Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-03-26
FROM NASHVILLE.
First Passengers Through Since
the Flood.
Outrages by Soldiers-Destructior
by Flood in East Tennessee,

NASHVILLE, March 22.-About sixty
passengers from Chattanooga arrived
here this a. M, having started last Tues
day. The steamboat Mary Byrd brought
them as far as Bridgeport. They were
the first through passengers carried by
the road since the food. They report
everything subsidized at Chattanooga into
the usual routine. The frs. mail from
there in week arrived tonight via De-
catur. The railroad company have an
nounced that they will take through pas
sengers tomorrow, transferring per
steamer at Bridgeport Night trains will
be abandoned for the present Freights
will be resumed Monday or Tuesday.
The water was at stand at Johnson
vile at. ten o'clock this a. NJ, with sixty
feet in the channel The bridge is con-
sidered safe, although the flood is within
six feet of the flooring.
About two clock this am, fifteen
soldiers of the 34th Infantry, troops at
this point, went armed to the workhouse,
took violent possession and released two
comrades and two other inmates.
East Tennessee papers give vivid de-
tails of the destruction by the floods.
At Kingston the river rose ten feet higher
than ever known. The rain poured down
almost without iHtermission for six days.
One-third of the entire town was mum
dated. Some dwellings were entirely
submerged, and others carried away.
The water rose so rapidly that few arti-
Giles were saved in any case. Some cit
liens who thought their houses too ele-
waited to be reached. were only too glad
to escape with their lives, leaving their
entire effects to the mercy of the food
One man was driven from the second
story of his house to the garnet, whence
he was forced to escape by cutting
through the roof
Negro town" 10 the northern part of
Kingston, was swept off clean. A large
number Of freedmen, many of whom had
just succeeded in paying for lots occu.
pied by their houses, lost houses and all
and were forced to camp on the river
bank with nothing but the broad canopJ
of heaven to protect them from the to r.
rents then falling A million bushels Of
corn is estimated destroyed or lost, along
the Tennessee and Blind rivers, besides
other immense losses The Jonesboro
Flag says the damages in WASH ngton
and surrounding counties, and the de-
struction Of property in upper East Ten
nessee is immense, and will take years to
repair the damage. There are but few
grist mills in operation between Jones
boro and EIizabethtown, and but few,
If any, on the larger streams but have
been swept away or injured.
Gushing torrents lifted buildings from
their foundations, and bore them off fire.
uuently as they would a sail boat, after
wards to be dashed against the rocks A
friend informed US that he stood upon
the banks Of the Wautauga and beheld
houses, machinery, fatboats laden with
the various products Of the country,
minus men or oarsmen), and household
and kitchen furniture, bed-clothing,
ETC., whirled along on the crest of
the tide with great rapidity. At one time
he witnessed house with whole family
cliuging to the wreck and crying aloud
for assistance, but who were beyond the
reach of human aid. Since the waters
have subsidized many dwellings on the
banks Of neighboring rivers are found to
be swept away and the occupants mis-
sing. Six men we're drowned at Kings
port, Of which large portion and the
improvements on the lands are sub
merged and destroyed.
On Norchacky river the damage has
not been so great, compared with other
streams, yet it is terrible. The. Blair
Iron Works property suffered much. The
county bridge at Earnest is gone, with
other important county bridgef.