Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-04-26

only tnree WINDOWS IOr lghI anu ar
From the rhlaleplAa Enquirer.
ATonching letter from a Rebel
soidier.
The following letter is from Mary
land gentleman now serving in the Con-
federate army. It's addressed to a lady
in Philadelphia. The writer was a
young man of promise, whose friends are
deeply grieved at the wreck which trea-
son has madeof his prospects. The reeipi-
ntbeing loyal to the Union, has no hes
itation in making public whatever she
learns respecting the position Of the reb-
believing that neither friendship
nor feeling should stand in The way Of
duty:
HosPITAI G. S. A.,
RICHMOND, Va, March 31st, 1925
wrote you some months ago, my dear
C--and / then thought, as / said for
the last time. But somehow, notwith-
standing your well known scorn for one
holding a position, voluntarily assumed,
in what you call the rebel ranks, despite
your persistent silence when kind
word from you would be treas ured be-
yond price-in the face OF all these,
again write TO you. Had health and
prosperity continued with me, perhaps |
might have had strength to keep my res
olution to maintain silence toward one
who fear will never forgive me for en-
tering the Confederate service but the
heading of my letter will tell you that |
am in that saddest Of all places, mill
tary hospital.
The regiment to which belong was,
with others, at Centerville during the
latter portion of The winter, where we
were most comfortably quartered and
we'll provided. We formed part of Ma
gruder's division in which are many Ma
rylanders. Several came from the vicini-
ty Of my dear old home, that spot
which / so tenderly loved, and of whose
beauty l was so proud. Soldier as / am
c., weep at the recollection Of the
happy, innocent hours passed in that
dear home and little did think when
first described its charms to you that
the time was rapidly approaching when
| should be exiled from il and from you.
But was telling you found many of
my former neighbOrs here, and thrown
in such close contact with many mutual
sympathies and memories, we have been
| like brothers TO each other. Constant
correspondence has been kept up with
the dear ones In Maryland, and when
one received a letter il contained good
news for us all
Lately, we found it eXpedient to retire
before the advancing Federal forces, in
order to strengthen Richmond. In a
skirmish received a wound in the side,
which is very painful, and may possibly
prove fatal. ! was carried away by my
/ comrades and brought with them all the
way to Richmond. All was done for my
relief that circumstances would permit,
yet suffered terribly, during the journey,
but before / reached this place uncon-
scion'ncss relieved my agony.
Ireceive every attention Of which the
circumstances around me will admit; but
the surgeons have more to do than they
are able to perform thoroughly. This
and all the hospitals, are crowded Will
the sick and wounded. Medicines arc
scarce, and, indeed, VIC are entirely DIES.
titute Of several drugs which are mos
necessary TO us There is also lack o.
surgical instruments, and a need of pro
per nurses. We have very few regularly
trained nurses, most of the attention be.
ing bestowed by conyaleseent soldiers
This makes sorry work; il takes a littl
practice to accustom man to such duties
and by the time he has a slight knowl-
edge Of the work, his health is restored
md be is returned 20 his regiment, 70
, the South needs all her sons in this hou
Of peril, The ladies attempted TO atten'
the sick, ard really aid as far as possible
! but lack OF experience and want OF merry
7 10 bear the unpleasant sights of hospita
, life soon drives most OF them away
{ With all these depriyations the pains q
6 sickness and the danger of wounds az
d ! .,.aafIrr auhanraN