Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 02.pdf/84

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The Law School of Cumberland University. sor, and who was then one of the oldest and most distinguished Chancellors in the State, was also an ardent supporter of the Southern cause; and although he did not serve in the line or in any office relating to the Con federacy, he gave it his unqualified adhe sion. When his section was occupied by Federal troops, he went to Georgia, where he remained until the close of the war, when

he returned to Ten nessee and settled with his family in Murfreesboro. His capacious and elegant mansion in the vicin ity of that town had been destroyed by the Federal soldiers. He therefore began at once the practice of the law for a support, and soon acquired an abundance of busi ness, which he con tinued to enjoy until his death. This sad event occurred Au gust 10, 1870. Like Judge Caruthers, he died as he had lived, — a Christian. Both had long and faithfully served as ruling elders NATHAN in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. During the war the University buildings in which the Law School was taught were destroyed by fire. They had been finished, in respect to some important additions, just before the strife began. It is due to truth to say here, that although the buildings were occupied by United States negro troops, and that part of the country was in their possession, this reckless and unnecessary destruction was not committed by them. Nor, indeed, was it an accident. Several thousand Confederate cavalry were on a raid in the vicinity. A detachment was

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sent to Lebanon, before whom the negro troops retired to Nashville, which was the nearest strong Federal post. A Confederate Major in command of the detachment, who had been a law student in former years, af fected great indignation that his Alma Mater should be made barracks for negro soldiers; so, in his wrath and in his folly, he ordered the buildings to be burned. The loss was a most serious one to all departments of the University. General Wheeler promptly placed the officer under arrest, but that did not restore the buildings. As the news of the catastro phe spread over the country, while the civil conflict was still rag ing, hundreds of the alumni of the Uni versity felt and ex pressed the deepest indignation and most profound regret. The war ended in April, 1865. Of the four law teachers, two were dead, and Judge Green, then in his sev enty-fourth year.was in GREEN. very feeble health. He had been attacked in 1863 with a severe pneumonia, from which he never fully recovered. He had, however, suf ficient strength to engage in a limited prac tice of his profession, from which he derived some income. In view of his health and advancing years, he was at first averse to the proposition to reopen the Law School. After some persuasion, however, he con sented that his name might be used as one of the professors, not expecting that he would ever do much work. Accordingly the announcement was made that the Law School would be reopened on