Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-11-09
FROM MANASSAS.
[Correspondence Of the CharlestOn Courier


ever been my lot to behold; grand in itself,
considered surprisingly so when we reflect
upon the spirit that actuates those who have
thus turned from comfortable homes and
happy firesides to bivouac on tented fields,
and encounter such hardships as had previ-
Ously existed only In their imaginations.-
These villages of tents, or as in this instance
this city of tents is beyond description pic
turesque and beautiful. The white winged
dwellings ranged in regular streets, are fas-
cinating to the eye. however cold and cheer
less the realities of a life within them may
be. Then the busy scene of moving life
which is presented, and the order and disci-
pline everywhere apparent. Some regiments
engaged in their daily drill, others moving
tents in the hope of finding dryer and more
desirable location; parties of men whose drill
hour had not yet come, amusing themselves
with playing ball; groups gathered around
some one who was the fortunate possessor of
paper from their own home, listening wit b
eager attention to the items of local intelii-
gence. such as would not have arrested a
passing notice when they were there, but are
in their expatriation fraught with the deepest
interest; some gathered around their rustic
tables discussing their simple fare. Here we
pass one writing to the absent and loved,
using the ground as his table, and himself
stretched upon it at full length, in order to
secure accessibility to it, and few steps far
Their another who has withdrawn himself from
his comrades, and in similar position is read
ing letter just received; we need only to
glance at his joyous happy face to be assured
that it came from no ordinary correspondent
even before we get near enough to see that
the paper he holds has upon it evidently the
traces of fair hands, and we learn anew the
lesson that love is beautifier.
As we pass on among our friends, we come
to the Kentucky regiment, and it is almost
pitiable to see the struggle going on in these
noble, manly hearts; they yearn TO be with
their suffering brethren in their distant
homes, and feel as it was too much to ask
them to stay here when the foe ia laying
waste their.own fair and beautiful land. One
said to me-my father and two brothers have
been sent TO Fort Lafayette; the news came
to me last night, and my mother -; he
continued with quivering lip, L shall 60 to
her if am compelled TO resign to get there.
But he said the whole regiment want to go;
we feel that we mast, and the Government
cannot expect us to stay here when our own
people are having such aggravated insults
heaped upon them. We have petitioned
again and again to be transferred, and if it
be true that Breckenridge is to be Secretary
of War we know that ace shall go, for he can
understand our feelings in having our kin
dred hunted down like wild beasts, and car
ried away to be immured in prison walls. If
we have not power to release the prisoners
we can teach the captors what retribution
means
We felt the greatest sympathy for them
and could but hope that their desire might
be granted. If they would fight like heros
here, we are sure they would evince the
courage of lions while contending. in sight of
their desecrated hearth-stones. 1t is a splen-
did regiment, and no doubt the General COM
handing the division which embraces them,
will be 10th to give up such a powerful and
efficient body of men; but it would be cruel
to deny them their wish. They have been
FESTIVE for weeks, but have hoped some de-
cislve action would take place here, and
then they could better be spared; hut the
general feeling which prevails here at this
time is, that the campaign is over in this
section for this winter.
McClellan's movements have, from the first,
indicated that be feared to attack US, and
since the Leesburg fight his men have drawn
back to their entrenchments like a tortoise
shrinking into his shell. Our cavalry scouts
have, within few days, been within sight of
Mason's and Munson's Hills, and indeed close
to them, but there are some of our military
men who are still hoping that Mcclellan will
be forced forward. There is a strong outside
pressure against his inaction, particularly in
the West. Their papers speak in the most
derisive terms of his hercuIean efforts to for
tify Washington, and his manifest inclination
10 remain within his Notifications. Prepare
tions for giving him grand reception if he
only will approach, are perfect and complete.
Our ride of yesterday embraced view of the
Notifications recently erected, and it would
give me great pleasure TO describe them to
you, as it would be a qualification to you to
read of their dimensions, location and
strength, but wiser heads than mine, and
those who have the right to dictate in the
matter, deem it injudicious to promulge such
facts through the press, as it is we'll known
our enemies get possession of our papers by
some means, as we see extracts from them in
their own issues.
We have received the Northern account of
the Leesburg fight, and can only say of it
that the lying statement is perfectly infa-
nous. They put down their loss in killed,
wounded and missing, at two hundred. How
can they ever bring themselves TO publish, as
they must, the list of prisoners we have ia
ken. The seven hundred and sixteen sent
forward in the two first instruments are re.
ceiving constant additions, few stragglers
being picked up daily, even so late as yester-
day, when six additional ones were brought
down. The number of the drowned was Civ
en- to me as four hundred and ten, by a gen.
accidentally at the engagement, a distinguish
ed Divine. Here is loss of twelve hundred
without any killed included in the number
They boast, too, of having accomplished their
object in gaining possession of Leesburg
where they were now established, while they
know, as well as we do, that there is not one
of them this side of the Potomac; and the
only fear our people have is, that they are
too badly frightened ever to show their faces
here again. 1t would be very gratifying to
the army to receive them after the elaborate
preparations made for that purpose, and it
is rumored that Gen Evans is under censure
for having attacked them, instead of suffer-
ing all tocome that would, that the conquest
might have been even greater; but his brill
liant achievement will take all the venom
out OF such a censure, if indeed it be true
He has gained for himself undying laurels.
Our army stands almost in line of battle
from Leesburg to Acquia Creek. with brist-
ling bayonets and furbished swords, welded
by strong arms and guided by valiant pur-
poses. Our army stands before their foe
living wall of resistless hearts, and they
may heed the challenge, the proud defiance
thrown at them, 'thus far shalt come and no
further.n
The enemy have, it is said, a thousand
axemen in the woods near Alexandria and
below it, cutting wood for the supply of
Washington City through the winter. Their
code OF morals does not prevent their steal
ing from any one who has what they want.
They orrnstfn0 efff1or,s -fhora 80 A