The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-20
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENTS.
Interesting Letter from Nashville.
From a Special Correspondent.

agtg b.. $50 NASHVILLE, Jan. 6, 1865.
TO the Editor Of the Pioneer:
Monday, 26th-Left st. Paul at A. M.
on stage coach. Took breakfast at VIII
loughbys.. A little after dark, reached
Rochester, and slept all night.
Tuesday, 27-Of at 6 A. M. by rail, for
Winona, about ten left there on runners.
One team took us to La Crosse, forty
miles, in three hours and forty minutes.
Spent the afternoon at the hotel; at night
got started for Milwaukee. Had a good
sleeping car. Got to Milwaukee just ten
minutes too late for the Chicago train.
It would have waited, if it had heard us;
but we had not steam enough to whistle.
Spent Wednesday in Milwaukee, and
found cousin from the South, of my own
name, who had been forced into the rebel
army-fought through the Seven Days
battles before Richmond, and Gettysburg,
and then escaped, and joined the Federal
army. He says half the rebel army
would do the same, if they had the oppor-
tunity. ''
Reached Chicago late in the evening,
and spent twenty-four hours there, ar
ranging matters connected with my mis-
sion. H... 0.
: Thursday evening got started for Louis
vile, and took twenty-four hours to get
through. Went to the National; found
it greatly run down; but had to re-
main there until Wednesday morning.
After the fashion of Southern hetels,
it had beds for half dozen people in each
room. So, had, all the time, two, three,
or four drunken room mates. The last
night, after retiring, found matters in
tolerable, and had to escape and get an
other room. All my chums were most
respectable, but were having New Years
frolic. Saturday, Monday and Tuesday,
went through all the hospitals at Louisville,
New Albany and Jacksonville. Found
seventy sick and wounded boys from Min
nesota. Wednesday, at five A. NJ, got off
for Nashville. Through all the country
along this road, we see little but the DESC
lations of war. Reached Nashville about
dark, went to the st. Cloud. Got supper;
but could get no room, for Glove or
money" Got sleeping place in the
"Sanitary Commission house. Hotels
charge $l.25 meal, and the same per day
for room,-making five dollars per day;
and will take no less if you take the room
for month. Wood is SIS per cord.
Thursday merning got to work, looking
for our Minnesota wounded. This even
ing, friday have finished with Hospital
No. IA. Many of our poor boys are mi
nus arms and legs; but their great victory
has seemed to make them oblivious to
their sufferings. a jollier set of men /
have seldom seen. On all sides, l hear
the praises of Minnesota valor. No troops
behaved better than did ours. So all tell
me. Many of our wounded men have
gone to Louisville since l left there. I
hope to see them on my return. After
getting through here, I shall go to Frank
lin and Murfreesboro.
Our Nashville victories have been even
finer than we had heard. Now, for the
first time, the "secesh" here admit that
all is lost. Many young men, before the
battle, sent word to their friends that they
would spend the Christmas holidays at
home, among their loved ones, whom they
had not seen since Buell. first entered the
city. Alas fer their hopes and promises
It has been sad Christmas for Hood and
his army. 80
The weather isintolerable. Last Friday
and Saturday nights / almost froze in
Louisville. Monday and Tuesday it was
all slush, and since then we have incessant
rain-rain-rain. Over-shoes are all
thrown aside, and we just plunge into the
mud, trusting that good Providence will
reveal bottom in due time.
Nashville shows as much of the foot
prints of war as any city which has not
been bombarded. Nearly all her splendid
mansions, churches, schools and colleges,
are now hospitals. More than 10000
beds are now spread, and large part of
them are occupied. The number
of rebel wounded is immense
into thousands. The Howard High School,
and the immense gun factory built by the
rebels at the commencement of the war,
are both occupied as prison hospitals, and
the prisoners are treated just as our own
wounded. sod.
A convention Of the State is to meet
here next week, and the opinion prevails
that measures will be taken to make Ten.
nessee a non-slaveholding State. We shall
see.
Hoping to see you soon, will close
8. Y. NJ.
Z P.S. It is now showing at the rate of
an inch to the hour, and will probably be |
a foot deep by Tomorrow morning. Then
a flood!