The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1863-06-29
Oils RaiGp aunrnat,
from the Louisville journal
4 Eeuisyillian's Experience I'm Dixie.

j L0UisVilltan'S Experience IN DlX1e.
We have conversed with a very intelli-
gent and reliable gentleman, who left
this city early in February last, and has
been in the South ever since. 1mme-
diately after his arrival he enlisted in
the Confederate army, and deserted it a
month ago-made bis way through our
lines, and returned here on Friday last.
His accounts of the condition Of affairs
there generally are deplorable in the ex-
treme, and are indeed worse than any
history we have yet seen. He was, when
in the army, a hospital steward, and, be-
ing perfectly free to go and come as he
chose, his opportunities for observation
have been much greater than they would
have been otherwise. A perfect reign
of terror has taken hold of the country,
and the people fee from impending con-
scription, hiding in the hills and rocks,
preferring, in most cases, a death by the
slow process of starvatian to being forced
into the Confederate army The con-
script officers hunt them down with gray
hounds and cavalry-in some localities
dragging them cruelty from their hiding
places, and in any case death is the sum-
mary punishment for the refusal to ac-
company their brutal captors. He gives
US an Illustration, where one man fed to
the mountains in Tennessee for protec-
ton from the conscript act, taking with
him his wife and little children, and,
when accidentally found by the aid of
the hounds, he was dragged forth and
cruelty shot, because he begged to be re-
leased or permitted to come North.
The people, civilians outside of the
army, say they are subjugated, while the
soldiers are Indifferent, and have no
opinion whatever, and do precisely as
they are told to do, believing that they
have. no right tokhink for themselves, or,
if they have, are afraid to give express
sion to their thoughts The officers are
all in favor of monarchy, despising with
all their might and soul any government
after the fashion of the old one, and say
that no earthly power shall ever again
compel them to submit to a reconstruc-
ton of tie Union on its old basis-no-
thing short of monarchy, and that after
the most tyrannical model, will satisfy
them. A fearful state of restitution and
want exists among the men, women, and
children. Clothing is rarely ever found,
and when it is, it is held at such exorbi-
tant prices that three-fourths of the peo-
pie are unable to buy Food is not to be
had for love or money. He tells US that,
at one time, he had been without a
mouthful to eat for four days, and that,
accidentally finding one individual who
had loaf of bread, he bought it at the
enormous figure of three dollars and a
half.
The soldiers in most cases are as in
differently off as the citizens, though they
are cared for before everybody else
They are compelled to buy their own
clothing, and for that purpose receive
$50 dollars communication money, which
will not purchase one single suit; and,
unless some friend furnishes them with
the necessary articles, they have to do
without They would all desert if not
fearful of being recaptured, and in that
case death is sure and speedy.
Our informant was arrested at Tulla-
homa last March, charged with being a
spy, and was tried by court martial, but
as no evidence was adduced against him,
was released aud severely reprimanded.
Thirteen others were tried at the same
time, condemned to death, and subse-
quently executed. Among the number
was young man from this city named
Overton, son of Mrs Sarah Overton, a
widow, residing On East street He was
shot on the 18th of April, and buried
near Tullahoma, Tenn. He was one of
the unfortunate young men induced to
leave this State and go South by that
arch-traitor Buckner, and has met the
reward of his wiekedness. poor fellow, by
an untimely death at the guilty hands
of those whom he deserted his country in
an hour of peril to serve
The army South has been consoli,
dated, and sometimes there was not men
enough in FIVE regiments to make a
single one full to its maximum. The
officers thus thrown out are made con
script officers, and detailed on that
special duty by the authorities
Our friend when he went South was
firmly convinced that the rebel cause
was Just and right, but in a few brie
months he, like thousands of others who
would get away, if possible, to elude the
vigilence of the traitors, was undeceived
and deserted the earliest opportunity
he came within our lines, took the oatl
of allegiance, and wept over the old hon
ored flag. He was clad in tatters anC
rags, but, when convinced of the sinceri
ty of his repentance, our noble boy
clothed him and fed him, and sent hin
on his way rejoicing