Tri-weekly union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-186?, 1866-09-29
"REMINISCENCES OF AN Ex-CONFED.
ERATE.

Correspondence Union and American
BELFAST, Tenn, Sept. %, 1S66.-Prob-
ably it was well, while extending the hand
of forgiveness, if the mind could relapse into
forgelfulness Would that the dark stains
Of the past had been erased by the crimean
tide which flowed from valiant hearts on SO
many hundred battle-feldsl If the fabled
waters of Iethe ever were desirable, now
certainly is the time to quaff deep-not that
we would forget the past-only that, recol-
lection stands frowning in our pathway to
restoration and reconciliation, and besides
the Office of fond memory in our case, can
but cast solemn gloom over our lives. But
since memory is not wholly subject to the
will, we turn to the days when the "con-
quered banner" waved proudly to the stir
ring winds, or hung listlessly from the staff
amid the sulphury breeze of battle.
Many of the Rock City Guards will re-
member this month five years ago. Then
for the first time we entered the list-then
we first heard hostile cannon, and saw the
CLEAN of unfriendly bayonets. They cannot
have forgotten the march through those
chilling rains and abrupt precipiees
around Huttonville, with Cheat Pass
sombre and spectre-like in the dis
tance. There, also, for the first time
that warrior prince, Gen. LEE, came
under the observation of our troop. Com
manding, dignifed, courteous even to his
couriers he looked the man that '.was born
to rule" Possibly, in the stirring scenes of
Northern Virginia, Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania, he has forgotten that wet dreary
mountain bivOuac, when lying on his blan-
ket, and his blanket on the ground, unat-
tended save by few troopers and part of
his staff, he cheerfully accepted a cup of
coffee from poor soldier. That soldier re-
members with pride the event. Fast by the
side of the peerless LEE, on this occasion,
was the ill-starred Col. WASHINGTON. On
the evening of the day in question Col. JNo.
A. WASHINGTON, attended by Major LEE,
(since then Major General LEE, of the cav
alry,) passed by the mounted yidette, going
in the direction of the fortihcatiOn at
CRoUCH's. They were warned of the prox-
unity of the foe, yet pushed forward at a
brisk canter. Scarcely had they gone half
a mile when the sharp crack of small arms
was heard, and soon after Major LEE, with
two or three orderlies returned, but Colonel
WASHINGTON had fallen, pierced by three
balls. As a soldier he had a fine
appearance and had he lived would,
doubtless, have made his mark in the
field then but just opening to view. A
recollection of this campaign also suggests
the names of Gen. ROBERT HATToN ard
Col. FORBES. My first and only acquaint-
ance with Col. FORBES was at BRADY's Gate.
Rations were very scarce. The troops had
been for twenty-four hours without any food.
This citizen-looking Colonel gave his last
ounce of provisions to cur men. This one
act has endeared the name 10 me, and il
was with profound sorrow that heard that
he fell gloriousiy at second Manassas. The
name Of HATToN is too well known to need
mention in Tennessee. Reverently we un-
covered, while standing by his grave few
months later, in the cemetery at Knoxville.
The flower-wreath laid upon his fresh made
grave had faded, but the name of HATToN
will be fadeless in our hearts and annals.
On the march from MARTINS Bottom to
SEwELL Mountain, have seen Colonel
HATToN marching in the ranks over barely
passable roads, while his favorite little
"black" was carrying some faint and
weary sick soldier. Is it strange that he
was the idol of his men? Will men do
less valiant service under such leader
Seven Pines saw no more glorious death
than his; Tennessee lost no braver or better
son; Virginia soil drank not a better
patriots blood. VIRGINIUs.