The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-12-10
lCorrespondencs Of the Nashville URlon.l
Prom Bridgeport.

Evenings, 10 inc Anu Oh NcabucE No are
having here now. The Tennessee river
is at good tide, and still rising; b,Ats
loaded with supplies run from this place
to Kelly's Ferry daily, from which place
they are taken to the front by means Of
teams and pack-mules.
A number Of officers who were sent
home some time ago to receive cOnscripts,
are returning to their regiments, tie m st
of them with "nGry man." Talking Of
cOnseriptipg, drafting, etc, appears to old
soldiers here mere farce. Il seems
strange to US that it should be talked of
50 much and put off so long. Why not
draft and put the men in the field At
once, where they are needed, without so
much equivOcating and putting the gov
eminent to such great expense in trying
to recruit ? There is nothing 90 much
needed now IS men. Skeletons Of old
regiments, that have fought through near
ly every battle-Whose officers have
proven themselves of ability, in every in
stance, want men to fill their ranks. The
way the thing proceeding now, it looks
almost like On imposition upon old SOL
diers. A year and . half aud two years
ago, we enlisted and received S25 boun-
ty; now, We see the Government and the
people Offering TO recruits % high as
500. Men that have remained al home
aud avoided the hardships Of camp life
and the perilJ Of the battle field, must be
paid an amount, more to each individual
than the whole of the salary Of any sol
der in the field amounts to during the
whole campaign. II seems hard to old sol
diers who have been looking forward the
time with pleasure when " Mr.. COnscript"
would Come TO the field dressed in his
"suit Of blue" upon the same terms
as they did months ago. 1t ap-
pears to be awarding premiums for
cowardice, rather than otherwise
Men that have not patriotism
enough to 90 South in defense Of their
bleeding country-money will be no in
ducements save 10 those who make it a
business ito go to war for bounty" and
who will ahirk out of it in less than
three months, and in the end will have
to be driven to their country's defense.
And why not do it at once?
The recent battle at Chattanooga, as
you are already aware, has proven an IN
parAlleled success. We have captured over
sixty pieces of cannon, and up to this
date the roll Of prisoners that have ar
rived st this place amounts 10 $500, and
it is said more are coming. The last
squad that arrived were brought down
by the steamer Dunbar, and consisted
entirely of officers, about two hundred in
number. Among them was the son Of
Gen. Breckenridge and Msj1r Wilson, his
chief of staff. Young Breckenridge wore
the grade marks Of Colonel. Whether
he was attached to his fathers staff, do
not know. He seemed to be about nine
teen years of age, "gay and festive" and
seemed 10 relish his Yankee fare of fat
pork and hard tack well. In appearance
he is . fac smile of his father. They
seemed more anxious to see q paper than
anything else, saying that they had not
seen one since last August. l gave 3
captain 3 Union and some tobacco, for
which he thanked me, and vowed that he
would never lend another aiding hand to
this or any other rebellion and if ever
allowed he would become peaceful and
loyal citizen of the (" old United States"
Many Of them asked Of the soldiers
standing around Suppose we give up
would you let US come back and live in
the Union p To which they received
various replies. An IrishmaD, an old
soldier, standing near by, with
bis peculiar brogue answered: Yeas
and faith and we will, but not 4 d--n
minute longer than you don't behave
yourselves" They say that their rs-
tions for the last three months consisted
Of nothing save corn bread and beef.
They all acknowledge that their army is
entirely demoralizsd-All seem to be dis
satisfied with Bragg, and attribute their
recent defeat to bis blindness. Their
cause has gone up, and their last attempt
to regain East Tennessee has failed, and
resulted in the entire route Of their army.
The railroad bridge across the Ten
nessee here promises to be . fine sirue-
ture, and will be completed in few dsyF,
The pontoons here gave away yesterday.
covered with prisoners. Nearly all we're
saved. Report says that eight Confed-
crate soldiers and one Federal was
drowned. A detachment Of the l4'h
Regiment COlored Infantry, o. s. A., IN
der the command Of Major COrbin, are
engaged in building = large depos At the
landing. They are doing good work and
under good discipline. Their cOnduc { is
that which becomes men and soldiers.
The pref adics against colOred soldiers is
fast dying out and you can bear it gen.
orally remarked, they are going 70 make
he soIdiers." CLIEToE RIcHMoND.
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