The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-03-06
a LETTER from NASHVILLE.

he 81. Louis hepuOllcan OF yesterday
morning publishes letter from Nashville,
dated Feb. %, from which we make the
following extracts:
Great changes have come over Nash
vile since she adopted new protectors.
From being busy mart. receiving and
pouring out the wealth Of a vast tract Of
country, it has become a deserted city,
mutilated terribly by war--streets silent,
market places empty. stores closed. Ruin
appears at every step. and shabby gentil
ty or broken down tradesmen pass along
the neglected promenades Of fashion. 1t
is difficult 10 describe the state of affairs
where all so completely reaches the scene
OF confusion, desolation, doubt and i'll. will,
as at Nashville. Union feeling there is
none. and the people do not pretend to
show any. An enthusiastic army parson
declared yesterday the river Of discord was
in full flow there. and would run on until
effectually damned.
About one third of the inhabitants are
here the balance fed southwark Ten
nessee's Legislature and her unprincipled
Governor. who were in convention assem-
bled when Fort Donelson fell, are among
the refugees. Memphis holds he law
givers until that moment now near when
cities still nearer the sea will be found nee
essary for health.
There was great excitement in Nash
ville when the bridges were fired. A large
committee Appointment citizens expostula-
ted with Governor Harris. and even sent
detachments TO extinguish the flames.
Harris replied that unless allowed to pro-
coed he would order the town itself burned
by the military. All the citizens say the
fleeing army from Bowling Green treated
them shamefully. but excuse it by arguing.
All forces, your own as well as others,
act in the same manner when retreating'
Private houses were broken open. property
Of all kinds that could be serviceable and
easily carried taken away, the owners
being told to remunerate themselves from
the army stores left behind. The Texas
Rangers were especially vicious. The city
authorities. who openly avow themselves
secessionists. say there has been more
quiet here since the Federal army entered
than for months before. Ladies, whose
careworn looks certainly warranted the as
sertion. declared that, since Fort Henry's
fall. so wild had been the tumul, they had
been unable 10 pass night in quiet. ex-
pecting each moment some destructive
confagration caused by drunken soldiery
Il wandered for a while among the
deserted rooms Of the State House. from
the dome of which the Union flag is fly
ing: official paper. with the stamp Of the
Confederate States, was scattered around
but all importan. documents had been re-
moved. The building is constructed Of
uHo ltuHcSSct IHdTpit.
"For the present. at least. Nashville
may be considered warmly secession, and
the now smothered fire is ready at any
moment to break out Those that give
any symptoms at all Of loyalty are the
poorer classes; the rich ones. although
ruin spreads around on every side. seem
determined to follow on in the path they
have chosen. Among the late refugees
was John Bell. who with bis companions
fled to Memphis.
While passing along the street an hour
or two ago. stepped into the Banner
printing establishment, and was surprised
by seeing man sitting at a counter with
huge pile Of bills before him. Supposrg
had accidenilv entered bank. | turned
10 retreat, when man came in. took
paper. threw down bill. and passed out
Offering piece Of silver. received half
dozen notes from the pile in exchange
They were Southern promises to pay FIVE
or ten cents, and the bushel Of bills,
enough. had each one represented the
smallest denomination in loyal currency,
to have bought homestead. amounted to
three or four dollars. A little farther on,
entering a store. a naval officer was en-
deayoring to buy handkerchief repre-
senting small secession flag. Colloquy
as follows: How much for the article
sir?' Two dollars That's dear. my
friend Needn't take it. sir. Wish you
wouldn't. You can bring up some soldiers
and make me sell. but had raihor have
nothing to do with your fellers.' At which
navy wakes indignant and salesman i'm
pudent. both parting in disgust. Such
scenes are frequen. here. The former
population Of Nashville was thirty thou
sand. Of which ten thousand remain. the
balance having fled from home