The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-07
An Inside View of Rebellion in 1862.

Mr.. WILLIAM HENRY HuRLBEBT is
writing series of letters addressed TO
Hon. A. Parker Of New York, and pub
lished in the New York dimes, describing
his captivity in Richmond, and giving
some very interesting inside views of
rebeldom. The following in his second
letter lifts the veil from the condition Of
the South after the battle of Bull Run:
could not but see that before the de-
cisive aud fatal day Of Manassas, the
preparations of the national army at
Washington hogan TO inspire into the
most confident minds of the South a
vague and passionate anxiety. There
was the widest talk of desperate de-
fence and subterranean warfare. The
roads leading from Manassas 70 Richmond
were all 10 be mined-evcry town was
10 become another SaragOssa-in short
all the puerilities Of fear and fury
abOunded in the talk of men aud in the
articles of the press. Then came the
Dist of July, with its amazing catastro-
phe, scarcely credited at first, and when
credited, transporting the whole South
ern people from the middle air of doubt
up TO the seventh heaven of triumphant
| confidence.
Neither our Government nor our peO-
! pie have ever understood the enormous
| opportunities which the Southern victo-
nv Of Manassas threw directly in our
way. By nine men in ten at the South,
! believe that victory was hailed as the
substantial end of the war Il fortified
all their expectations of foreign interven-
ton; il suspended their organization of
domestic defence.
The essential diycrsities of character
aud of interests which separate ihe slave
States from one another, famed up in
the fancied security of their cause, and
became fragrant. South Carolina claimed
the glory of the day as hers. Virginia
and North Carolina Fetorted, by charging
her troops with bad conduct on the field
jeff. Davis who was present after the
fight was over, by accident, having only
| beard of the action while on the train Cor
| GOrdOnsyille, excited the indignation of
the generals in command, by claiming, OF
suffering others to claim for him, the final
honors Of the day; and Gen. Beauregard
in his official report put down the pre-
tensions OF the Executive, with q grace
fully sarcastic allusiOn to his appearance
upon the field, when the Geld was won
From the end of July, 1861, TO the end oil
January, 1862, the South was in a con
diiiOn TO have been overwhelmed by q
sudden and combined attack Of the sea
and land forces of the Union. The civil
government Of the Coniederacy was fall
ing daily into deeper contempt Mr.
TOombs had been removed from the Stat,
Department TO make way for Mr.. Hunter
whose appointment was intended 10 con.
ciliate and satisfy Virginia, Il failed L
concilate and satisfy Mr.. Hunter him.
self, who had scarcely entered upon Ia,
delights Of office before he began to in.
triguc for an escape from the insignifi
canoe of a cabinet minister into the i'm,
portaucc of Virginia senator.
The election Of Mr.. Davis and Ste,
phens to the permanent presidency an,
vice presidency of the Confederation
was hurried upon the South, and it ha,
scarcely been accomplished before thp
Border States in particular began 10 muir
muir at the results, as part of a precon
certed programme for claiming them I,
the policy of the Gulf In the militar,
department of the government MI
Walker OF Alabama, a respectable non
entity, has made way for Mr. Benjamin
Of Louisiana, whose hopes Of supper
from his own State had already begun q
} droOp toward that final extinction Whicl
they received upon his overwhelming de
feat in the candidacy for the Senate, an,
who consequently chung with desperat
tenacity TO the personal favor of Presi
3 dent Davis. Entering upon his Office a
the Presidents lieutenant Mr. Benz ami
; administered il with so single an eye I
e the pleasure Of his employer as 500
I brought upon the war department III
D mingled rage and contempt alike of sol
2 diers and civilians. NJ Davis. wit
. many qualities OF no mean order, unite
l as is well known, one deadly and d,
4 pressing trait tie is man OF the bi
a terest personal preiudices who lacl
Is alike the maguanimity really 70 toTgi7