with regular plantation swagger, in
creasing in number at every corner.
Although many OF the artificial beau
ties OF Nashville are destroyed, the
natural ones remain generally unmar-
red. On the numerous fine estates
surrounding, trees are budding and
grass springing forth. but no signs oI
care are visible. Fences remain down,
garden borders washed away, while
negroes, having no masters to superin'
tend, wander shiftlessly about, and
{ white laborers long ago were driven into
4 Confederate service. l noticed one old
gentleman endeavoring to omend the gate
: of his private residence. After hitting
: everything but the nail. be finally eff
fected lodgment upon his thumb. anC
b went off simultaneously into series o
e mild oaths and the house.
e Never did a city present more evi
!, dences of rapid ruin than Nashville
It does. No money except WORTHLESS
1t scrip, few luxuries, no mail facilities
: nor anything that makes life desirabl
g IN loyal places. The merchants wOul
e long ago have been bankrupt. had the
!, attempted to pay their debts. Whe
e the war broke out there were larg
st amounts Of silver and gold through tn
n South. Now there is none. Those fe'
W that could amass It did, and immedi
N ately buried or hid their treasure, hav
ing no abiding faith in scrip, whic
passed and foated along the shallo,
: channel of trade simply because ther
i. was nothing else, in the same name
in that early colonists used to make bean