The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-11-28

way to their mess through the medium of
the forage train.
Government is very consistent, in its
wants and demands -never taking more
than half man has at one time. But
when foraging party calls upon man
every day, and takes half he has at each
time, as a natural consequence, after
while the halves get pretty small. Many
instances of gross outrage have been COM
mitted by soldiers under the head of for
aging, such, for instance, as going into the
yard OF poor woman and killing the
last COW she had, before her own door,
and adding to the outrage by leaving the
offal where the COW was slaughtered.
Another instance occurred in which a poor
Irish woman was ordered by some soldiers
to give up her only pig to them A fine
blooded ram, worth four or five hundred
dollars, was killed by band of these rob-
bers and sold for mutton These unpro-
voked acts ofvandalism are ferreted out by
the commanding General with untiring en-
ergy, and when the perpetrators are dis
covered, are punished severely.
THE SCARCITY OF PROVISIONS
Has been very marked, but unplea-
SAINT feature Of our sojourn in Nashville.
Suffering in no instance has taken place,
but many days our larder has been scanty
in the extreme, and consisting principally
of Bread and peas with no meat. We have
had no sugar at all for the past six weeks,
and as a substitute for coffee, we have used
parched peas or barley. There has been
one consolation. however, to us in our pow
erty, and that is, the citizens have to share
with us in our deprivations, for they too
complain even louder than the soldiers of
their scanty board. Provisions of all kinds
are scarce, and necessarily very high prices
are asked for them. Many of the common
articles of daily consumption are not to be
had at any price. A short price list of the
most common articles may be of interest.
Apples, per bushel. .............$ $500
Butter, per pound. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. LOO
Corn meal, per bushel. ....... 1.50
Gohee, per pound Observation-Disclosures. LOO
Tea, per pound, Observation-Disclosures. 500
Sugar, per pound Observation-Disclosures. 90
Potatoes, per peck. Observation-Disclosures. IS
Cabbages, per head .25@4O
Vegetables not mentioned above are not
to be had. Board of the most inferior
kind, $1.00 per day.
THE DEFENCES OF THE CITY
Are built on a magnificent scale, and if
the forts around the city were built before
this war, they would be pronounced i'm
pregnable; but since the fall of Sumter and
Pulaski, the destruction of the ram Ar
kansas, l am rather delicate about pro-
nouncing fertilization impregnable
''Fort Negley" is so situated as to COM
mand the whole city and surrounding
country The command consists of two
62-pounders, and four 32-pounders, be-
sides number of small brass pieces. This
fort is far from being completed. There
has been on an average, from 100 to $50
men, working upon it for the last two
months, about three-fourths of which are
negroes. Fort Andrew Johnson is built
around the State House, which is itself
upon the top of high hill, very nearly in
the centre of the city Besides several
other forts of large size, the city is sur
rounded by intrenchments and rife pits.
Taking all things into consideration, |
think it would be a very hard matter to
take the city. Some four weeks ago. Gen.
Negley had reason to believe, that in the
event that the city would be attacked, the
citizens would arm themselves and assist
in the attack An order was issued i'm
mediately, and
DISARAlING THE CITIZENS
Commenced at once All were ordered
to bring their fire arms to headquarters, and
reward was offered to any one who
would give such information as would lead
to the discovery of secreted arms. The
result was that in few days the ordnance
officer had very fine collection of fire
arms, collection that Falstaff would have
reioiced ill., so well adapted were they to
the different tastes of his soldiers. There
were long and short guns, large and small,
single barrels and double barrels, guns
that loaded at the breech and those that
did not, some had barrels while others
had none, lockless guns, and stockless
guns. Such was the variety that the citi-
zens brought in; those they did not bring
were probably in better order.
sKIRMIsHEs AND PITCHED BATTLES
Have been of frequent occurrence dur
ing the past few weeks Rebel bands of
guerillas have been providing around the
city for long time, and frequently attack
ing our foraging trains when they were
not well guarded. 1t became necessary
from time to time to go out and punish
them-one instance which deserves atten-.
ton. A force of rebels under Gen. An
derson had collected at small town, and
were boastingly threatening Nashville with
their few men, $1,000 or more.) Colonel
Miller went out there one morning and
attacked them-killing few, taking 200
prisoners, large amount of provisions,
and cOmDletely rOutinp the rest of them