Smyrna times., 1862-01-09

the field that it can possibly raise; having made
the most determined and persistent efforts TO
furnish men and money for the use. The
people have been most severely taxed, and
those at ell suspected Of Union continent or
proclivltes have been forced to contribute
enormous sums. Many Of the merchants and
professional men have been impoverished by
the exaciions of the " COnfederacy."
! The strongest md bodest Union man is Hon.
John E. Ward, formerly our Minister to China,
and he is 9readfuIly prosecuted by the rebels,
who have arrested him at least twenty times
while attempting to escape, robbed him of his
entire property, aud some 100000, and threat.
eued several times 10 hang him.
MIR. Ward saws they can kill him if they like,
but that he will never surrender his allegiance
to the Federal Government, or cease to detest
and denounce the miserable abortion knewn as
the Southern COnfederacy. He is very anx-
ious to 60 North, but is SO closely watched that
he cannot escape. Mr.. Bddell thinks it not al
all improbable that MIR. Ward will be ussassi.
| mated in Savannah, unless he succeeds in
getting cut of the State.
TIE greatest excitement, Mr.. Biddell says,
! reigned throughout the South on the subject
! Of the war, and the women OfSaVannah daily
practiced with firearms, 10 perfect themselves
in their use. Everywhere one hears the most
bitter and violent denunciatons of the Federal
Government and of President Lincoln and the
people declare they will resist to the death all
attempts TO subjugste them. They declare the
administration designs this as an Abolition
war and that they will perish before they sur
render their slaves.
Many of these ultra and hostile opinions,
however, MIR. B. believes, .re expressed to dis
guise the re-l sentiments of those who rtter
them md he says he has known men, pubicy
the most supeTAtive Ereeaters, to state private
Iy their strong attachment TO the Union, and
cir secret hope that our arms would soon be
successful. lie thinks that even in Savannah h
the presence Of the Federals would be hailed
; with Joy by majority OF the people.
, Savannah like al the Southern towns
through which Mr.. BIddcll passed. is entirely
barren Of business, and complaiRts are rife Of
4 the stag alton of trade and the scarcity of mo-
3 ney. Mr. B. had the greatest difficulty in OBJ
r tan'ng $500 in gold although his brorher-ln
a law bad 500 600 of Georgia currency in the
3 Plan ers Bank, and when he did procure coin,
/ was compelled to pay fifty cents premium tor
it.
Nashville has no defences, and The people
there have, or pretended TO have. no fear ci
any attack from the Federal forces as they
: say they never can pass Bowling Green.
:, The Stale House at Nashville was protected
o by six 64-pouncers, but those were to be sen
e TO Bowling Green in a few days.
Is Dir. Blddel was at Bowling Green severa
II days, and had long interview with Gen
II Buckner, who, he thinks, has some sixty five o
e seventy thousand men under his command, anC
't WAS expecting Gen. Floyd from Virginia
with six or seven thousand, and Gen. Waite
n Z. Herbert-a brother of the California Con
y greAsmen who killed the Irish waiter at Wash
uISIan ah,,nf q IN
Z, number.
10 Gen. Buckner ia very strosgly defended hav
;, ing an admirable position and three tiers o
le tortIfcatons, which cannot be taken sav
b, by desperate fight, an with great loss u
blood. II the rebels are driven from pos
a ton they cal take another, and for long Tim
n make a most formidable resistance. MI Bio
dell thinks the prospect of success agnIns
r. Bowling Green is very small; but that III
~ 1anking Of Buckner on The right and left woui
insure his defeat.
Ay Gen. Buckner is very secure in his position
lie and confident Of his ability TO drive back an
1t, force that may attack him. lie talks yer
I'D boastfully says the South have always whi
IS ped the North, and always can.
II Mr.. BIddell opnes that Gen. Buelrs force
about one hundred and twenty y'five thousnr
&c. men, ind iha the will not make attack on ii
ne rebels unless he has very good reason to hoE
IN, for complete success. Buell. is making actN
ng preparations, but has yet much 10 do before
m will be ready for battle
We Ben McCulloch made a speech at Savanna
lie on the evening of the 18th instant and told Il
re- people the South had won all the battles thu
far and would continue 10 be victorious UNI
'ly their independence was recognized. Some OF
fly in the crowd said they Ohe rebels) must expe
by some reverses Z" No, we need no" said Be
em Cd d-them, we can whip them all the tim
BY We are their natural masters"
ie. Mr.. Biddell says that the most nstoundIr
hin fnlsehoods are daily circulated and believe
I'LL throughout the South, and that he hmselfhad
er- doubt, at one time, that Lincoln had be'
nd hanged. Such stories as the taking OF Bal
lie more, Philadelphia and New York, are We
. II commSn, and the Savannah newspapers pu
mt, lush accounts of false victories won by Il
he rebels, five or six times every week.