Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-28
HUsrERsyILLE, N. w. Va, Nav. 20, 1861.

whose alter they offered up their lives as sacrl-
fee to the cause Of freedom.
HUSrERsyILIE, N. w. Va, Nav. 20, 1851
Dear Uaioa and Ausrican: This unpleasant day,
seet falling and the mountain peaks in the distance
carpeted with snow, attempt to write you briefly
of the LIST Regiment its operations its hopes and its
apparent destiny.
! Since the wisdom of those in authority has sent
US here, we have marched upwards Of four huns
dred miles over the most rugged country east of
I the Father of Waters, We have probably endured
more hardships than any of cur troops. But of
/ this, as good soldiers, we should not MUIR
muir, but be wiling to meet Our foe
wherever he shows himself and defeat him in his
diabOlical attempt to subjugate us--to deprive us
! of all that is dear to freemen.
| 1t is true that the present chroncler of impor-
tant events may fail to award to US our due. But
when the future historian shall come to record our
actions, with an unbiased mind, he viii give unto
our gallant late commander, General Robert Z.
Lee, the reward due to meFit-yho is sagacious,
able, humane and prudent.
Let US, for while, retrospect the field of opera
tons.
| Until the first of last August in this route we
nAu no lSOPcJ ~ eupptASs VI ally Aulu-
Gen. G4RNETr's disaster occurred in July. The
Yankees, after that muck lamented and sad catas
trophe, advanced, possessed themselves Of the
strongholds, fortified, and collected supplies
We had to face victorious nemy with an infe
ror force and procure our supplies over the worst
road imaginable, seventy miles distant They only
had to haul theirs 45 miles over excellent roads
And from the time we arrived at Valley Mountain
to the time we evacuated it. we never at one
time had more than fifteen or twenty days
provisions ahead, and to any who is at all ac-
quainted with army operations it is at once evident
that an army, however we'll equipped and gallant
that little be done with an srny inadequately
supplied with necesssFies to satisfy the inner man
Troops can be marched anywhere, but unfortunate
" army supplies cannot be transported, and men
can't survive but few days without beef and
crackers. To march in the rear was done but
then our supplies were soon exhausted, and back
again we marched, not from Yankees, but in quest
of the commissary. Such is brief summary Of
some of the obstacles which interviewed besides the
unevenness Of the country to prevent us from per-
+! forming much more.
/ To any one who will only pause and reflect an
instant, it viii be manifest that the defensive was
our true and safe policy.
A defeat here would be ruinous to our cause.
At Sewell, Gen. LEE was blamed for not walking
over the Yankees.
But there he certainly pursued the wisest
course For ne was on a mountain fortified
where he easily could have whipped ten times
the number of men he had with HIM
and the enemy was On the opposite hill in very
strong force as well as position. An attack on
them there would have been exceedingly hazard
Gus, as a reverse to US would have been extremely
disastrous for it was their evident intention to
possess themselves of the East Tennessee and Vir-
ginia Railroad to cut off our communications
from tho Potomac, and from there to have
thrown column into East Tennessee and there to
arouse the disafscted spirit which uuhappily ex-
lists in that section of eur gallant State.
Was it not. then, consummate wisdom when so
much was at stake, for LEE to stand still and await
an attack, when success would have been sure,
rather than to have made one when said success
was doubtfgL Gen. LEE is a man not only humane,
but of great moral courage. He can perform what
his Judgment dictates is his duty, despite the murs
murs of any, high or low.
He is not ambitious that his name should
decorate a newspaper, nor will he sacri-
/ fee his men to satste the ambition
of those who are more intent in having themselves
lauied than in doing their Country service; surs
rounded on all sides by foes-secret and malignant
| Unienists- inadequstely supplied with men and
! provisions-he has defended line of a hundred
and twenty five miles, forced the enemy to retire
or remain within his strong holds without any less
/ is briefly what Gen. LEE has done.
| 49,, ora on aD5. oIr tha =
winds Of winter are whistling around US, and
snor several feet deep according to rumor has falls
| len on Cheat, and some three or four inches deep
here. Our fate has been decided, amidst these
/ lonely mountains the first winter though az yet
we have nOt:begun our huts.
The soldiers duty is to perform his superiOrs'
orders without complaint.
/ But then to think that, we well armed and
otherwise equipped, must remain here amid the
SHOWS of this region, appears to US to be both
impossible and unwise; for before active operations
can be begun here nsxtl Spring, our terms of SER
vice will have expired.
Why not send Us then where we will be actively
engaged, to the coast or Kentucky? Gov. HARRIS
might as well make requisition for our guns-for
here we viii need but two to company for the
Z purpose OI AAhhS DeS4. AIlPHatlCoAlJJ ~ mUtS
fighting here.
Next spring, fear, will find our regiment mop.
erative from pneumonia, rheumatism and other ills
incident to exposure. Excuse this long letter, and
send to your correspondent the UNION AND AMERI-
CAN. SIG.
PRsoNEgs TO BE Court M1RTIALLED.-By an order
issued by Col Wood, late In command Of this post
and confirmed by Brig. Gen. Carroll, at present in
command, land, we also learn, approved by the
War Department at Riehrhond) the prisoners now
in jail this place on the charges OF bridge burn
ing and treason, will be delivered TO the military