Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-09-06
VOLUME XXXIII.


But lingering in the rear, he waited impa
tieutly for the gallantry Of others to ope
Hp the way and make easy his return 10 hi
family. Finally the long-promised relic
came Gen. BURNSIDE, with his gallan
army, occupied Knoxville, and held al
central East Tennessee.
Peace and general rejoicing pervaded tn
country; confidence returned and the pe0pl
began 10 settle down in the conviction tina
| the evils OF war had passed over them
About this time Mr. FLETCHER returned
| Then, as now, he was efervescing with 10y
| atty; overlooking with loyalty; saturate'
with loyalty; furious With loyalty; almos
| bursting with loyalty; and threatening with
words Of direful import, unsparing retalia
ton and vengeance upon the rebel nIis;re
ants who had dared TO raise their impioui
hands against the Government Of oul
Fathers" But how unreliable are the cal
culations Of the most sagacions men. In a
few weeks, LoNGsTREET's rebel forces were
moving upon Knoxville. /, with others
began to take counsel Of friends, as to the
probability Of his capturing the city.
In this consultation, rude and hasty opin.
ions were expressed, doubts suggested, and
vague apprehensions intimated, until II was
finally agreed that it would be advisable for
a few Of the most valuable citizens Of the
place, who were known TO be very obnoxious
10 the rebels, and whose future services, cOl1l-
ell and aduice could not be dispensed nth by tht
Federal Gopanmeat. 20 leave for Kentucky
and give the defense Of the city over to the
soldiery; and in accordance with this deter
mination, hasty preparations were made, and
at 10 o'clock at night, when LONGsTREET's
force was twenty-three miles distant, and in
contempt Of Undesirable darkness, and a
constant but gentle rain, on the l4th Of No
vember, 1868, in company Of some dozen
other Distinguished men, including Governor
BROwNLow, Col. NETHERLAND, Chancellor
TEMPLE, Mr.. FLEMING, and others, | began
a very rapid movement upon BarbourvIlle,
Ky. When two miles from town some one
reported the tramp Of soldiery in front. Who
could il be? was the anxious inquiry on all
sides. Were they friends or enemies2 How
could this fact be safely ascertained? eau
tiously we approached the spot from which
had proceeded the noise, and who, fellow
citizens, do YOU suppose we found there?
None other than our gallant cOuntryman,
Mr. FLETCHER, and the Honorable Judge
HALL, trudging along on foot through mud
several inches deep brayely making their
way to Kentucky, the land of peace-M eca
Of the intimidated, as well as the oppressed
Unionists Of East Tennessee. It's said that
misery loves company, and ] confess that
! felt gratifed to have the propriety
Of my fight vindicated by the concur
rent action of so brave man as Mr..
FLETCHER is known to be. But let this
suffice. We made our exit and return in
T. r-v,rtrrrrr boxuavar mora xpiua
than others Of ,our party, at once took steps
10 prevent the recurrence Of similar neces-
sity; and gathering his wife and little ones
around him, hied away to Paducah, Ky.
Here he hoped to rest his wearied self in
peace, but again he was doomed to disap-
pointment. FORREST, that pestiierous, ire
pressible rebel, going at times where he was
not wanted, and then again suddenly show
ing himself where he was least expected,
appeared before Paducah, and without eeremo-
ny fired into the town, awakening atresh the
indignation and resentment Of this mighty
man of ar-FIdTCHER-an afording him
an opportunity to satisfy his long pent up
revenge. OH how he swelled with indig-
nation and loyalty, and vowed vengeance
upon the arrogant minions of the traitor,
JEFF. DAvIsl
But unlike most other men, poor FLETCH-
Err labors under a physical infirmity for
which he Is not accountable, and he-should
not be held responsible for any derelection
Of duty arising from this defect. 1t is known
that he has a brave heart, for he has assert
ed this faction many occasions; that he pos
sesses a courage that knows no fear; but it
is also known that his legs, like the hated
" secesh," at times do rebel against his will;
do refuse to keep faith, and occasionally do
propel him in direction contrary to that
and so it was in this instance; he
was anxious to fight; hungry for blood
burning for revenge; but his rascally legs,
perhaps in sympathy with the rebel cause,
precipitately hurried him to the Ohio river,
forced him, against his viii, upon boat
which carried him to Evansville, Indiana,
md there out of harms way, undisturbed by
he fear of rebel raids he reposed in peace
until after the surrender of the rebel army,
md from all that can learn it is probable
hat he would not again have assumed the
against the rebels had it not been
or the objectionable indiscretion of Gems.
GRANT and SHERMAN, in conceding such
liberal terms to a fallen foe.
The terms Of capitulation, in the jugd-
nent of Mr.. FLETCHER, were exceedingly
Objectionable. The idea that any rebel
ihould be permitted 10 live after the sur
-ender, fired his pure soul with patriotic
aud he manfully resolved that |
his foul stain should be erased from the es-
,utcheon of his country, and when the Pres
dent and Gems. SHERMAN and GRANT with |
lrew from the field, he enlisted in the fight, |
ind with unfaltering courage he is now |
attempting TO gather the spoils Of victory |
abandoned by the brave conquerors. With |
subserviency he hangs around |
.he foOtstOOl Of accidental power shat |
.hrift may follow iawning," ard by the ex-
lcti0n Of illegal fees, in an Office which he |
IS unworthy Of holding, he is growing rich |
It the expense Of an impoverished and |
bleeding country. Civil war, as usual, has |
,ast a great deal CT scum to the surface, and |
pesoe and returning reason will inevitably |
lurl him from power.
Who will, in view Of these facts, complain |
It his continuing to throw every obstacle he |
an in the way Of peaceable and honora- !
lie adjustment of the troubles Of the coun- |
ny, when his only capital is agitation, law
essness and strife. Peace TO his insignif- |
.ance. He is powerless 10 do harm, so | |
viii not pursue him further. II was in this |
train | spoke Of Mr.. FLETCHER at Green |
lille, to his immediate neighbors-to those |
Who knew hiT best, and who cordially in |
lorsed everything there said and now re |
.firmed. Hence notwithstanding he re- |
emily remained several days in Greenviile, |
where the attack was made, he attempted |
10 reply. Il was with YOU who are not so |
with his antecedents, that he APP /
'eared few days afterwards to make his
indication.
This DEFENSE, as he Is pleased TO call il, has |
'ery little defense in it, His own report Of |
lis speech, as published in the Nashville |
Press Gad Times Of the oath of August, /
hows that after coniessing the most materi-
i charge preferred against him, 20 wit: that
he had proposed 10 raise a regiment, and 4
making lame effort 20 avoid the damaging /
fleet Of his admission, he made bold dash
o divert attention from himself and turn /
{ upon me. This is all very well in des.
,eraie case, bat before proceed 10 my own
leiense, l beg TO remind you that this was
iot the issue which be had originally pre-
ented. had, AZ no time, put forth any /
Exclusive claim to loyalty. II is true | |
laimed 10 be loyal 10 the Constitution and /
Government Of the United States, but con-
eeded that there were others equally a. 10y
j as myself. Il is Mr. FLETCHER who
laims to be more loyal and better than
lther people, and in order 10 show the pnri-
y Of his LOYALTY over all others he denounc-
Il President JOHNSON as a traitor. The
ssue, therefore. as originally presented, in
-nlvge the reiufiva morris ~ the Hon Mr.