The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-06-06
CAR THAGE, May Goth, 1868.

s. @. Mercer:
SIR;-The only news here, is the con-
tinued outrages and petty thefts, perpe-
trated upen Union women and children
by the tools of Southern chivalry, many
of them almost in sight of this camp,
l have made diligent inquiry, and the
number concerned in these cowardly acts,
DOT, in my opinion, amount to more
than twenty. The names of fourteen
have been obtained, and one of them has
just been captured, and as some common
sense efforts are being made, it is hoped
the remainder will be soon. They rob
women of butter and eggs, &c, bringing
them to market here, and then rob them
of soda, coffee, and such other little arti-
cles as they obtain in exchange. Some
who do these acts are rebel soldiers, while
others are known 10 be operating on their
own account, but they all congregate to-
gether. | have no doubt but that they
will soon all be captured, if they don't
remove to some other locality, and then
some wholesome hanging will strike ter.
ror to others. The commanding General
here is kind, courteous, and forbearing
man, but arouse him, and the sleeping
lion is awake.
Like they are at other localities, the
rebel women here have been very bitter.
Upon receiving q summary notice, how
ever, to call at the Provost Marshals
office and take the oath of allegiance, or
prepare to leave and go South, they all
came forward and obeyed the summons.
While doing so some cried, others looked
daggers, and a few showed good faith.
There are but two unconditional Union
families in town. To show the venom
and bitterness of the spirit of rebellion,
even in ~omsn, l may mention that l
have heard that rebel women here circu-
lated recently the Islander among them
selves that one of these families was
drinking house. A more amiable, res
pectable, refined and high-tOned lady is
not in the land than the one who is the
head of this family. / am further in
formed that the rebel ladies Of this town,
once upon a time. in the history of this
rebellion, formed n military company.
1t is said they elected officers from cap
tain down, and were actually drilled for
a week. There is, Isuppose, no question
about the fact of the organization refer
red to, but that any more was ever in
tended than to express their appreciation
Of the rebellion and thus operate on
public opinion, is not probable. 1t only
These same females ought to shed tears
of bitterness over the reflection that their
influence, perhaps, sent many a young
man to ruin and TO death. just as
had written the above, yesterday, l
learned a scout by the noble Seth Ohio
regiment had been ordered. That scout
has returned. They marched eight miles
through the darkness and rain of last
night, their commander, Col Jones, at
their head afoot, and attacked Smiths
regiment, Tennessee rebel cavalry. II
the rebels had stood and fought they
would all have been captured Twenty
were made prisoners and thirty fine
horses and two mules. As TO their camp
equipsge they had precious little Of it,
Not a tent was there, and but a small
amount of forage and provisions. What
little there was, however, the boys des-
troyed, among which were about hity
guns of all sorts and sizes. Stokes cav
airy captured five rebel soldiers yester-
day evening, and one Of notorious gang
of thieves few evenings ago, who had
for weeks been robbing women and
children. SO you see we are having stir
ring times on a small! scale up here. The
truth is, this army, with its accomplished
commander, is ready for any thing it may
be ordered to do that strikes at the cur
rent rebellion. CT.