Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-23
Knoxville, Saturday, April 23, 1854.
For the Knoxville Wing.
Random Thoughts on a Trip North.


For the Knoxville Whig.
Random Thoughts on a Trip North.
Doctor ". G. Brole,iop;
SIR set out from home March l4th for San
dusky City, via Washington City on Lake Eric, TO
have son released from Johnsons Island, Ohio
From Loudon TO Chattanooga took passage in
crowded box car from thence We left in the night
for Nashvillc-had daylight from Stevenson 10
Nashvillc-mct fifteen or twenty large trains crowd
ed with returning veterans, largely recruited, to
their commands.
To Chattanooga, after we passed the Tunnel
looking in the direction Of the Tennessee river YOU
scan the Mission Ridge in circular belt until it
intcrsccts the irowning heights of Lookout Noun
tain, where daring deeds unparalleled in history
ancient ormodcrn, were performed. A braveamy
ascending the urrctted heights amidst the sulphur
ous stream agd thundcrbolts of death like falling
hail scaled the topmost peak and like the mountain
avalanche, drove the enemy from their strongholds
10 tho base.
"Ah few shall part whore many met,
The earth beneath their feet
Shall be their sepulchre'
Looking back again the ridge, saw the re-
mains of the encmys for,ihcatons, extending dis
tancc of some or eight miles, on top Of the
ridge, from which they were driven by the impet-
uosty of the charge of our men, passing BRACES
ThermopylH, and driving tho discom1tcd enemy
like chafr before the storm. The bloody battles Of
Marcngo Lodi Bridge and Waterloo are only pan
oramic views of more grand terrible, sauguinory
and decisive victory to the United States arms
%. u,.-..- ~ ~. .'.-.., ''....,"'..
"Onward forward yc braves
Rush TO glory or the cr.ve;
Wave IGnbccs all your banners wave,
And charge with all your chivalry'
Passing from the Cumberland Mountains TO
Nashville You can readily behold the dcsolation of
war in many placcs-upon farms, towns and viii
lages particularly around Murfrccsborough. Nash
willie shows the effects plainly; buildings occupied
by the military now with Government stores before
tho war were filled with merchandise and thrift
the tccming population moving on with enterprisng
strides to wealth-but now moullcring back into
the slough and vortex of fratricidal revolution
saw many strange faces at the Capital city Of
Tennessee showing new population, filling tho
homes of many who left their homes and joined the
rebellion.
Left Nashville arrived at Louisville Kentucky,
where arricd but short time. Took the steamer
"Gcncral Buell." at II o'clock for Cincinnati, mag
nifccnt boat, with good accommotions; awokc next
morning at the "Quccn City by rap at the door
to clear the deck for hotel,
When l stepped terra firma and passed
through the city, contemplated the contrast be-
I
dcsolation and starvation Were frownng upon us
and impclling many, from pcnury and want, to
leave their once happy homes with their little ones
TO cast their bark ont at sea TO be dr)cd upon some
hospitable shore. The contrast, ] repeat | saw a
happy people pushing ahead in prosperity and
wealth. people who know no war, nor the horrors
thereof whose ears have not been saluted with the
hoarse roar Of cannon, the rattle of muskctrv. and
the buglc blast in deadly s,rifc-but people from
the opulcnt merchant embracing all classes down to
the street pcllar en- cavornS to outstrp each other
in sccumulatng the "Not Of all evil
When Ipasscd Louisville, Kcntucky. | considered
! myself in the United States proper. No military
passes were required 10 take you cn-ouy the re.
Yuis,c number of grrenbacks.
left in the evening for Washington city in COM
rany with Colonel JomN NErprRLASp who was
scourning in the city refugee from upper East
Tennessee, whose home still undor the juri>dic-
4 ton Of LoSGsrREEr. Passing from here through
cities and towns filed with wealth and vast ropu-
/ laton, with their diversified interests, pushing
ahead like rolling tide. They seldom speak df
the war; and any apparent decrease of their ropun-
iion is not pcrccptible to who travels. from the
dcpopulatcd counties of East Tennessee. Every
city, town, village. hamlet farmhouse shop thor
oughfarc and street are blocked up with moving
masses of human being, striving to get out of each
others way.
We arrived at Washington city on Monday and
took lodgings at the st Charles found the city full
k-Pcnnsylvania Avenue crowded with pedestrian,
going to and fro Next morning found snow had
fallen eleven inches deep, and by evening had went
of in slush. The sun shone forth bright warm
and unclouded through the day disappointing many
of pleasant ride, from the number of slsighs that
appeared on the Avenue s
There were several distinguished arrivals next
day, among them General GRANT, who was in con-
sultation at the War Department several days. lie
had visited the Army Of the Potomac and returned
No the city and left again for the army. Outsiders
say GRANTS programme is to take Richmond next
Ills prestige has been success; he will do II when
he moves forward with that view.
Afler remaining five days, i accomplished my
business with the War Department through the
ind assistance of Judge ". KELLY, member Of
Congress from the city Of Philadelphia, and d. G.
DRrn, Of Indiana in having my son released. To
ill uP the vacuum while in Washington, went V !