Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-29
THE WAR.
Latest from the Front.


evening was admitted within the fortifca-
tions, which have now assumed startling
magnitude and strength. Old army officers
have pronounced them impregnable, and the
general impression is that Hutchins will
NJ yer get through. Corduroy roads have
been laid through the editorial and counting
rooms, and the garrison amuse themselves
with repairing their breeches with such logs
as were left over. There are no privates
now in the army. Mr.. Crane has been pro-
noted to the rank of corporal, and all the
rest are generals except Leonard who is sd-
mirsl. McCullagh moves around the
building disguised and strongly guarded.
Fishback has the Art of War tied in bis
scarf, and reads it to the garrison at every
alarm of Hutchins' approach. he told me
this morning that he proposed to stand like
a side of sole leather, and that if he was de-
feated it would be by force of arms.
This morning at sunrise there was bal
loon ascension for the purpose of observa-
ton. The balloon "Joe Pulitzer" was
brought into requisition, and all hands, in
Guiding your correspondent, were ordered
into the car.
As we mounted from the roof of the Dem
ocrat building, the scene was magnificent.
The-rays of the rising sun fell like flood of
rose leaves on the slumbeIing city, above
which the sky hung like violet. On the
roofs and domes of the residences of the
happy population, the SNOW lay like sleep
ing feathers, turning now and then as If
uneasy, as the fresh morning wind kissed
their healthy cheeks. From afar came the
sullen booming of the surge, breaking on
the golden sands of the river Des Peres.
The wide Missouri, in color like the blue
steel lance of the Huguenot, lay couched in
the north. Running like silver thread to
tell the green gulf of the coming sun, the
Mississippi cOursed, and threw its maHe Of
spray in bold defiance TO the god Of day.
Beyond US, marking the course of the SUMS
triumphal car, rolled the prairies in great
uphesying waves, as if beseeching of the
sky to take from them its nOurishment as
from their wilder sister sea. At this point
we ha6 risen about fifteen feet, and under
the skillful navigation of Admiral Leonard,
had cleared the chimneys.
Corporal Crane was ordered to get out
the telescope and the ham, but having his
gloves on he was relieved, and Gen. Nc.
Cullagh arranged The glass. Admiral
Leonard applied his port eye, and reported!
that he saw nothing. Two OF the garrison
were thrown out, and again we ascended.
The panorama spread before as was as
varied and as gaily colored as the hues
prismatic which to maidens' dreams per-
tain. The soft and golden light that sprang
from out the vault; the purple tints and deck
ings that TIE house tops took; the deep.
rich, glowing red that on the waters fell;
the waving, changing blue that on the dis
tance Law; the mauve that held its skirts to
hide the shadows play. Ali sat absorbed
and gazed with wondering eyes upon that
wondrOus scene that took and loaned its
beauties from and to the artists widest
dream. But at length General Fishback
instructed General McCullagh to cut the
ham, and serve out the rations. At an alti-
tude of twenty-five feet Admiral Leonard
hove to, and we sat down to breakfast.
Again we took the upward course, and
had made two feet when Admiral Leonard
thought be spied Mr.. Hutehins. The glass
was brought into requisitiO1 again, and
Corporal Crane instI ucted TO look.
Cut having broken bis eyeglasses, he
was relieved and Gen. McCullagh was Or
dered up. The telescope was arranged and
the General gave squint. He reported that
be saw Hutchins taking his breakfast OF
bread and cheese and beer at Schnaider's
garden. Gen. Fishback determined to de-
| scend before the enemy discovered him, and
Corporal Crane was ordered to pull open
the valve, but having left his cane home he
could not reach it, and he was relieved and
Gen. MeCullagh ordered to the duty.
We began to descend. As looked west
ward, saw the giant mountains spreading
/ r.o0od arTna IN baaUan in
mute petition for relief from men who
plunge into their bowels. Upon their
white capped heads l saw the fur
rowed webs that centuries have woven,
while from the valleys, that lay dark be-
meath, assembled mists that took the form
of prayers for pity on their towering mas
ters. The deep indented prairies on whose
breast fed wild and rowing things, lay halt
in smiles and half in tears, as sunshine
coped with shadows for possession. Bright
! drops leaped and flashed fIom swift, still
currents and fell back and leaped again
turned from emerald to the flashing dia-
mond by the sun, and fell again in pearls
The low and half subdued hum from the
| busy world rose in a monotone, and like the
heavier strings of the 4Eolian harp when
touched by rude blasts Of the northern
! winds, rose and fell, above sometimes, and
sometimes lower, than the swell of softer
harmonies that flooded all the air. Corpora
| Crane remarked that he wished be had
worn heavier overcoat, and thought we
might have had something more delicate
than ham. Oysters, or sardines, any way
anchovies, would have been more palatable
he suggested, and he says he will desert un
less napkins are furnished in the future.
At last we reached the roof Of the Dem
Ocrat Office and disembarked. The bal
loon was folded up and put away for future
| use.
| During the day we have been strength.
ening tie ramparts, which are now covered
with coal oil. If Hutchins should succeed
in reaching the top they will be fired, anc
he will be converted into barbecue,
Gen. McCullagh wishes me 10 state tha
he did not write the editorial of which
Hutchins complains. He says it was writ
ten by party by the name of Hobbs, anC
II have been shown some articles from
Hobbs pen which are similar in style.
Admiral Leonard remarked to me to-day
| that the balloon ascension was his mos
successful feat in journaliGD, but be ask
no credit for its success save that it be un
derstcod that he managed the whole affair