General Hood has apparently effected the retreat of his beaten
and diminished force across the Tennessee, about eight miles above Florence, where the shoals prevent the Federal gunboats from barring the passage. Probably about half his army will tints escape. There is a good story told of some negroes in General Thomas's army just before the battle of Nashville :—" During the skirmish in the little reconnaissance made by General Steadman on our left, a couple of soldiers of the coloured brigade came upon three rebels whose guns were unloaded, and demanded their surrender. One of the Johnnies indignantly refused to surrender to a 'd—d nigger.' Berry sorry, ma.ssa,' said Satubo; bringing his piece to a ready.' ; but we's in a great hurry, and habit got no time to send fora white man." The man surrendered when he heard the click of the gun, and was brought in crying, and protesting that his father would kill him if he heard of his surrendering to a negro. The incident is more or less directly typical of the fate of the South. Whether they succeed by arming and emancipating the slaves or submit to be beaten, they will in either case have surrendered to the race which they sought greater freedom to despise and oppress.
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