Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-04-02

VI OdShSOH. Ol the evening VI lic LIN
ult., we received an order announcing
that q Reconnaissance in Force" would be
made on the morrow, on the Lebanon
Pike" consisting of the 10th Brigade
(Col. Ammen's), 10Th, (Col. Hazen'sl
Cox's, Harris, and Konkle's Batterie:
and the 2nd Indiana Cavalry, the Cad
vance Guard" consisting of four compa
MES, 9th Ohio Infantry, three companie:
of the 2nd Indiana Cavalry and Harris
Riied Cannon Battery, was placed under
my command. Having learned hat the
resting place of the 'Old Hero" was L
miles from Nashville, on the Lebanon
Pike, l suspected at once the object OF
our march. But the Rebel Cavalry, hav.
ing daily annoyed our front, it became
necessary to take the highest military
precautions, although u march was one
of patriotic devotion, and to the resting
place of him who had declared "The
Union it must and shall be preserved"
At the early dawn of the l2th the In.
fantry, Artillery, and Cavalry took then
respective places in the Column. The
Advance Guard" was thrown out as the
march in the face of an enemy requires.
General Nelson, staff and ~body-guard
joined, and the movement began. This
Pike lies along up the south bank of the
Cumberland, and although for the most
part about 2 miles from it, yet conforms
in its curves and angles to the general
course of the stream. The morning be-
ing beautiful, the road in excellent order,
the men marching without k~napsacks,
the Bands gay as al opera, gave to the
Column an exceeding blithe and attrac.
tive appearance. All along the road are
fine residences, growing more and more
sparse, and at the same time more beau
tiful and costly, as you advance into the
country, and the surface of the ground is
just enough rolling to give the finest view.
As the detachments of my Guard one af-
ter the other, at intervals of $50 to 800
yards, would pass these residences, it was
quite easy to see the feelings and sympa-
thies Of the occupants, some were joyous
ready to welcome us, and some would
sullenly close their doors and windows,
determined to give us no recognition.
But when the main column reached them
and a Band (playing as though inspired
for that struck into the second strain of
Yankee Doodle" ''down came the gro
Gerry, the house surrendered, its doors and
windows seemed TO burst their rebel fast
enings, and all were open from turret to
foundation stone. / verify believe a SAKE
Horn Band and Yankee Doodle" is the
weapon to conquer Tennessee; it is more
efficient, at least in this stage of the dis
ease, than riieh cannon. In many of
these houses, I saw the grey-haired vete-
ran Fathers, whose patriotism had surviv-
ed the corruption of Southern politics,
with tears of joy, and emotions indiscriba-
bic, listen once more to the sweet accents
of the national air, and with profound
reverence, onc again salute the National
Ensign. At eleven o'clock we reached
the Hermitage; the main body stacked
arms on its sacred soil, beneath the shad-
ows of a woodland adjoining the residence
and the guard and sentries were duly
posted, so that the Hero" was again sur
rounded by the bayonets of that Power"
whose arms he had indicated, and whose
honor he had maintained. The house is
a substantial brick edifce, some eighty
rods to the left of the Pike, towards the
river, with a good stone road leading past
it, and is situated in the centre of a large
farm or plantation. There is a nice car
riage track, leading directly to the front
of the house, on either side of which is a
dense row of cedars; at six rods from the
porch this carriage road takes a circle to
the right and left around beautiful arti-
fetal mound some six feet high, also COW
cred densely with cedars. Arriving at
the House, you find it large, square and
with porch and pillars across the
whole front, and reaching to the roof;
turning to the right you pass into the
garden and find yourself at the Tomb of
Jackson. And here you have all that
gives the place attractions beyond other
similar residences in the vicinity. A Gu
pola shaped roof supported by four marble
shelters the resting place from the
sunshine and storm. Under the centre
Of this cupola, from a marble pedestal,
rises plain four sided of grey
marble, some 10 feet high. On the left
side of the pedestal lies a plain marble
slab covering the remains of Rachael
Jackson, the wife, and on the right is a
similar n over all that was mortal of
jackson, the husband, the states
man, the patriot and the soldier. There
is nothing written on it but his name and
the date of birth and death, and that is
enough. The history of his country and
the grateful remembrance of a patriotic
supplies the rest. As 1 stood be-
side his grave and listened to the tread of
the soldiery approaching, and looked up
on the Artillery, the Cavalry, the brist-
ling b~ayonets, and all the paraphanalia
Of war surrounding the spot, oh how for
cibly came to my mind, the response the
Old Hero made t. his attending
minister in the last hour of his life, when
lsked by him to state what act in his
life he most regretted" and he answered,
lis eye kindling with the fires of full life
md vigor, "7Hat lie did not hang Joha C..
Calhoun in 80" Then plucking n few
lips from a willow there, planted by his
hand, | turned from the sacred spot
o give room that the soldiers might be
lold il.
In the house, now occupied by IN adopt
I'd son, are tie family pictures as the Ex-
President left them, and some of his old