The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-05-09
Army Correspondence.
Fr. MORTON, Near Nashville, Tenn.
Anril 2Sth 1864.

April 2Sth, 1868.
To tic Free Trader In my last in
+ formed you that we had been out nearly
all night in line of battle, for the purpose
Of giving Gen. Van Dorm a welcome recep'
tiou should he feel disposed to pay us a
visit, but that he had treated our liberal
preparations with contempt, leaving us
out in the cold for nothing. Since then
We have been enjoying a little more sleep,
although we are called up every morning
at o'clock and kept in line nnder arms
until daylight Gen. Mitchell is deter
mined not to be surprised notwithstand-
ing all fears Of our attack on this city
have been abandoned. The cause of all
this has grown cut of dash made by q
band of guerillas upon ono Of our outer
picket posts last Sunday night. They
fred a few shots in the dark at our pick.
cts, and then left Fortunately no one
was hurt.
Since thon we have had various re-
ports of rebel movements, the last Of
which is that force OF 10000 is but %
miles from US, and that We will be attack
ei in the course of tLt week. This of
course is nothing but rumor. Any Sea :
sopable man knows that no such force
could approach this city SO near without
creating a general excitement ia all the
departments here.
i also promised to give you description
of Fort Nesley. But as a detailed ac-
count of this splendid work would be
contrabano, ! can only give it passing
notice This Fort is situated upon the
summit of a round hill los feet high, di-
rec,lv east of TT. Morton, and is designed
for "a guns, IL Of which are casemated.
This work is nearly completed, and IS re-
gar,ied AS one of the most perfect pieces
of defensive architecture in the country.
1t commands every approach to the city.
Immediately south of this fort, is Fort
Coutiscation, which is At present nothing
more than stockade, and serves as q
mask to Forts Morton and Negley. There
are four other Notifications under progress
a, different points around the city, be-
sides the magnificent works on Capitol
Hill and miles Of rifle pits and ehtrench-
men,s on every available point Ia the vi
cinitv Of the city With all these defen-
ces, Nashville is regarded as Imprecnable
On Tuesday last Gen. Mitchell raised a
breeze amen. the loaicrs, vagrants, secesh,
and negroes in the city. lie had every
nersc n arrested who was found Idle in the
city without permit or pass from the
! nrooer authorities Seyerl.! hundred were
arrested and confined in the public square
until next morning, when they were put
,o work on the fortifications. The va
grant negro women and children ana cTip
ples are confined in buildings There are
a al. ,..I f,y
the government. and the authorities are
not A little perpiexed as to what to DO with
them They are mostly the useless stock
of rebels who have taken the more valu-
nblc portion of their slaves south with
them, and left the useless trash behind,
10 the kind protection OF what they call,
their abolition invaders.
Gen Rosencraus has new subsistence
enough here 10 supply his entire army
months. and boats aud trains are arriving
daily with more. 1t is his design 10 have
d one wears provisions on hand, SO that
n should he be obi sed to withdraw his pro
r. lection from the railroad and rive:, he
ee will not suffer from any interruption Of
j his communication with HE north
Verv important movements are now
!. ,ak.n: place in front, and big things may
lie locked for in a short time All that
relates to the moyern, nts of the arm,
d however. is contraband, and cannot there
fore be made the subject matter OF a letter
I. for the publc press. The whole army OF
the Cumberland is in splendid condition
tn..ersaly healthy and in eAceilen
spirits.
The people OF this state are about a.
xpxiols to have the question decided a
y to who shall hold control of the destinie'
e of the Stat.-ths Union forces or those o
the confederates, by \ general engage
:. ment, as the people of the ncrth are
:. Tennessee, really. never was in favor o
D di.uniou At their election two years aGt
!. last winter, it will be remembered sh'
h cave = majority Of nearly 10000 agains
!. secession. This was genuine expression
OF the popular feeling. Subsequent event
r. however, so radically changed the aspec
e of national affairs, that in the June cleo
ton following, the majority in favor o
!, secession MAS fully up TO that against |
at the previous onc. lhis change IN th'
vote was brought about ty tho sudt!en Sc
= cession Of all the cotton states, followed
up by the commencement OF hostiiiues a
- Ft. Sump:er, the calling out BY the pres
dent, ef q large army TO invade the South
H. the cry OF coercion, &c. Tennessee VA:
of course, hostile to the radica! doctrine
held by the Republicans on the SLAYER
l" question, during the last presidential can
paisn. Her people regarded Mr.. Lincoi
as the very embodiment OF the vilcst form
of aboII,iouism and being goaded and vii
nE Lied by tho northern press, were IN a poo
al condition TO make an unbiased choice, a
n, 10 which side they should link their dc:
n tiny with Their political synpath!e
:" and prcjudices We're all with their south
e,n brethren and against the north
u II. Ia. oh
4! In the south they saw friends with cor
genial feelings aud thoughts and commo
interests and institutions. In the mort
all seemed enemies, discor,lant feeling:
adverse interests and conflicting institt
tion.. The ablsst orators oithe south wen
in % the state, who haransued the peopi
from every stump, dilatmg u.'on thes
ditierencen between the two sections, un
til an intense state of public feeling ha
been wrought up, and in the height OF tn
excitement the election WAS held, and
have already stated the result. 1t wa
not a hatred of the Union by the masses
which brought about this change. 1t wa
a dislike to abolitonism, and the otht
causes above given. have no doubt tn;
n large majority OF the people Of this stat
always have been and still would be fl
yerable to restoration of the Union O
its old and constitutional basis; ana cou'
they be made to believe, that all tn
on rights and privileges TO which they wei
entitled nader the constitution OF IN
United States, previous to secession, wo
De restored to :hem, and that their sta
could be held by the Federal army again
that of the rebels, Tennessee would abaI
don the southern cause, and at once jo
ro us in fighting the battles of the Union
But they are still afraid-lst That r
:. unicn with the north will be a degratllr
aud unhappy one; and I'd, should tht