Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-04-22
(Foe TIE Rutland HEs- ADJ
Letter from Tenma >esee.

Letter from Tenna >ssee.
KNOXVILLE, TENN, April 13, 1869.
The most notable event that has oc
CURED since May last, was the arrival o
Ex-President johnson. To report hi
speech, or any part of it, will be needless
for the daily papers all over the countr,
have alluded to it.
The Introductory address, by Col. T. A
X. Nelson, was an able production, havin,
been written with care, and in il he aIlu
ded to the days when he, as Wing, uset
to stump East Tennessee with Mr.. John
son, as Democrat. He alluded also t,
the times in 1S60-61, when they both
with one mind, contended for the Union
against many of their neighbors who
were for secession. He alluded also te
the times when Mr.. johnson was hunted
by the rebels, and threatened with death
Mr.. johnson is very good specimen of a
stump speaker, and he had very good
training in that style of oratory in his
younger days. He reminds one some.
what of Stephen:A. Douglas, but not in
any way equal as forcible speaker. Mr.
Johnson is remarkable specimen of a
class of our public men who have at.
tanned distinction under the embarrass.
ment incident to want of education in
early life.
1t was rather interesting to look through
the assembly while Mr.. johnson was
speaking, and see men who, at the begin
mig of the rebellion, occupied not only
opposite positions in opinion, but Were
actually fighting each other. Men who
took refuge in caves, and those who drove
them to such places of refuge, were seen
together.
The appointment of Gen. Longstreet
gives rise to various expressions from PEG.
pc here. One gentleman, strong repub-
lean, said to me one day, "That same
man took all my bacon from me once, and
| have not felt very kindly towards him
since" Aside from such cases no great
complaint is made here.
The remainder of earthworks in and
about our city remind us of the stirring
times of war and siege, when Longstreet
was outside and Gen. Burnside was with
in. The details given by those who were
for three terrible weeks kept in constant
fear of being captured, are thrilling The
storming of Fort Saunders, and the terrible
the bitches, is still mentioned as one of
the memorable events of the war. The
north part Of Knoxville was destroyed
during that siege, by command of Gen.
Burnside. The rebels took refuge in
houses, and fired upon our boys in blue
who ventured to show their heads above
the entertainments. The people tell of
she'll and cannon balls passing over their
heads, and that sometimes the families
would be driven to cellars for safety. Bat
those days have passed, and now people
are busily employed in rebuilding what
was destroyed. An appropriation OF $780,
900, lately made by Congress, will build
US Postoflice and L, 5. Court House this
coming season. Nearly twenty stores
were built last year, and six are already
c commenced this spring. More houses will
probably be built this year than in any
previous Strangers from all directions
are seen here every day. Col. Proctor and
Mr. Myers were here to-day on their way
South. Families are constantly coming
in, and houses are in great demand.
There are two wholesale dealers in dry
goods, three or four in groceries, one in
hardware, and Two in drugs. Two large
establishments for the sale Of agricul-
tural implements have been opened
There are two daily, and three weekly
newspapers published. 4 small steam
boat was built here last summer 10 run ~
and from Chattanooga Flat boats, laden
with lumber, come down from distance of
forty miles, up the river, and considerable
quantities of grain, also, are brought
down
The weather to-day is colder than it has
been for some time. We hear of snow in
Virginia, and other Southern localities
\ few flakes have fallen here to-day, but
none to stay upon the ground. While we
+ 81 Some what chilly here with the mer-
curry at y deg, we will try to sympathise
with our New England friends, who are
undoubtedly driven to their warm houses
by the cold
1t is feared that fruit blossoms are
much injured by frost7 which have Wis
tied " during the past ten days. 1t is
colder than usual this month in all parts
of our country, both north and south.
The Unakl mountains, southeast from
here, are white with snow, and from the
feeling of the wind from the northwest,
it is probable that the same is true of the
range. BETA.