The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-09-20

unless we save them from doom terrible
beyond expression.
-.----si----
Railroad uiiitnTy Communication
in Tennossoe-EoFtbV Vos,orn stond
from Nashville tO Hickman, Ky
Nashville ard hotiaHaoga hsOnd
Fast TcnIess nnd Kentucky
Road.
A brief outline of the different lines
of railroad travel ia Tennessee, forming
the various connecting links between the
railroad and river lines Of communication
in other States, will, we trust, possess
no little interest at this stage of military
affairs for the public both in Tennessee
and elsewhere. la this article we shall
speak not only Of those railroads which
are already in operation, but also of those
which are in process Of construction for
military purposes, and whose early com
pletion may be expected. The first we
shall mention ia the Northwestern rail-
road, extending from Nashville TO the
town of Hickman, KY on the Mississippi,
a distance of some $50 miles This road
10 not completed. Twenty eight miles
on the Nashvill, end, extending four
miles beyond Kingston Springs in Dick
son county, are built; from that point TO
Waverly, the county seat of Humphreys,
q distance of forty miles, the road is
graded with the exception of eight
miles and from Waverly to Reynoldsburg
on the Tennessee River, a distance
of six miles the track is complete
The stone for the piers and abutments of
the bridge over Tennessee River is ready
TO be put up by the mason. From Rey-
noldsburg TO Hickman, a distance of
seventy Eve miles, the road is all graded,
and forty miles of this distance are COM
pleted and in running order, from Hick-
man towards Reynoldsburg, leaving a
distance of thirty. five miles of tract to
be laid. Thus il is seen that there are
now seventy four miles of conn leted,
and seventy five uncompleted road, all
but eight miles of which is graded, be-
tween Nashville and Hickman The
compile ton Of this road will give Nash
Vile immediate connection with the Mis-
sissippi at two points, Hickman and
Memphis, il intorsccting the Memphis,
GAINESVILLE and Louisville road twenty
five miles west of WaYerly. The great
advantage OF the Noi tn western Rail-
road will be, that il will place Nashville
by only seventy five miles of railroad in
connection with the Tennessee River, at
point where there is five feet of water
at all seasons OF the year, affording easy
navigation for freight and gun boats.
This road will be easily guarded from
guerrilla raids, not only only on account of
its shortness, but also from the fact that
it has but five bridges, all on Harpeth
River, sll short and easy to be kept in
repair or rebuilt. This is a matter of
very great Importance. No accident to
these bridges could delay transportation
over forty-eight hours. The cost of
completing this road will be less than
$4,000. d force OF 400 1aJoyers can COM
p5ete Tie road ,0itlin forty days, and put us
IN immediate communication s0ih Memphis
and Vest Tennessee, a matter of very great
Importance, whether considered in con-
neclion with army operations, or with
the reorganization of civil authority in
this State, This road completed will
bring us within twelve hours travel of
Cairo, Paduoah, Hickman, Jackson in
West Tennessee, Corinth and Holly
Springs, Miss, and Memphis. The ne
gro laborers necessary for the work can
easily be obtained. We may also state
that this road will pass through conn
try which was decidedly disloyal, and
where our troops have not been able TO
operate on account Of the difficulty of
obtaining supplies. The opening of this
country by the road will bring il imme-
diately under the strong arm of Federal
authority. SO deep an interest has be, n
felt in the construction of this road that
many have offered their negroes as labor
ers upon it.
The next road ON our list is the Nash
willie and Chattanooga railroad, memoir
able throughout the land in the history
of the rebellion in Tennessee and the
southwest. Buell. and Rosecrans have
hurried their immortal legions along its
line. Albert Sidney Johnston, and
Bragg, have also carried the hosts of re-
bellion upon its track. It's cars have
borne tho victOrs and the vanquished, the
wounded, the dying aud the dead.
What a theme, what thrilling incidents
are connected with it's serpentine trains,
its many bridges and tressels and deep
cuts, aud stookades, and entrenched
hills the precepitate flight Of the rebels
and the advancing banners of the Union!
But we have neither space nor time
to make more than passing allusion to
these things All We have to state now
is the prosaicl fact, that this road was
built at first with the old u rail, and
has been used SO much that il is in
great need Of repair, of reconstruction as
! the politicians would cav