The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-01-23

story of a Refugee.
,ordsrcs of the Cincinnati Times.

Mr.. Nelson r. A. Bidd!e, merchsnt
of Philadelphia, who married his wife IN
Savannah, Georgia, and who LETT there on
the I'd. inst, has just arrived here b. way
of Nashville, Bowling Green, and Loois-
villc.
Mr. Bidale had great difficulty in get
TIM our OF Savannah, having labored very
faithfully, hut IN vain, to do so tor several .
months.
Mr.. Biddle describes the alarm and
panic at Savannah after the Federal at
tack on Port Royal, as most extraordlna-
rv. Fear seized every one, aud all the
citizens fed FROM the place. The city
has no protection or defences whatever,
all the guns, ammunition and cannon
having been sent to Virginia. There
were no soldiers there but one regiment,
which was encamped near the town, tenn
porarily, on It's way to Virginia.
During the residence Of my informant
in Savannah, there were two or three
drafts for soldiers, and he was compelled
to furnish two substitutes for the Rebel
army, one of whom, an ex-lumber mer-
chant of Maine, was the most violent Sc
cessionist in the place.
The South, he believes, has all the
force in the field that it can possibly
raise, having made the most determined
and persistent efforts to furnish men and
money for the cause. The people have
been most severely taxed, and those at all
suspected of Union sentiments or procllv-
tiles, have been forced tdcontribute enor-
NOUS sums. Many Of the merchants and
professional men have bSen impoverished
bv the exactions of the 'EonfederacY."
The strongest and boldest Union man
is Hon. J. E. Ward, formerly our Minis
ter to China, and he is areadfully perse-
cuted by the Rebels, who have arrested
him at least twenty times while trying to
escape, and robbed him 6fhis entire prop
ertv, some 100000, and threatened sever
al times to hang him.
Mr. Ward says they can kill him if
they like, but that he viii never surrender
his allegiance to the General Government,
or cease to detest and denounce the mis-
cradle abortion known as the Southern
Confederacy. He is very anxious to go
North, but is so closely watched that he
cannot escape Mr. Biddell thinks that
it Is not at all improbable that Mr.. Ward
will be assassinated in Savannah, unless
he succeeds in getting out of the State.
The greatest excitement, Mr.. Biddle
says, reigned throughout the South on
the subject of war, and the women OF
Savannah daily practiced with firearms,
to perfect themselves in their use.
He thinks that even in Savannah the
presence of the Federal army would be
hailed with JOY by majority of the peo-
pie.
Savannah, like all the southern towns
through which Mr.. Biddle passed, is en-
tiraly barren Of business, and complaints
are rife of the stagnation Of trade and the
scarcity of money.
Mr. Biddle had the greatest difficulty
in obtaining $500 in gold, although his
brother-in-l law had 10000 of Georgia cur
.rency in the Planters Bank, and when
he did procure coin, was compelled to pay
80 cents premium for it,
Nashville has no defences,' and the
people thsse have, or pretend to have, no
fear of any attack from the Federal forces
as they say they never can pass Bowling
Green.
The State House at Nashville was pro-
tected by six 64-pounders, but those were
10 be sent to Bowling Green in few
days.
Mr.. Bildell was at Bowling Green
several days, and has had a long inter
view with Gen. Buckner who, he thinks,
has some sixty-ive or seventy thousand
men under his command, and was expect
ing Gen. Floyd from Virginia, with six
OF seven thousand, and Gen. Walter T.
Herbert-a brother of the California Con-
gresham who killed the Irish waiter at
Washington-fcom Louisiana, with about
the same number.
Gen. Buckner is very strongly defen-
ded, having an admirable position and
three tiers of fortiications, which cannot
be taken save by desperate fight and
with great bloodshed If the Rebels are
driven from one position, they can take
another, and for long time make a most
formidable resistance. DIR. Biddeli thinks
the prospect OF success against Bowling
Green is very small, but that the thanking
Of Buckner on the right and left would
insure his defeat.
Mr.. Biddell opines that Gen Buells
force is about one hundred and twenty
ave thousand, and that he will not make
an attack on the Rebels unless he has very
good reason TO hope for complete success.
Ben NJ Culloch made speech at Sa-
vanuah on the evening Of the 18th ut.,
and told the people that the South had
won all the battles thus far, and would
continue to be victorious until their indie
pendence was recognized
Mr.. Biddell says that The most astoun-
iipo fa1caboo1S ora IuilY- ,;rorl,+oJ ,,l