"Massa am de secesh done gone for good?" In explanation he said, his master had told him to get ready for a jollification, for their turn was coming again soon.

September 30.-Communication with the outer world is cut off. We are surrounded by the enemy. A siege has commenced. Things look gloomy. The work of fortifying goes on briskly, and if the enemy give us two weeks more time we can defy them. Captain Morton, Engineer, United States army, has two thousand contrabands at work on St. Cloud hill erecting fortifications. That splendid grove has been cut down. The Asylum for the Blind, erected at the cost of forty thousand dollars, has been blown up, on a "new principle," as Captain Morton expressed it. Every building gives way to make play for the guns of Fort Negley.

October 7.-General James S. Negley is now in command. To-day he ordered an attack upon the rebel forces under General S. R. Anderson at Lavergne, a few miles distant. It was a surprise, and quite successful. Among the captures was Colonel Harry Maury. [Late in command at Mobile.] The enemy reoccupied the place shortly after our leaving it.

October 8.-No communications for a month. Parties attempt to leave in flatboats and canoes, but are captured by guerillas before they get fairly out of the city. Rations getting scarce. People getting uneasy. Hotels closed for want of supplies. Correspondence captured by guerillas. No use writing. Governor Johnson takes every thing coolly, hoping for the best.

October 21.-Days, weeks, nay months, roll around, and there seems to be no change for the better in this important city. Cut off from communications with the outer world, our supplies becoming exhausted, deprived of almost all articles of luxury, and even comfort, and subject to the illdisguised sneers and taunts of Union haters, our lot is a hard one. But, notwithstanding all this, there is no faltering among the garrison that holds the city against the rebel hosts reported to be menacing us. Governor Johnson's wise and energetic measures, coupled with the activity of General Negley, inspires courage and confidence among Union men. We hear that Breckinridge is around us with fifty thousand men; that Anderson, mortified at his defeat

at Lavergne, declares that he can and will capture the city; and Forrest, incensed from the same cause, roughly swears that he will have Nashville at all hazards, if he falls himself at the first fire. But those who are in the confidence of Governor Johnson know that the enemy, if they should capture the city, will achieve an empty triumph, amid blackened and crumbling ruins. The coolness and calmness of the Governor amid these trying scenes are beyond all praise. He does all he can to preserve order; but, notwithstanding this, midnight assassinations are frequent. There were six murders one night recently. The other day a party belonging to an Illinois regiment broke down the door of a room in which were a secessionist and his mistress. The secessionist shot and killed two of the Illinoians. The exasperation of their comrades cannot be portrayed. A rope was procured, and the nearest lamp post would have witnessed the unfortunate man's end but for the interference of Colonel Stanley and a strong detachment of soldiers. Amid the wildest excitement he was taken before Governor Johnson's Provost Marshal, Colonel Gillem, at the Capitol, and secured against the results of mob violence. Although the act was calculated to lessen Governor Johnson's popularity with the troops, he unhesitatingly endorsed the conduct of Colonel Gillem, declaring that there was a legal and proper way to punish the offender, and so long as he had the power he would see it enforced. These facts are mentioned to show Governor Johnson's sense of justice and his determination to exercise it under the most trying circumstances.

November 4.-The enemy have made several attempts to drive in our pickets, without material loss on either side. A rebel siege train has arrived at the Lunatic Asylum, about three miles from the city, where the enemy have thrown up intrenchments. A rebel attempt to capture the city by a coup de main in the rear has been thwarted by the timely action of General Negley. Great activity prevails at the Capitol. Governor Johnson, with his private secretary, Mr. Browning; one of his aids, Mr. Lindley; Provost Marshal Gillem; Captain Abbott, First Tennessee battery; Assistant Provost Marshal B. C. Trueman; Volunteer Aid Mr. together with the officers of the Governor's bodyguard, the First Tennessee infantry, under command of Colonel Gillem, are on duty night and day at the Governor's room, ready for any service the Governor may re

quire. * * All hands are engaged in cleaning firearms, sharpening cutlasses, etc. Four Rodman guns have been placed in position to defend the Capitol, which is also protected by lines of earthworks and breastworks of cotton bales. The capitol will be defended to the last extremity. The cool and determined demeanor of Governor Johnson is the admiration of all.

