Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-11-27
LAFAYETTE.
"Reminiscences of the Visit of Gem.
Lafayette 80 Nashville.


.a Lafayette 20 Nashville.
To the Editors of the Union and American:
Seeing a piece in your paper on the
morning of the oath in regard to Gen.
Lafayette's wonderful memory, reminds
me of an incident connected with his
visit to Nashville, as told to me by an
eyewitness /.
When the General was expected here
considerable preparation was made of
course. Upon his arrival he was escorted
to the siaud erected for the purpose of
his speaking. During his speech an old
man was seen pushing his way through
the crowd until he reached the step of
the stand. By degrees he wedged bis
way nearer and nearer with mouth open
and eyes riveted upon the General, until
within arms reach, when he stood
staring as if charmed by the words as
they fell. When the General ceased
speaking, the old man caught hold of
him and exclaimed: :" General, don't
you know me E" Without waiting for q
reply he said, 81 am the mau who
brought into camp the bear when we
were all about to starVe." "Yes," said
the General, 81 do know you;n and call
ing him by name, they locked arms and
shed tears together. 700
ME-. M'FARLAND's REooLLKcTIoNs.
To the Editors Of the Union and American:
Gen. Lafayette's services in the Revo-
lutiOnary war is matter of history; but
his visit to Washington City in Decem-
Der, 1924, and to many of the different
States in 1926, is not SO well known. Be-
ing an eyewitness TO his visit to Tepnes-
see, at Nashville, in April, 1925, pro-
pose TO describe the same as well as can,
and if there should be any errors in the
description the writer assures all who
read il, that they viii be unintentional.
Gov. William Carroll was then acting as
supreme executive of the State. We
learn from history that the United States,
at the close of the war, gave Gen. La
fayette lands, 1000 acres of which were
located where New Orleans now stands,
when it was not worth more perhaps
than one dollar per acre. Lafayette re-
linquished his claim TO that munifcent
gift when it was worth several millions,
rather than litigate with the citizens, who
had entered said lands after the Generals
warrant was laid and the lands granted to
him. A paIt of the lands in this grant
were located near Township No. /, near
Tallahassee, Florida We are of the
opinion that he relrnquished his claim to
it, bat don't knoaU the fact. In Deem
Der, 1924, Congress donated to him two
hundred thousand dollars, which he &C
cepted, and township of land in Fiori-
ds, and located near Tallahassee.
Some two months before the expected
visit of Gen. Lafayette to Nashville Gov.
Carroll issued a proclamation requesting
the militia to go to the city in suitable
uniform to pay him honors as the invited
guest of the State. This created quite 8
sensation, and in different parts of the
State speeches were made faYoring the
Governors request. About the first OF
April the Governor called on them to or.
ganize and march to Nashville, supposing
that Gen L. would arrive about the 9Th.
Three thousand militia arrived, each COM
| pany having its own uniform.
The company to which | belonged wore
blue Jeans hunting shirts, made aud dyed
by their mothers and sisters. Gov. Car.
roll had them stationed in field in South
Nashville, where he visited them soon snC
received each company. In day or two
they were marched to the arsenal, where
every private was furnished with a mus
| ket and few rounds of blank cartridges,
He went to camp every day, and after
drilling them they were marched, fronting
each other, about sixty yards apart anC
| ordered TO load and elevate their piece
and fire. The cannon and small arrEl
were all fired at once, which was hear
for many miles. Although there wert
such large crowds present and such shoot
ing of blank cartridges, we think that nc
accident happened.
| From some unforeseen occurrence tn
expected guest did not arrive at the tim
expected, and the militia became i'm
patient 10 60 home to their farms. Gov
| Carroll visited the camps and assured
them that Lafayette was delayed by {
steamboat disaster, and that he woulC
arrive in four days. He was cheered anC
a pledge was given by acclsmation t,
TO wait that long. On the third day, Gen
L. arrived at night. The city was illumi
mated, which made the streets and squar
as light as day, and 'EAuld Lang Syne
was played by the band, accompanied b
q base drum. The next day Gen.
visited the camps drawn by four fin
white horses in an elegant carriage. Ger
Jackson, Gov. Carroll, James K. Polk {
believe) and DIR. Shelby we're in anothe
carriage, drawn by fine white steeds
They passed all along the line with thei
heads uncovered. The Marshal the
ordered all teams to be unloosed from th
carriages. The soldiers marched abou
sixty yards fronting each other, 1900 o
each side, elevated their pieces and fire
several rounds, the cannon also firing 6
the same tine.
On the next day, in the morning, Ger
L. and suit went to rostrum, made III
der an arch which crossed the street S
Nichols corner, and on which was wri
ten in large capitals, ''Welcome LII
Fsyette." Soon after be got on the plat
form, an old soldier who had served undo
him mounted the stand and shook hsnt
with him. Gen. L. recognized him, az
after a clever hug aud a free shedding {
tears by both, Gen. jackson gave the o.
soldier seat among the distinguishe
guests.
Il At night Gen. L. and suit met crow
of young ladies in the basement of Nj
sonic Hall, where Miss Grundy, dsughtC
of thea Hon. Felix Grundy, delivered
nice speech to him. They all shoe
HANDS with the Nations guest, aft