Daily national Republican., 1863-11-18
Second Edition
FOUR O'CLOCK. p. n.
REFUGEE FROM Lrs,s Army


We received visit to day from Edward vii.
lianis, lately a slave belonging to Col. James
N. Williams, commanding the I'd Louisiana
Tigers. Edward is good looking quadroon,
with hair nearly straight, and is apparently a
very intelligent fellow.
Colonel Williams belongs in New Orleans,
where be was a grocery merchant, and began
as a captain In the Tigers, and has been pro.
NOTED for bravery until he ,ias attained col.
onelvy. Edward has been with him throughout
the war, and has attended him al every battle
between the rebels and the Army Of the Poto.
mae, except the battle OF Gettysburg, and I'm.
ally deserted him because the colonel had
determined to send him to Mobile to be put
into the defences, GU account of his brother
having enlisted into the Union Corps Antique,
at New Orleans. The colonel had made this
determination known to his orderly, who i'm
parted 1t to Edward. The plan did not meet
with Edwards approval, and he secretly re-
solved to sbandon the colonel, to sever all the
fond ties that bound him to the peculiar In l.
sti'ution, whenever good opportunity offered.
His experience had made him a s,rategist, and
he sagely concluded that movement of the
army Of some sort was likely to occur soon and
give him a chance for freedom.
Last Saturday week General Lce's army was
surprised. They had gone into winter quarters
on the south side Of the Rappahannock, in very
comfortable log houses, Col. Williams, of the
I'd Louisiana Tigers, had an extremely nice
house; but the Yankees came down upon them
Unexpectedly on Saturday afternoon, and next
day the rebel baggage was ordered to the front,
which in Lees army means toward Richmond.
They lay In line of battle all day Sunday, and
then fell back to the line Of the Rapidan.
The Second Louisiana Tigers went up to tho
Ford but did not cross and in the fight eleven
Of their men were killed and not ono was
wounded. When the rebel army moved toward
the Rapidan, Edward moved across the Kappa.
hammock aud came into the lines OF Brig. Gen.
Hobart Wards brigade. He gave Information
Of several parties of rebel stragglers concealed
in haystacks, harns, etc, and they were gobbled
By our soldiers. DO
Edward reports that great change has come
over the Southern army; that their high hopes
h"'N 'ho' WY ip'h uIph hciSut 90 tutc
TO come upon them at last. They no longer
cheer as enthusiastically as they used to do
when anything occurred to produce an excite
meDt. On the contrary, they often swear at
JED Davis and the Confedcracy, and are not as
obedlent to their officers as formerly. Il is
found necessary to shoot down a soldier now
and then to preserve discipline.
Clothing is quite scarce among them. Ed.
ward says that a number of men in his regiment
had their bare feet upon the ground The
rations are slim. They get bread and meat,
but no coffee, sugar and other small rstions.
They will fight at the Rapidan, where their
position is very strong, aud If beaten from
that, fall back on Richmond. He says Lees
army is now estimated never higher than 50, ,o0C
and 10 probably smaller than that figure. Tn,
opinion in the army was that Grant would tax,
Richmond or rather that a cooperative move
ment by Grant and the other armies would re.
suit in its capture.
Colonel Williams has offered a reward OF
500 for his Edward, He may hear of him to-
morrow--In New York.