The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-03-28

suffering of the Rebel sOldIers-A
Rebel Captain RObs his OVvn Sold
iers-A COnscFipt's Expsrience-Au
Uncle Compelled TO Shoot his own
Nephow-WomOn KnO cIked Down
ana OuI with sabres, Etc, Etc.
MURFBREsBoRo, March 20, 1863.
We are still here studying and prac-
ticing the arts of war, bnt enjoying the
luxuriesand blessings Of peace; how
ever, we know not what moment we may
be called upon TO give our experience,
at all events rest assured that we are all
eager, anxious, and willing to do so at
any moment Our High Priest" is
well qualified for his position, his " eld-
ers" have not and will not "fall from
grace" his deacons" and sub dea =
cons" have given their Experience" al
ready, while his ministers and mem
bers" have all passed through the fiery
furnace" and intend TO "hold on" until
that hydra-headed monster-treason, is
wiped out, and its aiders and abettors
driven to where the hogs of old were by
our Saviour, or else into the Gulf of Mex
leo. We are having, for va riety sake, 1
suppose, q very heavy rain to-day, and
to be candid, we b ad rather excuse it il
we could; but CO me il has, and is not a
very welcome guest. The mud is about
knee deep in camp, and about five feet
in town, which makes it very pleasant
for as poor pedestrians. | often think
of JEFFs boys" and would wish TO
know how the poor bare-footed fellows
enjoy this weather. met quite large
number ofthem yesterday, and must
confess they looked the perfect image OF
despair. Some of them were bootless
shoeless, and hatless, while others, coat
less, shirtless and almost painless They
were captured on the Shelbyville pike
| spoke to many of them, and from what
they say, the army of BRAGG is in ar cal.
ly deplorable and forlorn condition.
They complaiA bitterly of their officers,
but most especially of Bragg, who they
say is perfect tyrant. One poor fell
low from near Huntsville, Ala, informed
me that his mother, poor widow, who
had to work for her daily bread, had sent
him two pair Of drawers, few pair Of
socks, and some undershirts to Shelby
willie, and that the very moment they
reached them his Captain took them all and
appropriated them to his o,0a use, l asked
him why he did not complain to the
Colonel. Why, sir" said he "tfI did
they toouN have.me in the guard house for one
month toith a tall and chain 10 my leg" /
then asked him why he entert the army,
his answer was, al had to when was
conscripted" | newt asked him why he
did not desert while out on picket.
They never suffer q conscript TO go
on picket duty unless he is accompanied
by others who are not conscripts" 'aFhen
you can leave them here and they cannot
hurt you" "Yes, know it, and in
tend to keep away from them, they will
never catch me inside their lines again"
was the poor fellows reply. He also
informed me that great many OF the
conseripts were shot near Knoxville for
desertion, and that all the conscripts in
the place were ordered out to witness the
scene, while in many instances, the con
cfipts themselves had to shoot their olea blood
relations; one instance, he said, come
under his own observation, when the
uncle had to shoot his own nephew. He
noticed several instances whore soldiers
knocked do,0n end CIT t0i0 their sabres poor
defsaeelsss wonen IL Eaa 1nnssses, when
they would not inform on their husbands
and sons. This he says is of no rare
occurrence at all in East Tennessee. He
pictures the condition Of the women and
children Of that section as most deplora-
BILE, and especially those whose husbands
aud fathers are in our army. This mans
testimony was cOrrOborated by at least
a dozen others.
Such scenes as these should sisken the
heartS Of the greatest barbarian on earth
yet still tisy are Of daily occurrences in
a country that claims TO be religious and
ohivalF0us. If che eoppefheAdod dough.
faces Of the free States spend only a few
DAYS in the dominions Of their friend
JAR, doubt much if they would moi
report the mischief they are inEtrumen.
tai in doing, and dress in sackoloth and
ashes during the remainder Of theil
worthless lives. The cases Of the pool
conseripts Of the South are heaped daily
on their heads, for as they say them.
selves, III you folks at the North did mo-
make speeches and sympathiEe with JEFF
DAVIS, the war would have been oyei
long ago, and we would be al home viii
our friends" wonder what VALLAx.
DNGHAM, YooHRIEs, RICHARDSON & Co.
.o,,id aevr ~ thav oulty tynre hsro a. b.ai