Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-18
MOttester 4allp SPY
Four Days Experience in Frederick nm.
der the Rebel Invasion.


city, and remained there four days, not leav-
ing until Tuesday evening. We append the
substance of the conversation;
=. What is the number of rebels?
a. 1t would be impossible to say. They
are however, IN large force; l should sup
pose not less than 10000 men, though thew
claim to be over 100000. One of the most
Intelligent of them told me that nearly the
whole force who fought Pope are with them.
" DO they interfere with the people?
A. Not in the least. mixed among them
after Gen. Lees proclamation was issued,
and spoke my sentiments very freely. They
took it all in good part and replied to me as
they thought proper
Y. Was there any federal money used by
them in their purchases?
A. None at all that heard Of The only
money besides confederate scrip was South
Carolina money. They have perfectly clear
ed everything out of the city in the wav of
clothing and provisions, so much so that if
they remain week longer both soldiers and
people will be in starving condition They
go round the town also begging something to
eat, but always offer confederate scrip in nav
ment.
Z. How did the storekeepers fare?
A. They have sold everything, and been
compelled to give good money in change.
1hey were ordered to open their stores by
bradley johnson, and did not dare to refuse
the money offered. Mr.. A. J. Delashman
one OF the leading secessionists, had a large
stock OF boots and shoes, and whilst dealing
them out for rebel scrip fairly grit his teeth
IN silence when some of his Union friends
congratulated him on the fine business he
was doing. Mr.. d. was one of the commit
tee OF citizens who went out to welcome the
rebels to the city.
g IL
citizens who absented themselves been invad-
ed?
A. The only house occupied by the rebels
is that of Gen. Cooper and it is not abused.
party of soldiers, melted by some of the
secession town people, broke into the Freder-
lex Examiner office, and commenced to de-
stroy the Office furniture, and the provost
guard coming up soon dispersed the party
Bradley johnson told them that any attempt
to renew the outrage on private property
would be punished by death.
q. Did they obtain many recruits in Fred
erick?
A. Not many in Frederick, but there were
about five hundred who came from Baltimore,
Anne Arundel, Montgomery, and Carroll
counties, and some from Baltimore city. At
ter seeing the character of the army and the
life which the men led many of them refused
to join, and were getting home again. When
leaving myself | met six young men from
Carroll county, and piloted them to Westmin-
ster. They acknowledged that they had been
to Frederick to join the army, but, after 'see-
ing and smelling it, had concluded to return
home. They begged me not to give their
names.
Q. What did they mean by smelling it.
A. They meant exactly what they said. |
have never seen a mass of such filthy strong
smelling men. Three of them in a room
would make it unbearable, and when march.
ing in column along the street the smell from
them was most offensive. There are some
of the better class of men, but the great
mass are men of lowest caste, and although
under strict disciple, the filth that pervades
them is most remarkable. Their sympa-
thizers at Frederick have been greatly dis
appointed in the character of the army, and
most of them are now anxious for them to
disappear as they were for them to come.
Their coming to Frederick has been a sad
visitation to the middling classes, many of
whom have lost everything in exchange for
rebel scrip, especially the storekeepers. They
have no uniforms, but are well armed and
equipped, and have become so inuredto hard
ships that they care but little for any of the
comforts of civilization.
O. What was the general appearance of the
rebel soldiers2
A. They were the toughest looking set Of
creatures ever saw, their features, hair, and
clothing matted with dirt and filth, and the
scratching they kept up gave warrant of YER
min in abundance. The secession ladies of
Frederick used to call the troops of General
Banks ''nasty, dirty creatures" and the
Unonists had adopted a species of signs to
remind them of their old taunts. Whenever
a Unionist met a secessionist on the street he
- tab fnl, oil l1116
stood.
O. What do you think of the purpose of
the rebel army?
A. They admit that their coming into Ma
ryland was a question of starvation or food.
They were almost famished for food when
they reached the Potomac, and say that for
three DAYS they had lived principally on
green corn and apples.
@. But what is their purpose nowF
A. They are in full force, and undoubtedly
proposed when they crossed the river to
meet Gen. Pope, and serve him as they ana on
the other side of the river, and capture WASH
ington. But when they heard that General
Mcclellan was before them in full command
they became more cautious in their move
ments.
O. What is their opinion of General Nc
Clellan?
A. They respect and fear him. In fact they
laugh at Pope and Mcdowell, and say that
thew advanced on them with the fullest conf
dence of defeating them and destroying their
army, Had they found Pope in command on
the Maryland side they think they would have
been in Washington in a few days
O. But what is their purpose nowY
A. Well, when left Frederick on Tuesday
evening. it was under the conviction that they
were about to leave, and / feared that they
might desire to take me with them. had
mixed among them so much, and talked so
freely that feared they would think l knew
too much to be left behind There was every
indication that they had become alarmed at
the systematic movements of Gen. Mcclellan,
and were looking well to secure a line of re-
treat back to Virginia The starting OF Cen
eral jackson with his immense division, esti-
mated at from $4,000 to 10000 men Of all
arms, toward Hagerstown, was looked upon
as the first indications of a backward move
ment There were also evidences of trepida-
ton among the troops, who began 10 thlnK
they were not on safe ground.
@. Do you think they had any expectation
of reaching Baltimore?
A. Not unless they had first succeeded in
defeating Mcclellan and capturing Washing
ton. They would never leave the line of the
Potomac SO long as General Mcclellan was at
hand to move on their rear.
O. Did the secessionists of Frederick give
them any demonstrations of welcome?
A. The great mass of the better classes of
sympathizers in Frederick have kept entirely
alonf from tbani and rppret their presence.