The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-05-29

WASHINGTON, May 25,--RichArd j.
Coburn, the chief western correspondent
Of the New York World, has Just arrived
from our army near Vicksburg via Vicks-
burg itself, Jackson, Miss. Selma and
Montgomery, Alabama, Atlanta, Ga,
Knoxville, East Tennessee, and Lynch
burg and Richmond, Va. He furnishes
the following narrative which il all the
move important from his entire reliability
and habits Of accurate observation, and
the unusually excellent opportunity he
enjoyed while passing through the
country TO converse with the people, and
to learn whatever could be seen along
their route.
He says: ave were disappointed al
the real weakness Of Vicksburg; not
more than 1900 men have at any time
been there The defences of the front
and rear are mostly less formidable
than generally supposed. The.rear de-
fences are rude aud unfinished. The
country about VicAsburg is hilly and
broken, and the roads everywhere bad.
When Sherman landed at Milliken's
Bend, in December last, the rebels had a
force of 1900 men in Vicksburg and the
defences, but they were rapidly rein
forced, till on tho day of Sherman's as
sault they had 5000. AT the time we
were there the city was half deserted
and the whole military force consisted
of $4,000 men west OF Black River under
Gems. Forney and Loring, and 5000 east
of that river under Gen. Bowen. They
were bringing supplies by railroad as
rapidly as possible. Grierson's raid did
not ob,truct the railroad more than AZ
hours.
At Jackson, on the 9th inst, Governor
Pettus issued proclamation assuring the
citizens that there was no danger, while
at the same time he was removing the
records and public property 60 Columbus,
Miss, On the Sth we were taken TO
Demopolis aud thence 10 Selma aud thence
i50 miles on the Alabama river 20 Mont
gomery, through Central Alabama. The
wheat and corn crops are abundant, very
little cotton being raised. II is believed
that considerable Union feeling exists in
that region. Expressions of sympathy
are common.
There were but few troops either
through that region or any other part Of
the interior Of the COnfederacy which We
visited The people are generally pray
ing for peace, and very anxiously inqui-
ring when the war would be over. From
Montgomery, we were sent 10 West Point,
Ca, and on the 18th 20 Atlanta, Ga,
where contrary TO our treatment at all
other places we were confined in the
military prison on account Of complaints
that the officers of the gunboal IndianOla
aud officers of Col. Straight's command
had been treated with too much oivility
by the population al this place.
Newspapers were kept from US, and
the food was execrable, consisting of corn
bread and musty pork. In other places
we were permitted TO pass through the
towns At will, but here, II seems, other
prisoners had been cheered and fed by
the people; hence the unusual stringency
in our case. AZ Atlanta are large ma
chine shops and an ordnance foundry
constantly engaged on cannon, small
arms and ammunition.
In ali the towns, aud throughout the
country the able bodied men are ell gone,
and women, negroes, and children were
all that were left The negroes were
employed in repairing tho railroads, in
| the fOunderies, aud managing their army
transportation.
On the 18th we were sent via Dalton.
Ga, Knoxville, East Tennessee, Bristol
and Lynohburg, Va, TO Richmond. The
East Tennessee country appears well
cultivated, and the growing crops are
splendid.
Bragg's army is reported to be on half
rations
In Richmond the correspondents were
thrown into the Libby Prison with 1876
officers from HOoker's army, (Straighrs 3
command), and the gunboat Indianola.
The rebels feel gloomy about the news
from the West. Passengers by the last
boat from City Point say report was
then current IN Richmond Of the fall OF
Vicksburg, producing intense excitement.
On Friday, Mr. Coburn, of the WorH,
was released on the usual parole. Before
leaving he had the freedom Of the city
and found IL quite gay, with far loss
military display than in Washing IN.
TIE same scarcity OF able-bodied men
was not noticed tlere A. throughout the
country The streets were tlled with
fashionable promenaderselegantIy dress
ed, bat in two year-Old fashions. Few
or no drunken people were seen, and no
] drunken soldiers