Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-06-14
(Continued from last week. }
CHAPTER xvi

We camped near the house where
General Van Dorm was shot and kill
ed by DIR. Peters. This General Van
AaSrn was the commander of the
Rebel forces that made the attack on
Corinth in the fall OF 1862. He was
one OF the greatest soldiers in the
Confederate army At the time of
his murder, which occurred In
March, 1868. body of Rebels under
his command were camped near
Franklin, town between Nashville
and Columbia and were watching a
brigade of Federals located in that
vicinity
1t appears that Confederate
Lieutenant had asked General Van
Dorm for a pass through the lines,
that ne might visit the home of a
young lady in the neighborhood. The
General refused his REQUEST, where
upon the Lieutenant went to his
quarters and later made his way
through the lines without a pass.
proceeding directly to the home OF
the young lady, where he encounter
ed General Van Dorm himself. Van
Dorm was no sooner aware of the
Lieutenant's presence than he flew
into rage, demanding why he had
come there. The Lieutenant, Dr..
+ ~ hod a
right there as General Van Dorm.
Hot words Immediately followed,
with the result that DR.. Peters final
ly drew his revolver and shot the
General. killing him instantly. The
body was taken through the Union
lines under a flag of truce to Nash
VILE, where it was buried. The ira
gic death of Van Dorm was but one
of the many unfortunate occurrences
which are the inevitable inheritances
of war.
And now | will again take up the
letter which had laid aside for the
moment to set down this explana-
tion. "The railroad is operated from
Nashville to Columbia. a distance OF
about forty miles. Our business is
to finish it through to Decatur, Ala
bama, so that supplies can be for
warded to Sherman's and Hooker's
armies. II is the opinion Of those
who are best informed that 1t Will
require about three weeks to COM
plete it from Columbia to Pulaski
/ have no idea what service we will
be called upon to render after that
has been done, but possibly we may
serve as reserve to sherman.
Pulaski is a very pretty place, and
is about the size of Lyons. There
was formerly female seminary here
in full blast, but when we arrived II
was. discontinued and the building IS
now used as hospital. Most of the
residences are surrounded with ever
greens and present beautiful APP
pearance. Inclosed find leaf OF
magnolia, i think it does not grow
dn the North. There are many flow
lers here in full bloom; II is like May
in Iowa. We are about one hundred
and ninety miles from Memphis and
seventy-five miles from Nashville.
Now | think If you could look in
TO my tent you would have a good
laugh at my expense. The tent Is
about six feet square and about five
feet high. For the want of a bed
stead our blankets are spread on the
ground and fer the want OF table
lieutenant Langford, and myself are
writing on our trunks. On one side
ne the tent is lying in rich profusion
coats, candles, chair, our SWORDS,
q lnapsack, two or three pair OF
boots. oanteen. two pair of gloves,
table cloth, looking glass, a
broom. two old hats and variety
of other things which ] need not
name. Just behind the tent are a
couple Of young, unbleached Ameri-
cans, singing and telling each other