Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-06-03

The Real Character OF Rebel Chiv-
airy Exposed.
Before entering on this subject which
is source of humiliation and shame to
every true American, we enter our protest
against the sweeping term Southern Chic
uI,N which the Union journals of the
North empty to designate what we more
appropriately style Rebel chivalry. We
affirm that the reebl leaders are not rep
resentatives of Southern character, and
that they hold the same relation TO the
sterling people of the South that bar
room ruffian and street bully holds to the
decent and .law-abiding denizens of
city. Let not the Southern people, we
ask, be COMPOUNDED with the lawless and
turbulent oligarchs, whom God in his in
scrutable wisdom has suffered to trample
for a season on the necks of civil, worthy
and honorable men. There are in the
South multitudes of men TO whom the
word chivalry, signifying high moral
courage, with tenderness and magnanim-
ity of sOul,-as we interpret it's truly
applicable. But, as we said before, our
task at present is TO examine into the
acts, often repeated, of those rebels who
boast so loudly Oftheir "chivazy" in
cOntradistinction to the p1ebeianisn of the
Union party. II they possess the true
Chivalric spirit of ancient knighthood,
we shall find them showing kindness and
magnanimity to enemies whom they
have in their power, and scrupulously
avoiding all wanton insults to the help
less and the conquered. We have heard
and read so much of this gasconade for
sOmany years from these Southern Rights
men, that we have a right to expect
much. Alas, it will be found in this as
in many other instances, rebel profession
is one thing and rebel practice another.
Here are some examples of rebel chiv-
airy:
ola the official report of reconnaissance
up the Mattapony, above West Point, Lieu
tenant Commenting T. S. Phelps states that
he found at West Point " fifty prisoners Of
the rebels (BlostIy Dozen and Children living
in a hOrrid condition, in sheds, and without
che common necessaries Of life These peo-
pie we're residents Of Elizabeth City county,
and sent here by General Msgru Ter on ac-
count of their Union sentiments These soere
non combatdnts, WOMEN AND CHILDREN"
John MCLEAN publishes this statement
in the Cincinnati Gazette
"On the 25th of April, 1861, / was or
rested upon the allegation that l was cor
respondent Of the Tribune and thrown into a
dark and loathsOme dungeon. where the ac-
cumulated filth of years rendered existence
for any length of time impossible, This ar
rest the AOdlancls was exceedingly jubilaut
over and had their oounsels for summary
execution been acted upon, would not now
be writing this letter. While confined in
that city, was compelled to witness the en-
Ormites perpetrated in obedience TO the be.
hests Of those who ruled the mob. One hour
in the morning, from Elk 10 seven, Was
allowed me to stand at the window crate,
and at such times their wbippings and head
shavings were INDUCED. Here l saw, from
the 9th OF April TO rhe 9Th Of June, eighty
five men whipped and their heads shaved
and forty three hung, because they refused to
take an oath OF allegiance TO the Southern
Confederaoy. And on the 10Th of May last
one OF the most beautiful and accomplished
young ladies this county can boast Of was
stripped to the waist, thirteen lashes laid
upon Der back, and the right half OF her
head shaved, simply because she purchased
ticket for Cairo, and was communicating
herself that she would soon be in land Of
ireedom.D
The following extract of a letter in the
Newark Mercury from the Eighth New
Jersey regiment gives another instance
of similar conduct:
Mojor Ryerson fell bravely. No words
can do more than justice to his GOODNESS and
courage. Unfortunately we were not able
10 get bis body of the field in the pressure
of the engagement. Some of the enemy came
across him, and with their usual brutality
and worse than heather barbarism. stripped
him Of all he had about him, save his shirt
and pants. They did the same with Lieu
tenant Colonel Van Lear's body (of the
Sixth New Jersey volunteere) In fact thew
served all in the same way, turning out their
pockets OF every stricken soldier they met
Nor did they stop at this robbery of he
dead. They pefpetrated savage outrages
upon them, bayOneting the wounded and
breaking 10 the skulls of The dead with the
butts OF muskets, until the brain laid entirely
bare upon the earth beside the body
JAMES Il. MONTGOMERY, young New
Yorker, who was temporarily made pris-
Oner at the battle of West Point by the
famous Hampton Legion Of South Caro-
lima, makes this statement:
"Our men were brought in rapidly
ine officers killed--and several met killed
with Mimic balls and their lbroats cut from
ear to ear
1t will be remembered that none but
gentleman / G. persons able Do 0nY tblIr