The national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-13
MILITARY MATTERS.
rArENHNr OF pEsERrER FROM THE RsBEts 1

'
stones headquarters, arrived in this city a few
days ago, and paid us visit yesterday.
Mr.. Lowry ia II native of Fayette county
Pennsylvania, and n printer by trade. For
= Nms years past he has resided in Brookhaven
Lawrence county, Mississippi, where he was
ngaced in his occupation rs printer. Las,
June he was forced to enlist In the Southern
army, or, on account Of his Northern birth, in.
eur the hostility, and perhaps violence, of those
with whom he was brought in daily contact.
Fer some time previous to his enlistment the
eve nt suspicion and distrust had heeu cast
upon him BY the community In which he re
sided, aud, 10 save himself from the infection
'f II coat of tar and feathers, or perhaps worse
punishment he joined the rebel ranks, with
; ho resolve to escape upon the first opportunity
presenting itself. To use his own words. he
- could peither stay nor get away"
Ho made his escape from the rebels while on
picket duty on the banks Of the Potomac, cp
pUsi'o Edwards's Ferry, In u feed trough. He
was compelled. IN order TO tighten his weight
To throw away part of Ills clothing, bu, held on
70 his rife, which be left at Gen. stones head
quarters.
when lie left LossDurg there was stationed
At that place four infantry regiments-the
Thirteenth, Seventeenth. Eighteenth, and TWEEN
~ first Mssissippi--ono company of artillery
with three small brass field pieces, and one
company of cavalry, used exclusively as cou
riers, numbering, altogether, about 5000 men
under command Of Gen. Evans.
The company to which he belonged--oom-
psuy C-Mr. Lowry states, Is composed almost
entirely Of Northern mechanics, who have
been forced into the rebel ranks against theii
VII and INCLINATION, aud who would seize upon
the earliest opportunity to make their escape
il they did not fear being treated as prisoners
by the Uuionsts.
The Twenty first regiment is commanded by
Colonel Humphreys, of Sunhowsr county, Mis-.
siss,ppi, and arrived at Leesburg about II week
after the battle Of Balls Bluff. For some months
previous they had been encamped at Ma
nassas.
Tho regiment had receives but two months
pay since they went into service. and that was
IN Confederate notes. He had not had a silver
quarter of Il dollar for nearly th.oe months
The lowest denomination Of Confederate notes
Is Ave dollars, and In changing them he WAS
compelled 10 receive as change Virginia shin.
plasters, in denominations OF from two cents
vi TO fifty cents.
Specie is very seldom seen, and does not
enter into the ordinary channels of trade at all
II Is boarded up with great care by those who
are fortunate enough to get hold Of 1t.
He represents the rebels as having plenty Of
fresh meat and bread TO eat, but coffee, tea
aud sugar had been dropped from their rations
Tor more than a month. The latter articles
commanded ex"rbitant prices in Leesburg
aud were scarcely obtainable at any price
ba ahols vi hud of 20 nlpthas
shoes, and blankets, and many Of the troop
were actually suffering for the want of them
The company to which he belonged was far
niShsd with clothes by the inhabitants Of Law
renee county, Mississippi; but very few Of the
other companies in the regiment Jared as wei
as his company did in this respect.
He reports much dissatisfaction as existing
among the Mississippi regiments, Oh accoun
of the treatment they receive from their owl
State and from the Confederate Government
aud when the news of the capture Of Port Roya
by the Federal feet was announced, they wer,
| clamorous TO go home to defend their own sol
! from invasion. He represents that a mai orit )
OF the rebel troops are heartily sick and tiret
ot the war, and very few after they have served
out the terms for which they have enlisted
would enter he army again. They also beg,l
| to deSpoud OF being able to achieve their indie
pendence Of the United States Government
Their hope OF recognition by France am
| England is totally eXtingulsbed, and It wa
difficult to SAY which OF The three countrie
the United States, France, or England the,
entertain ths t'i,terest enmty against.
THE HOSPITALS.
We have observed, for some time past, tn
great mortality among the Pennsy vania regi
ments, as compared with that Of regiments rrur
| 9th ell States. and have often wondered at tn
cause of It, Out of fifty deaths of soldiers pub
IIshed IN our paper within The past week
twenty eight were Penusylvanans. The TO
lowing communication from member Of tn
First Pennsylvania Reserve corps, seems t
throw some light upon the subject, and to eS
plain the cause Of this great mortality:
CAMP PIERpoST, December 8, 1861.
Il hEssRs. EDITORS: Possessing, rs do, 4 kind
feeling towards all of my fellow men, deem
my duty 10 call the attention OF the public I
some vt the camp hospitals III the Pennsylvani
Reserve Corps. For Instance, in the First Re
serve, the hospital consists of two large tents
pitched on the side OF II hill. These are filed wi
sick, who lie on the ground with but an hanC
full of straw under them. In this so called hus
pt tai continual dampuess prevails, which
enough to bring the strongest III IN to the grave
and watch, with the aid Of the careless nurse
employed, causes most Of the deaths oCcurrin
in the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps.
Another circumstance, which II may not b
improper TO call the attention Of the generou
public 10, is the fact, that we rec 1t stated, !
nearly every paper that We pick up, that
great number of ladies aud gentlemen hav
had the Kindness to send Injuries, clothing &c
to The different hospitals, for the benefit of II,
sick. These needful articles, am sorry to saS
either d. not reach their destination, or ar
appropriated for other purposes than thos
intended by the sUndsrs. This assertion
know, by experience, TO be true. Ifthese ma
tiers would be looked after By those whose bus
ness ii ia to auerd to such things, halt tn
deaths would not occur. NJ.
Il THE BARBECUE.
Tumorruw the great barbecue, pig and sac
race, and other arrangements in connectlo
with the flag presentation TO the Twenty .thir
Pennsylvania volunteers. at Camp Graham
comes of. The Dag will be presented either
Speaker Grow or Senator Cowan, and will
received by Judge Kelly, Of Philadelphia
Preparations on the largest possible scale hav