The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-07-22
HEDo's 25TH TEEsEssEE REG'T,}
FAIRFIELD, Tenn, June II, '63.


Col H. ". Waiter, d. a. e.:
SIR: desire 10 call attention to the
depreciation committed by struggling
cavalry soldiers on the property of citi-
zens Of the counties If 0verton, Jackson,
White and Putnam, from which counties
my regiment vas made up.
1t viii not be necessary to give many
instances of these depredations, as Ii is
almost s1iuersal complaint that they
are stealing, pressing or s,uapping horses
with the citizens of these counties, until
they have almost despaired of being able
to raise a support for their families. /
viii only instance . few cases: Mrs.
SalIie Grimsley, of Overton county, of
whom they stole the only horse she had,
while she has no one on whom to rely for
assistance. The party who took the
horse is unknoF TO her. Soon after, a
company forced themselves on. her, and
fed ont all the corn she had, except
few bushels she had the precaution to
conceal, and then refused 10 pay her near
done By Col. Chenault's regiment of
Gen. John Il. Morgan's command. L. \.
CuIlom, an old and respected citizen of
0verton county, has had eight or ten
horses taken from him in the last ten
months, besides other depredations. P.
III. Armstrong, Mrs. Hinson, Fl. II. Cox,
and many others, in fact almost every
family has suffered in some way. | have
Just received letter from my wife in
forming me that the last horse she had
had been stolen. There could be many
instances given il it were necessary of
horses being taken from women, while in
the field blowing, and broke down worth
less horses left ia their place. The most
recent complaints are of Gen. Morgan's
command while returning from the bor-
der to Liberty, Tenn. The depredations
do not consist alone in taking horses, or
swapping broke down, worthless horses
to farmers by force, but in taking bacon
and corn, absolutely necessary for family
support, in burning rails, throwing down
fences, etc., etc.
The complaint is universal against the
cavalry commands which have passed
through or been in that county except
Col. U. P. Hamelton's battalion, against
which there has been no recent COM
plants.
L most earnestly request that these
causes of complaint be inquired into and
proper remedies applied, and that all
commanders of cavalry squsdrons or
regiments be held TO strict account for
tie conduct of soldiers under their
command It will take severe punish
ment. l do not wish to make myself
conspicuous, or to dictate more than is
nv duty as an officer of the army, but
being q citizen of one OF those counties,
and my entire command coming from
there, feel deeply interested in the well
fare of the brave soldiers composing my
command, and / think something like
dismounting the men and cashieriDg the
officers would put an end to these trou-
bles.
The people will be bound to suffer il
they are permitted to go on unmolested
and soldiers whose families live there,
will hardly be kept in the service on ac-
count Of it, &c. / wish to call the at
tention of the Commanding General to
the condition of the people OF those
counties, and what will be their condi-
ton if they get NO relief. All the able
bodied men are now in the army, and the
women and men at home have nothing tc
rely on but their own labor and that o.
their little children, and without horse
to work with, in the name of high heaveE
how can they make support Situated
on the border, and liable to be overrun a
any time by the enemy, it seems very hare
indeed to be stripped of all means Of sup
port by those who ought ts be theIl
friends. Could it be wondered at tina
soldiers should become dispirited whei
they know their families at home are be-
ing deprived of the necessaries of life bJ
men calling themselves Confederate
/ soldiers p
/ earnestly urge that remedy be speed
ly applied. Respectfully,
j. M. HUaHs,
Col. Comd'g Goth Tenn. Reg't.
OFFICIAL REFERENCES.
HEADQUARTERS 18th TENN. REG'T)
Fairfield, Tenn, June IL, 1913. !
Communication on the conduct of To
cavalry.
| Respectfully forwarded,
JOHN M. HUaRs.
Col Comd'g 25ih Tenn. Reg't.
| HEADQUARTERS AKMY OF TEaEHssEEl
Juae II, 1868. s