The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-08-17


y--Deserters--spiea and Iie-
cruiting Omcers--Wtsmnnag
In Tennessee.
Some Elk weeks ago we gave a brief
outline Of what we felt satisfied was the
plan Of the rebels TO recover their power
in Tennessee and Kentucky. The article
was extensively copied in the newspa
pors, and by the loyal portion was prob
ably regarded as piece Of idle specu-
lation, intended either as a sensation ar
iicle, or 10 Gil up vacant column. The |
events of the past few weeks in this |
State aud Kentucky, at score Of points,
and information conveyed by hundreds
Of reliable persons, prove clearly that the
plan which we suggested had probably
been adopted by the rebels, is exactly
the one by which they are now operating.
We are satisfied that large majority of
those persons who have protested TO be
deserters from the rebel army, have come
among as merely to give aid more effect
lively 70 the cause Of treason by placing
themselves in position where they could
watch every movement Of the Federal
authorities, the course of local events,
and The fluctuations Of public sentiment.
Multitudes Of them are also engaged in
trading through the medium Of third
parties, and are sending arms, clothing,
ammunition, meat, salt, and other neces-
sary articles, 70 the Southern army. We
feel assured that the Confederates have a
large corps Of spies, recruiting officers,
and traders, distributed at every point
where they can be made available. Our
own observations are fully confirmed by
those Of a very vigilant and efficient
officer in the Federal civil service, who
has been with the army in the Southwest
for some time, and who, being on intimate
terms with some very intelligent South
crners, gathered from them vast amount
Of information. lie communicated TO US
some very interesting facts, which it
would be well for the country TO know.
Perhaps 70 impart them may be the means
ofcorrecting the fearful carelessness of the
Govcrnmentin some quarters The lenien-
cy of the Federal authorities in Memphis,
in permitting a general return Of social
ed deserters to that city, has excrted
most pernicious influence on the Union
cause Instead Of keeping trade in the
wake of the army, the authorities issued
passes and permits TO thousands of men
who had already perjured themselves
flagrantly, aud had no hesitation in doing
so again for the purpose of gain; and
who Immediately carried out great guam
titles of all kinds Of supplies far be-
yond the Union lines. The traders Of
Memphis thus furnished the needy troops
of the Confederacy with the very articles
they most wanted and the capture Of
Memphis under these circumstances, became
an actual advantage to The rebels They got
our salt they got our meat, they got
clothing, and they got gold in exchange
for their cotton, which they sold at larg-
or prices than they ever obtained before.
Desertcrs, too, who had returned and
voluntarily taken the oath Of allegiance,
were known in several instances TO carry
of recruits for the rebel army; and
everything that was done in Memphis
was communicated with remarkable CO.
lcrity to the enemy Rebel captains,
rebel lieutenants, and rebel sergeants,
walked round the streets of that city,
telling Union men that the Confederacy
was about "played out, and then arm
ing some good Secesh, would take him
of, and with a significant wink tell him,
"just to hold on little" or perhaps in
vito him TO take the oath and get pass,
TO join party of bushwhackers. The
fact is, the Federal authorities at Mem
phis have not had the force TO act with
efficiency. At no time has there been a
police there sufficient 20 carry out rig
orous policy. The gunboats alone have
enabled us TO hold the city. Why, in
the name Of reason, has our Government
shown such culpable carelessness toward
the safety of place so important as
that most important highway of the Mis-.
sissippi Valley ? First it holds IL with
public garrison, and then it allows an
army Of spies and smugglers TO entrenoh
themselves within its own Qualifications
with an unobstructed underground rail-
road in communication with the rebel
army Never were such mistakes COM
mittcd by Government before, The
fact is, that since the beginning Of the
rebellion, the rebels have never achieved
success; in every instance we have
given it to them by our delay and negli-
gence. And while in many places we
keep up rigid blockade, they can we'll
afford to eyacuatc such points as Memphis
if We allow them to he converted into
nero markets for their benefit.
Wenext invite the readers attention to
Nashville, which is the capital Of the
most important State in the Southwest TO
the rebel government It's great extent
the adaptation Of its fertile soil, and de-
Hghtful climate to all sorts OF produce
lions, its immense mineral wealth, and
its splendid network Of rivers and rail-
roads, 'rcnderit an invaluable prize TO be
En,,nll lnr III all hararlla Inv Ihn rnhnls-