November 5.-The enemy made two attacks on Nashville to-day. One attack was made by Morgan, on the Edgefield side of the river, with a view, probably, of destroying the new railroad bridge. Morgan was repulsed with considerable loss. About the same time the enemy, under Forrest, approached the city by four routes, viz:-the Franklin, Murfreesboro, Lebanon and Nolansville pikes. They were in great strength, and seemed bent on capturing the city. General Negley and Governor Johnson determined they should not. Fort Negley prepared to welcome them, with the Tenth Illinois as a garrison. Forts Browning and Lindsley, and the two enfilading works, known as Forts Trueman and Glenn, were garrisoned by the gallant Nineteenth Illinois and detachments of other regiments. Fort Andrew Johnson, (the Capitol) was garrisoned by the First Tennessee, Colonel Gillem, with a reserve of artillery under command of Captain Abbott, of the First Tennessee battery. Governor Johnson and staff, including our correspondent, took position in the cupola of the Capitol, and had a splendid view of the conflict going on about two miles distant. At one time, when the firing was most furious, and the smoke partly concealed a view of the combat, it seemed that the Sixty-ninth Ohio, Colonel Casselly, and the Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania, Colonel Sewell, who were in the advance, had been defeated, and were under full retreat for the shelter of the fortifications. This was an exciting moment for the spectators in the cupola of the Capitol, although there was not a blanched cheek among the group that surrounded Governor Johnson. It was here the Governor made the remark in that forcible manner he is accustomed to when he means a thing-"I am no military man; but any one who talks of surrendering I will shoot." What was apprehended to be a repulse of our troops proved to be simply a strategic movement of General Negley's; for in a few minutes the entire Union force rallied, and with colors flying, dashed tempestuously, horse, foot and artillery,

amid the thunder of the big guns of the forts, upon the before exultant foe. The enemy appeared to be thunderstruck. They came to a standstill, fired a few shots, and then turned and wildly fled. The rout was complete. Thus was raised the siege of Nashville, and the city for a third time was saved by the inflexible firmness of Governor Johnson, aided by the bayonets of the flower of American soldiery.

November 14.-General Rosecrans arrived to-day, with heavy reinforcements, as commander of the army of the Cumberland. He issued a congratulatory order to General Negley for his gallant defence of Nashville, and held a consultation with Governor Johnson. Communications are now once more re-opened, and after an embargo of some two months (from September 15 to November 14) Nashville again becomes a city within the confines of civilization. During these exciting scenes-during the dreadful dulness of interrupted communications, failing supplies, and a lack of any kind of amusements, it would not be strange if some tempers should seek solace in conviviality. But, from first to last, Governor Johnson was a model of abstemiousness. He never played cards for amusement or gain. He never indulged in drink on any single occasion to a greater extent than possibly a clergyman would at a sacrament; and, as for the smaller vices, he was free from them all. His whole aims and objects, his entire aspirations, seemed to centre in the re-establishment of the authority of the Federal Government over his State, her speedy return to the Union, protection of loyal citizens in all parts of the State, and punishment of "conscious and intelligent traitors" wherever found.

The world knows the result of the siege of Nashville, and the disastrous defeat of the rebels has now passed into history.

After the retreat of General Bragg from Murfreesboro, in July, 1863, West and Middle Tennessee were entirely under Federal control. Burnside then advanced into East Tennessee and drove the rebels out. A convention was held at Nashville, in September, to consider the restoration of Tennessee to the Union. Governor Johnson

thus expressed his views on that question: Tennessee is not out of the Union, never has been, and never will be out. The bonds of the Constitution and the Federal power will always prevent that. This Government is perpetual; provision is made for reforming the Government and amending the Constitution, and admitting States into the Union; not for letting them out of it. * * * The United States sends an agent or a military garrison, whichever you please, to aid you in restoring your Government. Whenever you desire, in good faith, to restore civil authority, you can do so, and a proclamation for an election will be issued as speedily as it is practicable to hold one. * * * This is no nice metaphysical question. It is a plain common-sense matter, and there is nothing in the way but obstinacy.

The provisional Government created by the President, continued throughout the year, and on the 26th of January, 1864, Governor Johnson issued his proclamation for a State election. Up to this time about twenty-five thousand Union citizens entered the army, and several colored regiments were organized.

JOHNSON'S DETERMINATION.

An

The character of Andrew Johnson cannot be fully weighed unless his origin, purposes, political career and individual courage are estimated at their true value. able writer has thus compared his position with that of the fugitive traitor, Jefferson Davis: "The country will remember the courageous impromptu speech in the United States Senate, which Senator, now President, Johnson rose and delivered in immediate reply to Jefferson Davis, when the baffled rebel chief took his farewell, and sought to demonstrate the inability of our Government to execute its properly constituted will upon the people of all th States. Senator Johnson then stood alone. The con