The National tribune., 1900-12-06

been roughly used by both armies, and
many of the best buildings are appropriat-
ed for army use.
structure of limestone, recently completed,
but the surrounding grounds are not yet
finished. The building is fortified by tim
bered StockadeS and earthwork defcnSeS
behind which are many beautiful cannon.
The view from the building in all direc
tons is fine. The interior arched freScocd
ceilings, tall columns, stone stairs, etc, re-
minded me of the Capitol at Washington.
Monday, Feb. 10.-This evening finds us
quietly enjoying ourselves in our tents, i'll
camp about three miles out the Franklin
Pike. We were all ut work early putting
our wagons together and loading them.
We left the boat at 10 o'clock, and our
route to camp was through the city As
we came to the edge of the city, we went
through the lines of Notifications that en-
circle it. On every hill are strong forts,
and from them run lines of Notifications,
ritlepits and trenches. At the road cross
ing the dcfcnSeS are of very strong ma
ture. On our right was Il scientifically
built fort, with regular garrison style
about it, and near by are stationed many
regiments.
After passing through the Gates of the
City" we came out into the beautiful
country that surrounds Nashville. The
DlkN OH pllItE sue WIS llllpu WIFI Wulle-
washed board fences and fine houses at
convenient distances apart.
The country is rolling. and the resi-
dences are built on elevations surrounded
by beautiful evergreen trees and spacious
yards About three miles out we came to
where a large number of troops were sta
toned, whose camps lined the road we
were on. Passing many brigades we went
into camp in an extensive woods, partly
thinned out by troops who have been pre-
viOusly here, and we are at home for the
time.
ENCOUNTER WITH FORREST.
Franklin. Tenn, Feb. II, 1S63.-Will
write you this from the Land of Cotton"
or Dixie" or as near as the Confederate
Government will allow us at present.
Our camp is near the neat little town of
Franklin, situated on the pike, IS miles
south of Nashville. The town was occu-
pied by the rebels until a short time ago,
when our troops, under Gen. jeff G. Davis,
drove them out | last wrote from our
camp near Nashville. The farms and
houses in that neighborhood were those
Of the rich people, and presented Il com
Portable appearance, and with the cXccp-
ton of the destruction of fences did not
seem to have suffered from the war.
Thursday at t o'clock we were aroused
with orders to move to this place. BY day
light we were ready, and at o'clock the
Tenth Division, consisting of seven regi-
mentS and battery of artillery, all under
command of Gen. Gilbert, moved for the
front. Rain commenced falling, and it was
hard to make IL miles in one day with
such weather. Our camp, when left, pre-
scented about the same appearance, in
things left. as did the one in Louisville
last October
The 10th Ohio, n new regiment, that
lately joined us. found they could not car
hal ba ft,ff tbnt- haI 10, in,
camp, and the ground was strewn with
blankets, OvercOats, picks, spades, cooking
utensils and everything that belonged to
our army, and darkies We're flocking in
from the neighborhOod to collect the leav-
ings. The rain was continuous, and the
pike was soon like a mortar bed, and
stragglers from the new regiments lined
the road. The country was fine, and i'll
a more pleasant season would be inviting.
Stone fences lined the road, but rails for
fires were scarce. We arrived here at 4
o'clock, and were assigned to camp on the
ground lately vacated by Jeff G. Davis's
Division, which had gone on to join Rose
Grams before our arrival. Davis's troops
had already been gone an hour, when the
rebs rode in under Gen. Forrest and took
possession. Our coming in the evening
quite surprised the rebels, and our adj
vance had quite a skirmish with them in
the streets. The people, unaware Of our
coming had been having great time with
Forests men. With the exception of u
few families all here are rebels.
Feb. 19.-We have been here FIVE days,
and are having rather hard time OF it in
the rain and mud Our camp has been
moved three times, and we are now posted
fronting north toward Nashville, not far
from the bank of the river. The bank is
a rocky bluff about a hundred feet above
the Harpeth River, and from it we get
our view of franklin. Across this river
was large stone bridge and a railroad
bridge. Both are now destroyed Foot
men cross on Il foot-loS and hOrsemen by
a ford, although it is dangerous. The rail
road from Nashville is repaired up 10 this |
point, and workmen are now working on
the railroad bridge. / was over in town |