The Daily Dispatch: March 3, 1862., [Electronic resource]

The panic at Nashville

‘ After a day of much excitement I was awakened by a cry of fire which was caused by the military authorities putting the torch to the steamboats at the landing. They were being altered to gunboats, and it was thought best to destroy them to prevent their falling into possession of the enemy.

The report this morning was that our army would make a stand here, and endeavor to save the place, but it is not true, as General Pillow made a speech this evening, in which he said a council of war had been held and they had decided to evacuate the place, and fall back upon a more defensible position.

We are expecting the ‘"Feda"’ here everyday, and I am going to leave at the first ‘"toot"’ of the whistle of their confounded boats, which they say can go, where they please and are the very Deville.

There has been no train except for the soldiers in two days, and to attempt to get aboard of them was impossible, as the moment the cars were opened, the soldiers poured into them, and sworn they would kill the first man who endeavored to, dislodge them. There was more on top than would comfortably fill the inside. Take it all an all; the like was never seen before in any country.

Every business house is closed and the hotels will do the same to-morrow,--and there is no market, and nothing to buy in the shapes of provisions.

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