New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-06
WHAT | SAW IN TENNESSEE"1. |.
BY EDMUND K1RKE,
Author Of Among the Pinss"


,aa made our prisoners within sight of their homes
lad me- early in the past month, TO visit the South
vest While there came in contact with many intel
hcent men, os shades otpoiltieai opinion aid from
,bsm gathered much that is indicative OF the true
,,ae OF Southern feeling, snd illustrative OF the real
rurpos,s Of the leaders of the Rebellion lnthe nope
rat what saw and heard may not be without
hteres 70 those who have not had the opporlu'
nifty Of Iersonsl observation, l propose to give in
this AID subsequent articles, some sketches OF the
men I met, and the scenes witnessed, during
months soiourn in section which is being up
besvec by tie passions and desolated by the fires OF
our civil war.
Isrrved at Louisville on the morning Of the frst
Friday in May, and as soon as possible, sought ont
Col Mundy, the g,Dtlemany conmandant OF that
post. TO ascertain the wheIeabouts Of my captive
friends He could give me no definite information,
but presumed they were still at Nashville. Glow
ever, he said, prisoners are not kept there long.
They sre forwarded to Vicksburg for exchange as
rnpidy as possible. lfyou desire to see them, You
bad better push on at once"
This pat NE in a quardary. The railroad below
Bowling Green wss infested with guerrilas, who, on
several recent occesions had assailed tie trains, and
robbed and maltreatei passengers. The cars
weIe usuiGeently guarded, and travelling WAS there
fore attended with considerable personal hazard.
In these circumstances lad gladly listened to the
suggestion Of Parson Brownlow-whom i had
mel at Cinciunati-to lie over st Louisville
snd accompany him and Gov. johnson 10
Nashville. They would be attended by q guard
sr.ng enough to beat of any rowing band that ven
tur.d 10 attack the train; but would, perhaps,
l.. T., a.
MOI friends mi eht be sent to " parts unknown" II
waited, therefore, was likely to miss one Of tie
man objects of my journey, and II l went forward
ra the risk Of getting bullet under my waistcoat,
OF ,uch an " inside view Of Rebeldom as would not
besgreesble. Either horn Of the dilemma was OBJ
iecionable. While uncertain which one TO choose,
th, small clock in the Office Of the Louisville Hotel
sounded twice, and ! walked up to the dining.
room.
On nv night at the table sat tall, squarely
bu1 man, wearing the uniform Of Lieutenant
eolne Of infantry. He had broad, open, resolute
fsr-ridged and sun-browned and q siif, military
Nj, but there was something about him that seemed
10 invite conversation. After while said TO him:
You are travelling, Sri"
Yes, Sir, l am returning to my regiment at
Trnne."
'Is it entirely safe going down the Nashville
rosll"
Not entirely so. When / came up week ago
Gaday, we were fired into by band Of forty-eigbt,
bu we beat them of.
What were the circumstances 7"
1T occurred Just this side Of Franklin. We
herd there Of party being in the vicinity, and
tok tie precaution 10 take on bospb squad Of
thirty men. We had gone on about three miles
wen the engineer discovered the track torn up, at
s'lace where a woods lines the road, and at once
reversed the engine. The guerTillas were posted
bbind the trees cut OF sight, but as the train
hlted, right abreast of them, they fired yolley
ito us, and yelling ike devils, made rush for the
cars. i got this in readiness taking from his belt
slarge army repeater, and tapping it rather ahec-
tonstely-" the moment l heard the train Stacking
~ and when the leader came within fifteen fee. Of
.he platform fired through the window and killed
hin. Ny second shot brought the next devil to his
krees. and made the rest halt for an instant. 10
that instant the soldiers in the forward car, who had
waited 70 cap their muskets, gave them a volley,
and they skedsddled, leaving four dead and three
wounded on the ground. We had On board three
p,ymasiers with over 100000 in money, and the
fGlows might have made a rich haul
"And they would have done so but for urprompt
slots giving the soldiers time TO fire. You saved
tie train !"
"No Sir" replied the Colonel, pleasantly,
All not staT displessed with my compliment the
General saved it,"
How sol Was Rosecrans on board d"
mo- but little time ago be ordered all officers
b wear sidesrrns when of duty. But for that my
ris,ol would have teen in my valise for it's nui-
rnce to carry ten Iounds Of iron all the while
dangling at your side. The General foresaw just
such enereencier. lie thinks Of everything, Sir.
reckon lie never sleeps"
"I suppose be Is d yigilant officer"
"Yes, Sir; 1 was all through the Mexican war,
and have seen something Of Generals. ROsecrans
il the ables: ever knew"
" lie certainly is successful"
"Yes, Sir, always never was defeated, and
never will be. He planned and won McClelan's
battles in Western virginia. did the for Grant
In Mississippi, and at Stone River-why, Sir, when
We we're thoroughly whipped, and every man in
the army knew it, he, singy, regained the battle.
There is not another man living who could have
done it,"
This was taid with enthusiasm that provoked
smile, but quietly remarked: 81 am glad to
bear such an account Of him. intend TO vist him,
and am undecided whether 10 go down at once,
Or 10 wait til the Governor arrives, and take ad.
vantage Of his escort"
"You'li be ssfsr TO 90 aloue. The Governor
will lie over here day or two, and as this place
is full Of Rebels every guerrilla in Tennessee will
know when he starts. II they can muster strong
enough they'll surely attack him. 1 go down by