New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-30
FROM GEN. ROsECRANs,s ARMY.

! -Desolation-Milftary Admin
isfrstion - Provost-,Iarshnl Generals
Department - Police Depnrtment-The
! Situation Rebel Army, &c.
From Our speci.. Correspondent.
| NAsHvILLR, Tenn, Dec ~, 1902
Most charming but most unfavorable weather for
movement. 1t is iucontestably demonstrated that
wet weather on the Potomac paralyzes the army,
and that dry weather accomplishes the same end on
the Cumberland. This is true proposition, but
the latter section ia hardly dscussable. II is like
wise shown that tie single-track railway from Lou
isvills to Nashville ia hardly capable to supply the
wants Of this Department. The people of Nash
Vile can satisfy you on thi, point. Excepting the
poverty -strcken they DO not suffer for necesssries
of life, but they are denied most Injuries and many
comforts. The six weeks blockade sufieed to i'm
poversh the market aud since the railroad was
opened Adams's two express cars daily have been
the only facilities enjoyed by the public for the trans
portatiOn of subsistence and merchandise. Two cars
q day are rather meager accommodations Tor twenty
five thousand people emitting consideration of army
officers very important element IN the calculations
OF commissarial economies.
/ Writing ourrcnts cdldmo carries me into the
general subject Of the condition of Nashville. War
has 1esOated it. Retribution for rebellion has viz
tied almost every conspicuous household. There is
chamber. Pitifui, but just. Privation has de-
throned luxury. Mourning and bitterness have dis.
placed ohecrfuness. Nashville, once 30 renowned
for social society is somber and dreary q convent
| There is no social life here. People merely exist.
Most Of the abe-bodied men have gone TO war. The
Young men who remain AT home either bad
caste or have Lost it, by declining arms few
men, rocedipg in years remain 10 protect their prop
erty and families, and TO promote the interests OF
the rebellion by covert means. SCATTERING through
tla Ia Of
shutters and cherries dwellings. The female pop
ulation ia much depleted, bu, majority Of the lead
| ing matrons and maidens of society remain. They
are stately and reserved, but will do them the JUS
tice TO say that the major portion OF them have not
violated propnety since the army arrived here in
November. Perhaps two thousand have applied to
the Provost-Marsbal General for passes since that
time and much less than City have been unladylke
in department. Is il surprising that they should be
reserved Who could expect general sociabiity be-
tween them and us under the circumstances New
ertheess they seem TO begin TO realize tina,
We do not bate their people, although
they hate US. But their modification
of their original animosiiy, is peculiarly explained
" The war say they, is not personal" Not at
Gil, unless they choose to make 1t personal" 1t
would probably be unfair TO say that the slow
progress of their arms in the direction Of Southern
independence has tanned their proud spirits. IL is
more Just to attribute tleir resumption of appropriate
manners 10 returning reason. They have discovered
that is rigorous enough without artificial stnu-
lants
My sympatbies are most excited by the poor. God
knows, q poor man Or woman anywhere is miserable
enough but the poverty Of poor people in the South
al this terrible period Is something which teggsrs
description. There il but little work for those dis
posed 10 be industrious; compensation for the htio
labor that is done ia inadequate; prices of al
sares are extravaganza fuel is very and very
costly; rents high. little tenement Of two or
three rooms on obscure street costs$l2 per month
water for two rooms }l2 per annnm; green wood
81 and g. per cord. Sugar and coffee the poor can.
not buy.
The beautiful suburbs Of Nashville the pride of
the ueope and glory Of tho City Of Rocks, are deg
plated. The exigencies Of war have compelled the
sacrifice of many noble groves The charms Of
stately mansons have thus teen scarlhed. Elegant
edifces Of brick and stone surrounded with all
tie grces OF rural architecture, and bcautihed by
all the rich appliances Of culture and art, now
stand on, in bleak loneliness defowered Of the
graces of refined tasto-sad and dreary monuments
Of tho curse OF Rebellion. beautiful woman
proud aud stately as Roman natron, untouched BY
the seventies Of war, until the rude blade OF pio-
neers begun TO wound the superb grove which dec
GRATED her brow. visited headquarters not long ago
pleading with eloquent tears for the preservation OF
her trees. "Do not despoil my grove. General-
next 10 nv children l6ve II. When your ax-rnen
begun to fell them splendid trees, almost felt H. II
Cod had deserted Inc. Spare them for my woman +
heart"
Why not 7 They pere spared. Wherefore wdnton-
In destroy that which is not essential 10 public good
The engineers did not despol property for revenge
or deliberately. War exists. Qualifications were
10 be constructed. Timber wat necessary. This
grove handiest, and 60 the rude choppers begun
.oalthouQh there were fnc forests not distant. Had
il been the property Of IA Loyal man or woman, II
would have been the saine-so reckless are men
when there is not personal responsibility. mus
dOes the despOiler rage wherever mere IS war
Rebels suffer 10 more than patriotic. Indeed the
loyal and disOyal are apt-in TACT, DO suiieT-ahe,
wherever an army encamps.
There is scarcely dwelling Ia these suburbs I'M
scathed. Their beautiful gsrdens are de!iOweredi
the bouRhs OF stately magnoas broken, their sn0Olh
bark rudey rasped from their graceful trunks fences
syyep, into ashes; beautiful parks converted into I'M
eeelny commons, aud sprinhled with the debris OF
campf and transportation trains. Evidences OF cul-
ture and refinement reman-but in RUNS. You nay
Of such IA dwelling: " The proprietor was wealthy
and LIBERAL" You conclude from view OF the drea-
nv exterior of the structure aud the dim lra1ngs
Of the premises. monastery IL not more chcerless
than the deserted manriOn5 Of fugitive Rebel.
few are not deserted but they are more gloomy than
the grand edifce whose shattered shutters ana pro
ken windows stare codly at you. Inc IrCnts are
severely closed Scarce a ray Of light save the flick
ering beams that steal through tie atoed shutters
penetrates 10 the shaded chamber OF the soInper oc-
cupauts The tenants OF those now coister-lke
habitatons we're once gay ana AIRY women VINO
shed luster on brilliant society, but who slI There
now in gloomy solitude through tne weary hoheis
brooding bitterly upon the miseries OF war; and
weeping unquenchable tears over tho untimeiy
fall o, those they held most dear. " AS they made
their bed, 60 must they lie"
The whole population of Nashville, however, l.
seriously affected by want. The exigencies OF mill
tsry service require rigorous administration. Our
lines completely encirce the city, and the guards
are required TO exercise the utmost cTcumspect0n,
80 that mouse can hardly rustic through the leaves
of the forests without exciting the observation OF
piekets Ia issuing papers, provosl-M Marshal. Gen
eraI Wiles ia achieving the reputation VI military