As the war rages on in the contested state of Tennessee, death, even in the less contentious winter months, is now ever present in the city of Nashville. Today’s Tennessee Baptist speaks of Confederate anxiety, mourning and sacrifice as Union forces draw ever closer to the city:
There is still a large number of soldiers on the sick list in our city. The sable Hearse may be seen almost hourly, winding its lonely way to the city of the dead to deposit the remains of some noble fellow in its final resting place. He laid all upon his country’s altar. Home, with all its sweets and charms, friends, doubly dear, and life, the sweetest boon of earth, all, all is lost, and with him the drama is endedóhe has found a soldier’s grave in a stranger’s landóhe silently sleeps beside his comrades in arms, no sister’s tears gemmed the narrow lid that hid his manly form; no mother’s tear bedewed the rising mound that marks the sacred spot where sleeps the fallen heroó
“He sleeps his last sleep,
He has fought his last battle.
No sound can awaken him
To glory again.”He died in defence of his country, and for this his memory will live when marble monuments shall have crumbled to atoms. Many are still confined to their rooms, while others are able to walk about and interest themselves with the “sights” about this city; while others are summoned to appear at the Surgeon General’s office for examination, and if pronounced well, to receive orders to return to camp. But in these various conditions, they are not forgotten. There are many noble Ladies who devote their entire time in supplying the wants of these brave fellows, who have sacrificed all to defend their country from the ravages of an invading foe. These Ladies have forgotten their ease and comfort, forsaken their homes and families, to administer to the wants of these suffering soldiers; they are indeed worthy of all praise. No day is too stormy, no obligation sufficiently imperative to keep them from the sick bed of these volunteers.
In less than a month, Confederate forces will withdraw from the city as Nashville becomes the first Confederate capital to be captured by the Union. The fall of Nashville, in turn, forces the closure of the Tennessee Baptist paper.
Source: “Our Sick Soldiers,” Tennessee Baptist, January 25, 1862 (link)
