The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-09-24

nessee troops were naturally most influ-
enced by the considerations that affected
the citizens, but all shared the feeling.
Some wept at the thought of abandoning
the city to a fate which they regarded as
dreadful. as utter destruction, and many
Infatuated persons, men and women, loud
ly advocated burning it to the ground that
the invading enemy might have nothing OF
it but its ashes.
PANDEMONIUM. --.
During the first night after the army
reached Nashville, when the fury and eX-
element were at the highest pitch, and of.
ficers and men were alike influenced by
it, it seemed as if the bonds of discipline
would be cast off altogether. Crowds of
soldiers mingled with the citizens who
thronged tie streets all night, and yells,
curses and shots We're heard on all sides.
In some houses women We're pale and sob
bling, and in others there was even merri-
mcnt, rs if in defiance of the worst. Very
soon all those who had escaped from Don.
elson arrived.
Forrest had cut his way through the
beleaguering lines and brought off his regi-
ment almost entire. He reached Nashville
on the day after the arrival of the army.
1t was impossible for the infantrymen who
had escaped to make their way from the
scene of disaster, except in small detach-
ments. They were necessarily scattered
all over the country, and those who reach
ed Nashville in time to accompany the
army upon its farther march, came in as
stragglers, without any organization
Neither men nor officers had an idea of
how or when they were to do duty again
| The arrival of these disbanded soldiers,
among whom it was difficult to establish
and enforce order, because no immediate
disposition could be made of them, in
| creased the great confusion already pre-
vailing. Pumors, too, of the near approach
Of the enemy were circulated, and believed
even by officers of high rank. Buelfs
army, which was really not far south of
Bowling Green, was reported to be with
in few miles of the city, and the Fed
eral gunboats, which had not yet reached
GAINESVILLE, were confidently declared to
be within sight of Fort Zollicoffer, only
seven miles below Nashville.
MoRGAN's SQUADRON PATROLS NASHVILLE.
Upon the second day matters had as
sumed such a state, the excitement and
disorder being so extreme, that it became
necessary to take other precautions to re-
press the license that was prevailing, be
sides the ordinary establishment of guards
and sentinals about the camps where the
troops lay, and Gen. Johnston ordered
lice in Nashville. Morgans Squadron and
the LIST Mo. Inf, one of the finest and bes,
disciplined regiments in the service, were
assigned to this duty. The special duty
OF Morgan's Squadron was to patrol not
only the city, but also the suburbs, day
and night, and without intermisson it was
engaged in that peculiar service until the
city was evacuated.
"Gen. John b. Floyd was appointed
| nd Of "a
with the enforcement of discipline and
with all the details of the evacuation. His
task was one of no ordinary difficulty. II
was hard, at such time, to know how t.
begin the work. In such q chaos. with
such passions ruling, it seemed folly tc
hope for the restoration of order. Those
who remember the event will recall the
feeling of despair which had seized upon
/ the soldiery, the entire army seeming, fol
the time, hopeless of any retrieval OF its
fortunes every man being thoroughly reck
less. Strange to say, only n few excuses
had been committed. but with such a TEN
per prevailing, the worst consequence:
were to be apprehended, if the influence
of the officers should be entirely lost ant
the minds of the men be solely directed t.
mischief. Gen. Floyd would have fount
the decentralization and license which hat
grown apace among the troops, and tn,
terrors of the citizens, serious impediment.
to his efforts to remove the valuable store.
which had been collected Mt Nashville
even il he had possessed abundant facli
ties for their removal; but of such facili
ties he was almost entirely destitute. tn,
trains with the army being needed fo
transportation of supplies required for i'm
mediate use.
PREPARING TO EvACUATE NASHVILLE.
4 "After satisfying himself by act;v,
scouting that there was no truth in tn,
reports of the proximity of the enemy
and burning the bridge at Edgefielt
Junction, Gen. Floyd's first care was t,
make arrangements for saving as man!
Of the stores as possible. giving prefer
ence to ordnance stores. For this purpos