Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-12-25
LATEST FROM TIE SOUTH.


French Citissns Fleeing from the Wrath t.
Come Scarcity Of Provisions Asmphi
Fortfcations-GreatE Excitement at Nash
vile on the Attempt to Drgft-Four Police
men Shot-Gou. Harris NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Troops Nth Black Flags and Skull ana
Cross Bones-The Force at BoaCling Greer
Terrible Condition of the Rebel Troops
Hospitals Crolced Nth Sick-The DEAD
CGrted off ii. Drays-FOrtgfcation on th'
Cumberland RiVer--Negroes Impressed into
the Service Union Feeling in the South
The Rebels Fear Defsat-Scdrcity Of Corn
in the SOuth-An amusing Ineidsnt-A
Traqedv at Hopkinsvals Il Louisiana
Lawyer Bribed, &C., Sc.
We had yesterday a very interesting in
terview with two Union refugees from Lou
isiana, who, by dint of sharp practice, sue
ceeded in making their way from New Or
leans to Nashville, and through the rebel
lines to the Ohio river. We omit their
names, in making public the following state
ment of their observations, as publicity
would operate to the serious disadvantage
Of the relatives and friends they have ''left
behind them One of the gentlemen has
resided during the last three years in Lou
isiana, where he was engaged IN mercantile
business. The eond tion of affairs becom-
ing every day worse throughout the State,
he determined to make his escape, and &C
cordipgly made his way to New Orleans,
where he spent nearly q week, and left
there for Memphis, one week ago last Sat
urday. He confirms the reports We have
had from time to time, of the utter stagna-
ton of business IN the Crescen. City, the
constant apprehensiops of an attack felt by
the inhabitants, and the scarcity Of nearly
all the necessaries of life. He says that
We can traverse the streets all day without
meeting 8 young and able bodie / man All
such, between the ages OF eighteen and forty
Eve, are impressed into the service. Ii
young man presents himself in citizens dress,
the police nab him, hustle him of to militia
~ quarters, where, without any questions
being asked. he is put into unit I'm, such
as can be Obtained, and started OF to the
wars They have to 60 noL-qS UoteTs- There
were not many troops in the city, they haV
ing gone forward to active fields OF opera
ton. The work on the Notifications about
the city was being prosecuted. Seven thou
sand bales Of cotton had betn employed to
make breastworks in them. There were
few guns TO be SEN, most Of them having
been shipped to Tennessee
Potatoes we're plenty in this city ataboui
81 per bushel retail, but other provisions
were scarce Coffee was selling 81 per
pound wholesale, and Sl.25 retail. Sali
was S. per bushel; common bro gans we're
selling at 50 per par, and boots were not
to be purchased at any price. Mess pork
was worth $45 per barrel. Our informant
says that supplies are scarce throughout
the State, The negroes were quiet but G eat
anxiety was felt in the parishes about there.
lest the scarcity of subsistence should lead
to violent outbreaks. The planters are to-
tally unable TO provide them with adequate
supplies. All The stock, including mich
COWS, were being slaughtered to meet pres
ent demands. People were removing from
the city and State, where they could get
away. This was particularly the case with
French citizens, who were making their way
to the sea board by way of Mexico.
The gentlemen made his way to Mem
phis without hindrauce lie says that city
is strongly fortified on the river side. There
were two gun-boats at the landing. reg
imeut of infantry and few companies of
artillery comprised all the troops at that
point
He took the cars at Memphis. arriving at
Nashville on Friday, the 9th inst. The city
was in high state of excitement. On that
and the day following an attempt was made
to draft citizens into the army. The indig
nation of the people was intense, and s mob
brokr out in the 4lh ward, and four police
men who attempted to quell the riot were
shot dead in their tracks. The mob rushed
to the Capitol to attack Governor Harris,
who fed TO Memphis. The papers of the
next day announced that he hal gone thith-
er on business But our informant assures
us that it was generally understood and dis
cussed, that fear of the mob had taken him
off The people, he says, are indignant that
the Governor should have undertaken to
impress them. If, said they, our govern
ment is in want of troops let the President
Davis) give the order to draft us, and not
the Governor. Lett be general throughout
the Confederacy, and not special meas
ure.
On last Saturday two thousand five hun
dred troops from Rapides parish, Louisiana,
passed through Nashville toward Bowling
Green They carried black flags, esnbellished
.cith skull and cross bones. They were most
" sixty days men, armed entirely with shot
guns, clothed in coarse jeans, some wearing
boots and some shoes, and all, TO use his ex-
preston, looking as though they had been
sick and had been on short rations.
The people of Nashville were constantly
expecting intelligence of a battle at Bowling
Green. Tne rebel forces at that point were
estimated by the papers and psopie well in
formed on the subject at twenty-five thou
-