, 1862-07-13

Especial Correspondence Chicago TribuRc.1
MEMPHIS, Tenn. July s, 1863.
At1airs Of warlike character in and about
Memphis have Of late degeucrtcd to the grade
of border ruflanism and :;11errillais1u on the
part Of the rebels, and the cndearor to sup
press the one and punish the other on the
part Of the representatives OF the United
States government, Thus far tue enemy has
come of first best in the business. He has
robbed, murdered, and burned to his hearts,
bloody content. But the arrangements are be-
iug made for putting stop to his dastardly
operations in Tennessee and Arkansas, and
bringing him to his just and proper reward
just at present great interest is centsriug in
eastern anu southern Arkansas. Curtis army
is somewhere lu the State. At latest dates it
was on short allowance Of food, and entirely
without proyender or transportation. Seeing
these facts as they arc, it has been the euf and
aim Of all newspaper men hereabouts to Gu
gage the services Of some Intelligent and re-
liable man who could travel through the
cnemy's country with in,puuity, and whose
connections with the rebels were at tile same
Time sufficiently amicab1e to admit of his rct-
tiny Information to be communicated to the
northern press. Such man, it was ny good
fortune to come across about TO weeks since.
Of course am not expected to reveal his
name or occupation, as that would cndanger
lis life and at the same time cut off tue haryst
Of news I expect to be able, from time to
time, to gather and send up to the readers of
TUE TRIBUNE. This morning I received the
following letter By q trusty messenger from
my new made co-1aborer, who, it will be OBJ
s.rycd, signs himself as the "AnKASaAs
TRAVELLER can assure the reader Of the
truth Of all be writes. The Information com
muuicated is necessarily mcasre, but at the
same time, ofgreat general interest:
MADISON. Ark. June 80, 1862.
According to my promise to you, made be-
fore lcasing Memphis, I now proceed to nut
you in possession Of The few facts haye been
able to gather since my arrival here The lnci-
| dents connected with my trip across the coua-
try to this place were only Of interest as con
| cerned myself Sleeping by day and travel
| ing By night with great caution, made the
village in four days, and entered it just at sun~
| rise yesterday morning. I find the utmost
CONSERVATION existing among the people all
| along the route. in regard to the terrible mil
ltary dcspotlsm they are laboring under Al
| most every man capable OF bearing arms is
| being forced into the rebel army. 1t works
| thus: Au order comes from IN officer Of Gen.
Hirdman' sand, by the way, there are hun
drsds in this town Who would willingly take
| the life OF that man-that person shall have
| three days IN which to report himself at head
| quarters or procure d suitable substitute
At the end Of the specified time, unless the
| man notified comes forward. he is hunted ont
and forced into guard house, where he ia
kept until he expresses 4 willingness to shouI-
der 3 musket The majority Of the army Of
1900 men which Hindman has in this State.
| are eonsclipts gathered in this manner. The
| greater number do not wait to be forced into
the ranks. II notified, they walt until their
time nearly expires, and then come Volun-
tarily forward. But am assured by hundreds
that they only do this because they are compel
Cd to, d7d that thy do not propose to tight.
1t gives me great pleasure to state that even
here, surrounded By the myrmidons Of JEFF.
Daris, there Is strong Union sentiment pre-
vailing. It is not generally known, aud the
men entertaining regard for the OLD govern
| meut are by the confederates generally sup
| posed to be secesh. But those with whose
Sentiments they become acqu ainted they let
themselves out. They are terribly heavy
upon the rulers they have had for the past
year. Tkey have had enough of the lack OF
government They find that their property Is
OF no use to them Thtir lives, their liberty
! are In constant danger, and they pray secretly
but earnestly for the protection OF the strong
! arm Of their country once more.
The tnso1ence and audacity Of the rebel
rabble, called soldiery, is only equ lied By
that Of the guerri1las who wander IN compa.
| MES Of from fifty to one hundred over tie
country, taking whatever they can Lay their