Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-01

pieces by the green grass which is grow
ing rapidly over them.
The city numbers about 5000 white in
habitants and more than twice as many ne
groes. including those in the suburbs.
More activity is apparent, in proportion to
the population, than in some cities of greater
pretentions. But the march Of Improvement
has scarcely been resumed since the close of
the war. Capitalists have not, as yet, in
vested liberaly in building houses Of charac-
ter. The streets swarm with negroes. The
last colored regiment in the State was mus
tered out here day or two since; most of
them have little money, consequently they
are indulging in a great deal of liberty, and
will not 90 to work freely until the last red
cent is invested in hack-hire red candy and
other substantial Injuries Yesterday l
observed one of them riding in a hack; he
inclined languidly with his feet out at one
window and his head at the other. In his
hand, he held a bottle-possibly brakes
Plantation Bitter" which met his lips af-
fectionately as often as he could get his eyes
open to see that the operation had slackened
Many of the discharged colOred troops, how
ever, are entering into contracts, and if
they fall into good hands under their late
| officers, they may do some good service this
summer though many Of them regard the
tilling of the soil as very vulgar business.
A little more than three years ago | Wis
tied this city, when it was occupied by Gen.
! Pemberton's army, and everything about it
was subservent to military purposes. Mule
beef there stood with CLASSY eyes, looking
| across the ghost of the last staggering
! a a',l,r IL
| bend gittering in the hot sun like some dis
tant village. Gen. Grant had crossed the
| Mississippi below, and without knowing the
critical state of affairs, left the city for my
| own command on the last train that the
| COnfederates ever run out of Nicksburg.
| That afternoon the railroad was tapped and
the seige of Nicksburg began.
Two miles out may be seen the 'Pember-
ton Monument" erected by Federals, on the
| spot where Generals Pemberton and Grant
met to arrange the terms of the surrender.
| The monument is Of marble; it is higher
than mans head and was formerly very
neat, but it has been visited so often by per-
sons who chip off little souvenirs, that it is
| quite defaced, and in a few years, without a
change, it will disappear entirely. This
| city was subjected TO frequent and long
COMMANDMENTS, out com draIlNely llttle utlll-
age was inflicted by this means, and scarce a
mark of the furious Smelling is to be seen.
But the entrances to the bomb-proof laby-
rinths dug out in the hill-sides by the citi-
zens are still to be seen-damp, gloomy and
deserted, like the haunted, sickly caverns
of some exterminated race Could these
crumbling grave-like walls but reflect the
scenes that have transpired within them,
what images of terror, gaunt specters of hun
ger and CHASTITY features of despair would
pass in vivid procession like Macbeth's
vision, before the eyes of the too curious
traveller
While improvements march slowly, ma
ture does much to hide the gaping scars of
war. The hillsides are green as a meadow,
the shrubbery looks fresh, and the shade
trees are luxuriant with foilage-thus form
| ing veil to conceal the evil works of man.