Friday, July 20, 2012

July 20 - Tennessee Civil War Notes

20, Federal forces take the Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis
On last Sunday [the 20th] the military authorities took possession of, and held divine services in the Second Presbyterian Church....We understand they ensconced themselves in genuine military style; marching in amid strains of martial music, and 're-occupying" the unresisting pews; the musical department 'retaking' the choir gallery, and the preacher 'repossessing' the pulpit. After these recoveries, a hymn being adapted to a 'national tune,' was performed to the immense satisfaction of the Unions savers. The reverend Yankee divine, we learn, read a profound essay on good manners to his soldier auditors, upon two-thirds of whom our informant tells us, it produced a peculiarly soporific effect, which was only dispelled by the sounding of fife and pealing drum' at the close of the services. None of our substantial [Confederate] citizens were present on this interesting occasion, and the respectable number of five forlorn, cadaverous looking females, evidently of the lower classes represented the Union feeling of the other sex!"

Memphis Daily Appeal, July 25, 1862.

 

 

20, Entry from the Diary of Kate Carney. "They ate everything up, and the cook had to get a fresh supply."

Sunday July 20th 1862
This morning the first thing I heard was many voices at o­nce, & in finding out who they were, learned it was 9 Yankees that had come & ordered their breakfast. o­nly 7 seven remained, the other two thought it would be too long preparing, said if we didn't give them something to eat they would take every horse o­n the place. Pa was the o­nly member of the family that went in where they were. They ate everything up, and the cook had to get a fresh supply. Most of the left without even thanking Pa for his kindness. Scarcely had they gone, when two more scamps said, they had orders to take every horse they saw. Pa & Ma went out [and] talked quite plain to them, said they should not have them until a written order was shown. o­ne of them told Ma if she were a man he would whip her, but they did not get the horses. Quite a number were here before dinner, & 5 more took that meal here. 4 more came, 2 remaining at the ice house, & the other two came to the house. o­ne little fellow had the bridle & was going to take him whether or not & when Pa pretended he had a guard here, he left in a hurry, made the remark o­n leaving they would have them yet even were they to have to get armed men to come with them. So Ma started up town after a guard, as the Provost Marshall said in the morning she might have o­ne, but when she went said so many had applied for guards he could not furnish o­ne, but if she would apply to the Col. of cavalry she could get o­ne. Ma thinking Gen. Nelson might give her o­ne, sent in her name, stated her business, & an officer was treating her very politely, just starting over after a guard, when old Ashburn slipped into the Gen.'s room, and I suppose he must have told the Gen. something, for he had him immediately recalled, sent Ma a very insulting message for she & Pa to go home & stay there,& not to show their faces any more, if they didn't want to be eaten out of house and home. Ma said she didn't care about their eating, for she had been feeding them all day. We didn't know what to do, but in a few moments a Yankee came out, enquired very particularly into the case, & sent Lt. H. H. Fisk to guard us accompanied by himself. Said they would stay tonight, didn't know whether or not they would stay longer. Bettie & I neither went into supper, I dislike very much to eat at the table with the Yankees.


Kate Carney Diary

April 15, 1861-July 31, 1862

http://docsouth.unc.edu/imls/carney/carney.html

 

 

 

20, Billiards in Nashville
One of the institutions of the city, and in fact one of the handsomest billiard rooms in the country is kept by that clever gentleman Jo Loiseau, on Cedar street. He is now running thirteen tables, which are engaged nearly all the time, both day and night. Mr. Loiseau has lately secured the services of Frank Parker, of New York, one of the best billiard players in the country, as superintendent of his establishment. He has a world-wide reputation in the science, and amateurs will find it to their advantage to attend the saloon, and see with what ease he can make a run of several hundred points.
Nashville Daily Press, July 20 1864.



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