The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-06-21
correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette
Ar CAMP NEAR IUKA, MIss.,l
Lnne 9th. 1860. {

Ar CAMP NEAR IUKA, MIss.,l
June 9th, 1862.
Beneath the welcome shade Of the oaks
and pines which are sparsely scattered
over these gentle hills, find the main
body Of the Sixth Division Of Gen, Buell's
army.
In front and six miles distant a party
of engineers, mechanics and laborers are
at work rebuilding the bridge of the
Charleston and Memphis Railroad, over
Beaver creek, which was destroyed by
Gen. Mitchell TO prevent the rebels from
transporting supplies and reinforcements
to Beauregard at Corinth. This whole
region, but a few days ago, was in the
possession of the rebel army, but now,
not one can be found by Federal scouts
or pickets.
Much of the country from Corinth to
this place is poor and none of it actually
good but as you advance eastward, along
the line of the Memphis and Charleston
Railroad, the quality of the soil i'm
proves, and evidences of a semi civiliza-
ton begin to appear.
Thus far, the main portion of the citi-
zens are poor, and in their poverty the
rebellion has brought them to pinching
want The vandal hands Of the Southern
chiyalry have not spared the families of
the poor enough to save them from well
grounded and fearful apprehensions as
TO the future. Indeed, it is difficult to
see how starvation is to be kept from
many household in this part of Missis-
sippi Corn is selling at one dollar per
bushel of ears, salt and coffee cannot be
had-whle sugar and coffee are held as
fabulous prices. Nor is the supply of
domestic dry goods any better or price
any lower in proportion.
Cotton is quite plenty; in some places
it is stacked out in square rail pens like
like corn in the year; but cotton shirts
are nearly played out, At one house,
where we stopped for an hour, the good
wife was trying to supply the place of
cotton shirting which, in the good old
days of Union and peace, was sold at ten
cents a yard by spinning upon her old
| cast by spinning wheel the cotton rolls
which she had previously carded by
hand. The plantation above referred to
| consists of six hundred acres, one hun
| dred of which is in cultivation; besides
| which the owner has grist mill upon
the creek hard by; and yet the good wo-
man was afraid to spare us scanty loaf
of corn bread lest her own children
would run short of food. No butter nor
milk, nor meat could be furnished at any
! price.
Should the present effort TO repair and
use the Memphis a. Charleston Railroad
prove successful, and should the Missis-
sppi river be reclaimed by the Federal
forces, supplies can reach here from the
| granaries of the Northwest. But alas
money worthy of the name is scarcer thar
corn or cotton cloth Specie is entirely
out of the question:; shinplasters, issuct
by railroad companies hotels, livery sta
blcs and saloon keepers, Cor sums varying
from five cents up TO seventy five cents
taking its place. Some of these shinplas
tiers are now redcemable in Confederate
scrip, when sums of five dollars are pre-.
scented. With such currency, with sucl
scarcity Of provisions, and with the pro
ductive industry Of ihe whole country
paraly9ed by war, it is difficult TO Sc,
how great suffering here is to be avoided
HOW THE PEOPLE TALK AND FEEL.
Many intelligent citizens look upon TN
rebellion as hopeless, and some express
their thanbfulness that such is the pros
poet. Ia the streets Of Iuka | asked
citizen what bis feelings were uponlth
subject Of the rebellion. lie lOokol
around to see IL any was observing b.
and then replied: 81 dare not be seen con
yersing with a Federal soldier and dar
not express my feeling" "Then yol
have had here reign of terror" said
Looking at me with mournful earnest
ness, he replied: "Worse than reign O
terror, reign of hell ~
Yesterday a party of officers halted a
the door of nom Shareholders house 70
a draught of water, and while slakin)
their thirst from the primitive gourd
the good woman was asked how she like
the arrival of the Federal troops, to whiCl
she replied she was more reioiced thai
ever in all her life before-shc hailed ON
approach ms a sure dcliyerance from tn
wrongs and outrages committed by tn
Confederate army for which she ha
long and earnestly prayed. "And now,
continued she, there is one favor ] ask q
you; | want tou TO capture and kill ever
one of Captain Luney's company; don
for heavens sake allow one Of them {
escape death,
This was said with such carncstnos
Of manner that l was convinced IN
promises Of outrages 10 be committed b
Federal soldiers made by the villifyin
Seccssionists have been fulfilled by the
own diabolical deeds,