Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-01-12

a dozen eouriers. Presently Gen. FloyC
came gallopiug down Church street witt
his staff. The men were called out NHc
formed into line, and we were told " llo'
to be afraid.n The number could hardly
have exceeded fifteen hundred; some
were sick OF wounded, and half az least
were armed with nothing but revolvers
We stood nearly an hour waiting an at
tack, while Gen. Floyd went to see
about il. and were finally returned to the
cars and informed that it was a false
alarm"
on the Highway.
II was now wearing towards three
o'clock in the afternoon. The wind
/ lulled; the clouds disappeared the sun
streamed out; but the chance OF exit by
rail- seemed further eff than ever. II
must be owned, too, that the thought Of
| another impromptu line Of battle, and q
/ descent Of the enemy, to an honest,
I civil spoken and unarmed gentleman,
/ brought no very pleasing antici-
l patiOns or emotions. Visions Of
| pedestrianism arose bedTe me. Why
could ! not walk tO Mu-resbOrO2 The
distance but thirty miles, the turnpike
open before me, the weather mild and
clear, where WAS the risk ? The longer I
revolved the fancy IN my mind, the
more real and attractive It became, and
before my resolution was complete ]
found myself slipping across the country
Ike young antelope. ! was 50 pleased
with the situation and the prospeat, and
withai exhilerated by the balmy air and
sunshine, that after walking a mile / sat
down on a knoll overlooking the city,
ard opened my pac6e. Of lunch, which I
imagined. ia a sentimental sort Of way,
must still be wet with the tears Of the
damsel who had prepared n. 7 ate the
ieliied biscuit however, with good rel
ish, and enjoyed The panorama which
lay st nay feet There was the deserted
capitol The emblem Of surrender
hung In languid folds from Its flag
staff. There wound the Cumberland
among darkening hills, going, as
IL seemed 10 hasten the coming Of
the gunboats. The broken columns
of the old bridge shOne a. ancient towers, !
and the jail looked over the current like I
q fortress, its gray walls messed with |
time and pierced by port holes. I believe /
there was q pOntO0u still linking the op-
posite shores, and two or three dingy {
steamers lay at the upper wharf. The |
spires tWinkled in the sun In a very quiet I
and unconscious manner: the forests In 4
the distance stood round almost spec I
trally, melting into the haze ike retreat (
ing sentries, with
-Old roads winding. as old roads win.
Here 70 a ferry and there TO a mIlI.'
Nashville was girdled by trees then,
and there were no f0rtifcations more i'm /
posing than the rude earthwOrks below
The city. These had been dismantled the
lay before. The only troops remaining
1n duty was the cavalry, and this in de-
-ached fragments. In the envirOns n
ew camps still Indicated the presence OF
Orce, but Sidney Johnston, with the
main body Of the army, was already
n bivOUac around 1Iurfreesboro. The
Gene was suggestive as well as pictu-
esqUe, and very naturally threw me
nJo 4 brown study, Is l sat there and
,azed upon il, and gloOmily promised
hat II was FOR the last time. The lunch
Fas gone snd I had little to OCCUPY me
Jut my thoughts and, despite the SEN
ati0ns Of one who finds himself Upon
he free highway and under the blue
-ELlt, with a haverssck and blanket on
.is back, and nothing but the open
ountTy before him, all Of which l
dmit in literary and romantic point
I view 20 be pleasing and inspiring. I
egln 10 have my doubts about the tramp |
nd TO consider the question Of entering
n adjacent heldRnd pressing" a horse.
{ was desperate eXpedient, however,
nd hardly justified, I thought, by nv
ppearance. Moreover, the only weapon
bout mewas 9 small pocket pistol, which
-0uid not 60 of unless = match was ap- n
lied 20 II, and l abandoned the idea Of
aS0It TO force Is imPrscticable.
IN the Saddle.
Suddenly the clatter Of hoofs uron the
snH-aNa fTs,.N
ing white line Of highway, which had
lready began TO assume formidable es-
mate in my mind, and turned in time {
) see the head Of 3 column Of cavalry 7
loving up the hill. As It approached I
0served several empty saddles. The
iggeston was too decisive to admit Of
UestiOn. l ran at once to the roadside, :
licked cut the choice Of the odd horses !
S ran, and asked permission to mount,
here was no objection, and q moment
lore saw me transformed oy magic. as (
were, from an humble pedestrian to an
ymed cavalier, for a sa5er hung by the
iddle strings, and the holsters contained
pair Of Colts navy pistols. I was
fraid 70 inquire too particularly about
~ predecessor, but ( learned from NV
ouble, who proved 70 be a good natured
Orth Alabamian, that / wss with Capt.
.am0rick's : company, Of FORESTS squad
N, just out Of Fort Donelson and OF q
.tguing scout. His narrative was
aeply interesting, and before dark we be-
anne excellent friends. I found that the
IubOats had made a great impression c
pom himself as well as upon ali OF our K
We biyOuacked that night
ear Lavergne, and there was concern / !.
! the minds Of most Of Us lest one Of tn. 4,
readed monsters should Overtake Us
efoTe day. But morning dawned with
Ut an attack, and alsO without our
for by sunrise We were ordered
, horse, and instead Of proceeding r
once to MurfreesbOro, struck of on
Jme special service, the good of which I
ever have perceived, in the direction OF
rune. The consequence was that we
i'll not reach our immediate destination
util dark that evening, and, although [
rove 20 maintain the heroic character I g.
ad assumed, I am afraid the long ride
ld lasting, TO say nothing Of the novelty
nd exposure Of the situation. eXhib-
ed their unmistakeable signs. At
II events ! was glad 70 sup Off
iece Of bacon and hard tack and -
tin cup Of rye-coliee, TO wrap myself in -
y blanket and fall asleep in the mud of =
he Stone river bottom. I dreamed all
light of ir0nclads, and woke with a de-
reciated estimate of the romance Of
the glory Of chivalry e
nd the superior advantages Of the cav,
Try service. But l was safe out Of
nashville, said ! to myself, and tina. was
Jme comfort,
NV.