The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-08-08
AnmY CoRnEsPo spENCE.
pEonEnp. Tenn., Aug. 4. 1s6s.

Editor Of The Nashville Union'
The rolling drums snd the lively
bugles have awakened the soldiers of
the grand army of the Cumberland, and
the wild echoes of the broad vailsy here
at the foot of the mountains; and whilst
the sun is rolling his chariot of fire up
the eastern mountain side, and Wilder's
lightning Brigade is arousing itself frOn
the soldiers deep slumber and from
sweet dreams of the great northland
and its "dear ones at home" and of those
quiet peaceful homes among the woody
hills and vallies and on the broad
sunny prairies, far beyond the Cumber
land and the bright rolling tide of the
Ohio, I want to drop few lines to you
for the public eye. 1t is not "puff"
for the benefit of somebody that ! want
to write. 1t is not in regard to captured
or impressed horses which have been
ridden promiscuOusly in our division
(and / fear in the entire army of the
Cumberland) for several months past, by
Colonels, Staff officers, Generals, &C.,
without appraisment or payment to the
Government for the same, for this is being
remedied, at length, to some extent. Nor
is it in relation particularly to the fact
that Generals, Colonels and Captains
get leaves of absence two or three times
year TO enlisted men of the army none;
or in regard TO the other facts that
Colonels and captains, even are some Of
them reduced to the necessity of tender
ing their designations Internationally,
in order to get a compromise on leave
of absence of 20 or 30 days. None of
these points do propose to dwell upon.
But, Mr.. Editor there is one point upon
which in common with tens of thousands
Of other soldiers of this Department
| am really concerned and interested;
and upon which we all desire some
light and feel like enquiring for some
reason as to why il is SO.
Our Government, for which we profess,
and proudly acknowledge, to be fighting,
has made provision for granting fur
loughs to certain proportions of all COM
mands in the service. Why is il, that
men who left dear and atfectionate fami-
lies Gas a majority of those composing
our regiment did with the expectation
that they could get home at least once
year to visit them, have found il i'm
possible, not only for one year past,-the
whole of them, (even when part of them
was wounded in battle,) but many Of
them for two years, to get home. am
well aware, and we all are, that the Gov
ernment has very properly left il some
what discretionary with commanders Of
departments, &c., as to who should be
furloughed, and as 10 when furloughs
should be granted, with relation to CAM
paigns to be made, and enterprises con-
oluding, requiring the presence of all the
men, or allowing the absence of = part.
Why might not part of our army have
been furlOughed whilst we lay inactive
at MurfreesbOro', or more recently, a.
soon as we drove Bragg's army from
Shelbyville, HOover's Gap, Manchester,
TullahomA, &c.9 Or why might we not
go home for few days no'o since we
have driven the enemy almost beyond
our department, aud are sitting here in
a state of mastery inactivity % We
are willing 10 do all that is reasonable
and just; we bear all sorts of personal
privations and hardships incident to q
soldiers life during active service. We
do these things without a murmur, and
we are actuated by spirit which leads
us to do s0hateVsr is set before as, in the line
of soldiers duty, who is engaged with
body and soul to put down treason and
save his country. This we will do at the
peril of life and every thing. But we
"want to 60 home" We want furloughs
to go home and zee our families, whom
we have not seen for a year or more.
We want 10 tight straight alcng until trea-
son is crushed, peace restored, and we
can go home TO stay. We don't like Ia
lay still away from home, where bust
ness and social ties invite and draw ul
so strongly, and when there is 50 much
that must be done before our work is &C.
complished. shall perhaps have more
to say in elucidatiOn of army matters
and will attempt to dralO somebody on
in regard to the reason for not granting
furloughs 10 the patient soldiers Of the
West. Respectfully, yours,
SPENCER RIFLEMAG.
GREAT rGENERALs.-The London Times
which is always disparaging the mill
tary abilities Of the Union Generals
says in one of its latest publications
General Grant has an impossible tasl