The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-17
war Literature.


The preeent civil war has begottcn a
vast number Of pamphlets, books, etc,
protesting TO record the events which
have occurred in the various military de-
partments. Many, perhaps all, Of these
epbemeral productions will be of more or
less value to the future historian, on ac-
count Of good deal Of crude informa
tion wninh they contain. We regret that
,ho indiscretion Of some Of these military
.nnaliste, has led them, in some cases,
h indulge in statements, which arc the
,asult Of fancy rather than of obserya-
ton which Is the first great talent Of
tbe historian. We have striking ex.
annie Of this in little volume before
us. purportlng to be a sketch Of General
Rosecraus' Campaign with the Army Of
the Cumberland, up to the close Of The
battle of Stone River, in which the fol.
lowing odd passage occurs;
Hon. Andrew johnson, The Military
Governor Of Tennessee, appeared, 10 the
eyes Of superficial observers, TO be
busy enough, but it was difficult to de-
fine his functions. His authority could
not extend beyond the military lines,
which were then rather contracted. The
civil and military administration of
Tennessee, on the other hand, were so
intimately blended thatit was quite i'm
possible TO separate them so that the re.
sponsibility of civil government really
devolved on Gen. Rosecrans. Rebels
who had business with the government
declined generally TO hold intercourse
with the Governor, and loyal men sought
the attention of tho military chief. Ex-
cepting the issuance Of commissions to
officers of Tennessee volunteers, and TO
magistrate now and then; the collec-
ton and distribution of taxes levied up
onwealihy rebels for charitable purposes;
and correspondence with the State De-
partment at Washing ton, there was re-
ally nothing else for the Governor to do.
Hon. Hugh Smith was Mayor of Nash
willie, but his Office was almost sine ure,
the municipal government being reduced
TO petty police business and the hebdo-
madal meetings of Aldermen,
The author Of the book referred to,
which is in some places very cleverly
written, seems 10 have, written the above
whimsical paragraph, more from de-
sire TO say something about the Military
Governor of Tennessee, than because he
had any information TO communicate In
reference TO that officer; and HE facile
pen, as the reader observes, has run wild
with him. He informs ne gravely that
the Governors authority "oould not ex.
tend leyond the mihtavy linoS" A wise
observation, which will apply to Presi-
dent Lincoln, or 70 Gen. Rosccrans, az
peFhnen,ly as 20 Governor johnson. The
stat, msnt that Rebels who had bust
meas with the government declined gen
orally to hold intercourse with tho Gov
srnor, and loyal men sOught the aiten
tiOn of she military chief" is so very
vague that II 10 not very easy TO UNDER
stand it's purpoit, but so far as il 10 i'm
telligtble, 1t 10 altogether Incorrect. II
cannot possibly be true that the whole
responsibility Of civil government de-
volved on Gen. Rosecrsns, because from
the day when Gov johnson assumed HIS
office, up to the time when Gen. Rose
cans left the city, no lees than four per
haps more officers had charge Of this
post. The writer is not the only one
however, who seems to have considered
the Military Governor ain the way" for
petty subordinate officers, and some who
held no legitimate military office at all,
seemed disposed at times, to disregard
not only his authority, but the authority
Of che United States Circuit Court, the
U. s. District Attorney, and the U. s.
Marshal, who all had their commissions
from the President and Commander In
chief Of ali the military forces Of the gov
eminent The writer in his enumeration
Of the labors Of the government, has en-
tirely overlooked one OF the most inn
pOrtant, the Organization Of Criminal
Courti most unlucky thing for some
lawless individuals But even taking the
writer's own statement it is evident
that the lnbors of the government were
far from being unimportant or inmate
rial.
BY virtue OF his military authority he
commissioned and organized loyal Ten
nesaee troops for the defense Of the Gov
eminent Ho rescued from the perils of
starvation near one thousand INDECENT
families, mostly widows and orphans,
by lovying assessments for their supuort
upon the rich, who had beon active sup.
porters Of the rebellion.
He recognized the municipal govern.
ment Of Nashville, which was left with.
OutmayoF, council, or police
he rescued and protected, in many
instances, loyal peoplo from the rapacity
Of lSwless petty military officers.
He labored zealously to induce the
Government 10 build the Kentucky and
East Tennessee railroad, and also tho
Northwestern railroad from Nashville 10
the Tennessee river; two works Of in
OaloulRbls military impoEtanse, as all
intelligent military men now admit.