The national Republican., 1861-10-25
A VIEW OF THE sOurH.

The following communication was handed to
us by distinguished clergyman, Of an import
ant interior town of Kentucky, who is now a
chaplain in one Of the Nstional regiments. As
a witness Of matters within his own knowl- |
edge, our correspondent Is euinently reliable,
but some of the matters which he communi- |
Gates are derived from the information Of 9TH
err, las, for example, the accumulation Of pro-
visions, by the military authorities Of Tennes-
see,) and are to be received with a proper
degree Of allowance ,r,.-r =. ..
Why is it, Mr.. Editor, that true Union men in
the North and at Washington City, sincerely
desirous Of putting down the infamous, cause
less southern rebellion, do not and will not look
the facts fully in the face Why is there such
a sentiment, in this city, that persons of inte.
gence and honesty, finding their way from the
rebel States, feel Il 70 be useless to state the
truth and the facts, and remain silent? and
another class, without definite Information, or
persons of mere local observation, or having
designs of a personal character, and speaking
only to please the popular sentiment and hRr-,
monize with preconceived ideas, bear swHSy
Has there not been thus far continual mistaRe'
concerning the rebels-their number, their
strength, and their resources! Let our fear
correspond with our danger and our danger is
over. Was 1t not the maxim of the greatest
general of the world, to fear every thing In pre-.
paration, anticipate all possible unfortunate
results, exaggerate the strength and power Of
the enemy when preparing to meet the foe;
and then, with such preparation, boldly meet
the opposing; force, feeling that but [ victory
could ensue?
Mistakes. l. Money.-Up to the battle of Bull
Run, it was not any scaroer In the Gulf
States than with us. The troops from Louis.
ana we're generally paid in gold. Gold was kept
for them. A bill was paid me in silver by a
debtor visiting me from New Orleans, who said
that he could get no gold, and had to- bring
bulky silver, as the gold was all sacredly kept
| for the troops and the war. have conversed,
| elsewhere, with gentlemen, three months ago,
| who saw themselves portion of the troops so
paid. There is no question that at the present,
| future, money must be almost unknown South
ward.
| 2, Shoes. Large quantities Ofleather and can.
| vass shoes are manufactured. The shoes In
store in large quantities for the ser rsants have
| been appropriated for the army. Shoes have
been sent from Europe. One vessel alone,
evading the blockade, brought in co 900. Shoes
| have gone, until within the last few weeks, in
| large quantities through Kentucky. The Shoe
and Leather Reporter pulishes valuable statistics
on the shoe trade of the South, showing tha,
the Southerners are not as bad off rs repre-
| sented 1t states and demonstrates that during
| the past three quarters OF the present year, a
sufficient number Of brogans went South tn
supply an army of four hundred thousand men
| for twelve months, and allow three pairs to
| each man. When the blockade shall be made
more effective, now since Kentucky has aban.
doned her neutrality, there must be reliance
| on the workshops of the South. The South can
anufacture rough shoes for about two.hfths
Of its population.
; Ledlher.-Previous to and in anticipation Of
the war, immense quantities were sent into the
South and Texas especially was stimulated L
its manufacture. Individual dealers, who laid II
IS 900 or $4,000, bought $4,000 and sl2, ,OOl
worth, in such places as Memphis, Nashville
! and towns of like character through the South
lSaA.-Some regiments may have suffered
but to represent that tiere has been any
mistake. The supply 10 now becoming more
plentiful. Hundreds Of men are employed or
the seashores evaporating, each man produc
ing, on an average, two bushels per day. Il
is now coming in freely from the western part
Of Virginia. Zollicoffer went to the Saline
works in Clay county, and got all the salt he
wanted to save the bacon needing curing, for
his friends In Tennessee.
Coihing.-There Is no reason for much com
plant among the troops. The uniforms pre-
sent curious mixture, grey predominatlng
The agents Of Northern sewing ng-machines hire
large number of men and women, and employ
| all these machines in manufacturing clothes
All do large business. Every tailor, assisted
, by thousands of women, black and white /.
, busily at work. nH
Rorses.-The South is eminently superior t.
, us. Our horses for cavalry purposes are no
carefully selected, nor rigidly inspected. Tn,
, horses for the South are owned generally BY
each rider, and has been in his possession n
} his personal property for years, has beef
highly valued, and will be taken care of.
PrOristons.-About this item there can b,
i no mistake. The troops, as II general thing
? | are well fed. In Nashville alone there is msa
and -four enough for the State troops for twey
months. Immense quantities are at Memphi
and the Southern towns. Immense stores arr
filled from top to bottom with bacon, and all tn
wholesale grocers are well supplied. Immens
u rebellion commenced. Kentucky, until lately
e was great means Of furnishing the South viii
n additional resources of provisions. All tn
Western States, through Kentucky neutrality
o Few persons not actually resident at the South
u or familiar with this subject, can form a
y adequate idea Of the providence Of the rebel
u In laying m their great staple, bacon. Wit
, bacon and corn meal, the South will be satisfied
The women at the South generally are actin
y quartermasters, furnishing literally the troops
y The Great defect is in the want of system nc
!. in want of food. The want of a perfect syster
Of distribution Of almost everything in tn
South has frequently occasioned suffering an
complaint.
n Greatly have the resources of the South bee
under.estimated concerning the manufacturin
: of powder, cannon, shot and shell, rifles an
muskets. Percussion caps, ! am reliably in
Il formed, are made in Nashville alone, at ESQ, 90
" per day.
}. The reasons Of the impression being mad
on the minds Of some honest persons comm
y here from the South, that there is such grea
Y scarcity of everything in the rebel army, A
from local information, from isolated facts, fror
Q occasional and temporary wants of supple:
&c. Few coming from the rebel army have tn
intelligence to generalize and to discern wha
e is occasional and what is the usual fact of tn
b case. For instance, concerning one regimen
OF our own army: have seen the most dolefl
y account, complaining of want Of food, negect
II brutal treatment, deficiency of clothing, an
receiving no payment. Ihave seen letters fror
n families, in another regiment, complaining q
= = the most intense suffering: would it be right I
assume these things true of the whole army
Because myself have seen Il company read
to mutiny (and only Quieted by the most elo