The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-28
Statements of Rebel Deserters.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 1

Statements of Rebel Deserters.
WASHINGTON, Sept Il.
A deserter from the 9Th Virginia regi-
ment, which is stationed near Lecsburg,
makes the following statements
He gays that a division Of the enemy,
under General Hood is encamped at that
place, and division at Waterford, about
10 miles above.
The rebels have the main body of their
army in Maryland. He estimates the
force in that State at ninety thousand
and says that their total force does not
exceed one hundred and twenty-five
thousand. The fetal strength Of Lee az
the time Of the Bun Run battle was only
thirty thousand men; but great many
troops had arrived from Richmond since
then. His Colonel, he says, laughed
heartily at reading an account in one of
the Northern papers fixing their numbers
at 100000 men.
A great many cattle and horses have
been driven from Maryland into Virginia.
\ wagon train, loaded with grain, arrived
from the same quarter while he was at
Nolan's Ferry.
There are very few troops between
Leesburg and Centerville, by which route
he mode his escape.
The rebel loss in the late engagements
in the vicinity of Bull Run, he SAYS, will
aggregate at least 10000. There were
5000 wounded in Warrenton, Culpcppcr
and other places between here and Rich
mond.
The First and Third South Carolina
regulars were almost completely annihi-
lated.
A desertcr who arrived at Hanover
Pa, from the rebel army at Frederick,
gives the following statement:
From deserter, who was brought in
this morning, who left the rebel army
last Monday night, l learn the following
particulars. The mans name is G.. l..
West, and he originally came from Chcs-
ter Factory, in Hampdcn county, Mass.
He informs me that the rebel army in
Frederick are under the command of
| General Lee.
He is not positive that Lee is now
with the army, but he frequently heard
orders from him read, and he presumes
! that he is at present directing the move
mcnts of the forces. The Generals that
he saw were Hill, LOngstrect, AIackall,
! aud jackson. He estimates the force as
high IS one hundred and fifty thousand.
They commenced crossing at hollands
Ferry on Saturday morning about seven
O'clock, and were nearly rorty-eight
hours going over. The whole army
waded the river. The water was in no
place more than three feet deep, and in
some cases whole divisions crossed in n
body. The troops were kept close to-
gether; they had no tents, and were not
allowed TO build camp fires,
In fact the whole expedition was con
Quoted as secretly and rs eNpeditiously
as possible Mr.. West was in Long
streets old division
Longstreet has, since the fight with
General Pope's army, been promoted to
the command of corps. A portion of
the rebel army reached Frederick about
five o'clock on Sunday evening.
Their subsistence on the march was
ANl Nalllly HNhHlt tAoWRut All luty natl
to eat from the time they left the P0to-
mac were apples and one ration Of rice
The cavalry Jared even worse. The
horses were fed but once during the en-
tire march. When the army reached
Frederick, foraging parties were sent out
and a large number Of cattle, plenty OF
hay and other necessaries were brought
in.
When Mr.. West left the rebels appear
ed TO be well supplied He knows no
thing Of the purposes of the General il
command, but thinks their idea is to re-
cruit in Maryland, and lay in stores
enough for the winter campaign,
Mr.. West was drafted into the rcbc
service on the LIST day Of January last
and was a member of the Fist Nirgini.
up TO the time Of his dcscrtion
He says that it has been incorrectly
stated in Northern papers that this regi.
men was disbanded. 1t can only muster
about forty men, but it still holds its po
sition in the rebel army.
The fare of the rebels since they left
Centreyille has been of a very inferior
quality. The best raiions issued wcr,
flour and bacon. For some days they
subsisted on flour alone, and At time
they wese not provided with that.
Mr. West, in describing the battles be
tween the Rappahannock and CentrcyillC
says that only about one-third oi th
rebel army was engaged at any one time
The principal divisions that attachc,
our forces were EWells, Jackson's, ant
Longstrcets. Longstrcct was in com
mand, although Jackson did most Of tn
fighting.
Mr.. West further states that the rebel
, appear to be in high spirits over thei
success, and insist upon ii that they ca
, whip any army the North can brin
against them,
Most of the soldiers are very indiilcr
emily clad, and some are so ragged thG
q their garments will hardly hang on then
Our informant considers himself lOrtu
= nate, as h = regiment was a iavorItc wit
p the citizens Of Richmond He says
, was clothed in the best that the countr
afforded, yet with all the care taken
him, he presents but a sorry sight i
p is now under arrest awaiting the ident
Gcation of his friends. He leaves a Wi
in Richmond, and, TO hear the poor le
lows story, one can but deeply symp.
thize with him.