Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-09-14
THE GOVERNMENT AT WASHING
TON.

AONa
From the Charleston Couricr
A friend, who was in the Courier Office on
Saturday, gives US some interesting particulars
Of a conversation that passed between him
self and a fellow passenger on the Augusta
down train of the South Carolina railroad.
Oar friend, at his request, was introduced
sRy 1Ae conductor to Mr.. W. H. Byrd, who had
/ Just arrived from Wishing on, and was on his
way to Richmond with Important information
for the Confederate government.
Mr.. Byrd stated that be had been acting for
several months as private secretary IN the war
Department at Washington.
At the commencement of the present diff
| culIes be was IN Washington with his family,
and from various causes found it impossible
! = get away and return to bis home in Angus
d. BesiFous CT being servicsable to the
lANutbcrH government, he represented himself
as q NeU YORKER, and accepted a place ten
dered By Secretary Cameron. He was thus
! enabled to obtain the earliest information Of
all the war movements in contemplation, In
! teiligeRce Of which be transmitted home from
time 10 time. His attention TO business Sc
cured him the unlimited confidence Of Cam
eIOB, who at length gave him the responsible
| position Of private secretary. This enabled
hin to procure passes for himself and friends
to 60 wherever they desired. In fact, al pas
ses from the War Department were obliged to
have Dir. Byrt's signature. He evaded the
oath required Of all the subordinstss in the
Office BY obtaining permission on the day 1t
was to be administered, TO go a target shoot
ing.
Mr. Bgd stated that with regard to their
army, they have about 10000 men around
Washington, but that they are the "riG-raf"
d every part of creation. They are In d COM
pletsly disorgsnizsd state, not drilled, nor have
tbeg any regularity in their army arrange
meuts. They put great faith 10 thsir %fortica-
tions The men are not paid regularly, the
treasury being exhausted.
MIR. Byrd said that out Of debt Of $4,000
due him, he was unable 70 get but $1,000, tax
ing 500 in ,pecie and 5000 in treasury notes.
The latter he managed to dispose OF after a
hard effort at To. re per cent.
He stated that Lincoln was in the war Office
when tue news Of the defeat Of the grand army
arrived. Never before had be seen such a dis.
appointed sad woe begOne expression Of coun-
t~enance. It was by turns pale, crimson and
dark. He sank on a ssttce trembling, and ap-
parsn ly filed with the sutmost terror ard
alarm. Re remained IN this state for some
time, speechiees and unable to move. But a
few moments before, and up to four O'Clock,
dispatches we're received Announcing the sue
cess OF his forces. Nov, however, he was
told that they were routed and dVing from
those whom shey had heretofore despised and
! TiRiculed.
Mr.. Byrd also said be was able to testify
from direct and positive testimony to the hang
ing Of two South Carolina prisoners after the
battle Of Ball Run on the 18th. In addition
to those hang, fifteen prisoners were shot bv
their capt0Tg, under the fear Of losing then.
When their prisoners, captured in the battle Of
the 2lSt, were taken to Washington, the Fire
Z1uavss succeeded in f0Tcibly wrestling tw en-
ty five of the number out Of the hands of the
guard, and took them to the Capitol building,
and there had q rope thrown over a beam, and
were on the point OF hanging them, when Gen.
Scott came with a large force and secured the
prisoners, safety
Gen. Scott was very indignant, and threat
enea to harg the Tingleaders of the Zouayes
with the same ro1e designed for the southern
er5. Some OF The prisoners were wounded by
stones thrown at them BY the Zouaves while in
the hands Of their guard. These fellows, Nh.
Byrd said are very expert in this practice, and
throw rocks az straight as a good marksman
would FIRE a bullet. They make it their daily
study to perfect themselves il all kinds and
forms Of d~eVillry.
The most important facts with regard 10
their defeat at Manassas, are concealed
As an instance, Mr.. Byrd mentions the fact
Of a young man Of a Massachusetts, company,
applying to hia for a pass, who said that out
OF eighty men belonging to his company only
eighteen OF their members escaped, all the rest
having been killed.
Cur friend stated that Mr. Byrd had many
important facts TO communicate to the govern
ment, which, Of cOuTse, it was not prudent to
make public. He stated, however, that it was
d paramount necessity for the Confederate
government to at once establish an e%fisIent
police everywhere along their lines. Unless
fhjs was done the country would be oyerrun
by spies who are paid literally by the War
Department at Washington.
It is the in. eution OF the government to car
ry ont r systematic policy Of throwing marau-
ding parties along the whole southern coast,
and tae States therefore should prepare to
meet them. They do not conceal this design.
The greatest inducements are beld out to
parties in the Northern States willing to en-
gage in these p~lratical expeditions. They are
in hopes of csTrying destruction everywhere,
and particularly in laying waste the cotton
fe'ds, add thus ~ohliging Us to keep mp large
forces in the respective Southern States.