The New York herald., 1867-03-20
TIE N { S s E E
our NASHVILLE CORRESPONDENCE.

The Recent Floods in the Southwest Great
Damage Along the Tennessee River-Loss Of
Over Five Millions of DolIars-Dcstruction
of Railroad Bridges-LOss Of Life, &C.. &c.
NASHVILLE March Is, 1867.
That portion Of the South lying along the Tennessee
and Cumberland rivers, and their tributaries after pass
ing through four years Of dcsoating and Of
wasting drought. is overwhelmed by food OF
precedented extent and destructiveness.
The extent Of the damage cannot now be estimated,
although, from the intelligence which has already been
received it cannot be less than from i've millions
Of dollars and It is apprehendcd that tho loss Of fe
owing to the suddennoss Of the rise Icppessee
has been fearful indeed despatch from Bridgeport
yesterday that twenty-five thirty corpcs had
been seen floating past that place on Tuesday last
Wrecks OF houses barns mills and bridges have been
constantly floating down the swollen tide past Bridge.
port for number OF days
Tho flood burst upon the people in many places while
they seeping and they fortunate If able to
escape with their lives, leaving all their worldly goods to
be swept away. AT Chattanooga, while the city was
asleep the Hood poured into the town, and vc
feet IN the principal streets before the people were
0f their danger; and Tor nearly week they
cectualy cut of all communication with the outer
world Ihe water rose rapidly until IL reached depth
Of from twelve TO twenty feet
The only intelligence which has yet reached us from
Chattanooga was contained in meagre despatch brought
yesterday 10 skia % Bridgeport By two daring young
ent Of the Chattanooga Railroad The despatch repre-
ssnts the city TO be In awful condition The water
and Twelve feet deep in all the railroad depots and
warehouses; floating about, and many houses top
ling over, and others floating of, already gone down
the mad current Nothing has been learned as 10 the
loss OF ie IN this city but the Mayor with pose
hard at work fishing out food from the loancd freight
cars The people are no doubt, In state OF the most
terrible destitution and suffering.
All the railroads leading into Chattanooga are SUBJ
merged ten twelve feet Of water The great bridge
Mt London the Knoxville and Chattanooga Railroad.
and the costly structure at bridgeport the Nashville
and Chattanooga Railroad, are swept away Fifteen
nooga under water, and six Chickamauga bridges
gone The bridge a. Strawberry Pains the East
Tennessee road has been swept away. II Is impossible
tell this writing the damage done the lines OF
railway the section indicated. Enough Is known TO
that Il will require three four months Of
energetic management to put them In condition again
II viii require years TO enabs the people whose ences
away, 70 recover from this last terrible blow OF III for
tune. They deserve. and, is hoped, will receive
prompt AID in thus the day OF their caianity from their
more fortunate fellow citizens
Tho damage done on the Cumberland has mot been
so great on the Tennessee. Tho rise was more
gradual. Nashville has been transformed for the time
into . Venice All the lower parts OF the CITY and Of
Edgcneld submerged From twelve 10 fifteen hum
dred Of the Inhabitants have been driven from their
homes Only the roofs Of many Of the houses In the
north part Of the city visible. The Nashville and
Decatur and Edgefeld and kentucky Railroads have not
suffered The Louisville and Nashville road lost bridge
at Bacon creek but travel over that road has not been
interrupted.
rho weather turned cold yesterday, and an inch Of
snow fell The rains evidently over and the
In the Tennessee and Cumberland nave commenced very
slowly 10 reccde.