The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-23
An Inside View Of Lees Army.
Eakedness and Starvation Tmpend
ing.
$500
Supplies Expected from Maryland
but not Forthcoming
Earnest Appeal to the People Of the
South for Clothing.


-
a correspondent Of the Savannah Re-
publican, who is with Lees army, writes
from Winchester, Va, on the Goth ult.,
that he was not al all prepared for the
hardships that army had experienced
since il left the Rappahannock, and that
he could recall no parallel instance in
history, except NapOleon's disastrous
retreat from Moscow, where an army
had done more marching and fighting,
under such great disadvantages, than
Lees During a whole month the army
had but four days rest. One fifth Of
the men were barefootod, one half in
rags, and the whole half famished. The
country through which they were pass
ing was desolated, and the transportation
was insufficient 20 keep the army sup
piled, and when provision trains arrived
the men seldom had time to cook, and
many of them had left their cooking
utensils behind. II was not unusual to
see a company of starving men have a
barrel of flour distributed 10 them, which
they could not make into bread. No
army on this continent continues the
writer, has ever suffered so much as the
army Of Northern Virginia within the
last three months. But their past trials
are hardly worth naming in comparison
with the sufieriDgs IN store for the win
ter, unless the people of the Confederate
states everywhere and in whatever cir
cumstances come TO its immediate relief
He says "the men must have clothing
and shoes this winter. They must have
something TO cover themselves when
sleeping, and TO protect themselves from
the driving sleet and snow storms when
on duty. This must be done though
friends at home, should have 20 wear cot
ton and sit by the fire. II is not neces-
sary to counsel violent measures; but il
is not expected that any person will be
permitted TO accumulate leather and cloth
for purposes Of speculation. Il was
hoped that'we might obtain winter sup
plies in Maryland, This hope was born
after the army left Richmond, and has
now miserably persisted. The Govern
ment is unable TO furnish the supplies,
for they are not to be had in this coun-
try. If it had exercised little foresight
last spring and summer, when vessels
were running the BLOCKADE; with cargos
of calico, linen and other articles of like
Importance, partial supply, at least, of
hats, blankets, she's and wooden goods.
might have been obtained from England.
But foresight is a quality of the mind
that is seldom put in practice in these
days.
But whatever may be done by the peo-
pie should be done Immediately. Not
one moment can be lost that will not be
marked, as by the secondhand of
watch, with the pangs of a sufferer. Al
ready the hills and valleys in this high
latitude have been visited by frost, and
the nights are uncomfortably cool TO the
man who sleeps upon the ground.
II the army of Virginia could march
through the South just as it is--ragged
and almost barefooted and hatless-
many OF the men limping along, and not
quite well Of their wounds aud sickness,
yet cheerful and not willing to abandon
their places in the ranks-their clothes
riddles with balls, and their banners
covered with the smoke and dust of bat
tie, and shot into tatters, many of Them
inscribed with WILLIAMSBURG" Seven |
Pines" "Gaines' Mill, "Garnett's Farm" |
Front Royal" Mcdowell Cedar
Run" and other victorious llelds--if this
army Of veterans, thus clad and shod, |
with tattered uniforms and banners. |
could march from Richmond TO the Mis- |
sissippi, 10 would produce a sensation
that has no parellel in history since /
Peter the Hermit led his swelling hosts
across Europe TO the rescue of the Holy |
Sepulcher.
l do not write TO create an alarm, or |
TO produce a sensasation, but to arouse
the people 10 q sense of the true condi- |
ton Of the army. | have yet 20 learn
that anything is to be gained by sup
pressing the truth, and leaving the army
to suffer. II / must withhold the truth |
when the necessities of the service re-
quire il to be spoken, am quite ready TO
return home