The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-08-08


ter 10 spend several days at Gettysburg.
as a delegate of the Christian Commits
sion, in laboring among the wounded. A
number of interesting incidents and
facts were communicated TO me by the
rebel wounded, for one of which, with
your permission, / would respectfully
solicit place in the columns of your pa
per, in order that il might be brought be.
fore the public as an additional confir-
nation Of the many similar statements
heretofore made: While passing among
tho rebel wounded, lying in barn near
the Sd army corps hospital, my attention
was attracted by n noble looking young
man lying on the floor Of the barn, who
had his left arm wounded near the
shoulder, and his left limb amputated
above the knee, Noticing that the ap-
pearance Of his countenance and the in
telligent expression Of his eye indicated
something decidedly superior to the
miserable specimens Of the rebel soldierV
lying around him, at once approached
him, and entered into conversation with
him respecting his prospects for eternity.
After few moments conversation on
religion, one of the surgeons stepping to
me remarked, 81 am glad to End you
conversiDg with this dear young man,
for be is now and ever has been a strong
and unconditional Union man: he was
forced into the rebel service and COM
pelled TO fight against his conscience and
his country" Upon the surgeons ma
king this remark, the young man grasped
me warmly By the hand, and with tears
in his eyes, remarked: 'How cheerfully
could have borne this if it had befallen
me in the defence of my country, which
l wished TO serve" then asked him TO
communicate to mo his history, which he
did with the request that l should have
it published in one of our Northern pa
pers, at least but not TO mention his
name; "FOr," said he, "if ever get back,
and any of those fiery Secessionists
know that l communicated these facts,
they will certainly kill me-" He then
gave the following account of himself:
am nephew of Andrew johnson,
military Governor of Tennessee, and
citizen of Johnsoh county, East Tennes-
see. Myself and ninety four other young
men, who like me, detested rebellion and
loved the old flag, determined we would
try and escape from East Tennessee, and
enlist in regiment of Union cavalry
thea forming in Kentucky. On the 25th
of August, 1862, an opportunity present.
| ing itself, we commenced our perilous
journey. We travelled uatil the 10th of
September, succeeding in eluding our
pursuers, when we were surrounded by
five companies of rebels, near Lucy
Cove Seminary, in Powell valley, Lee
county, Virginia, when ten of us were
killed and wounded, forty five made
their escape, and forty, including my
self were captured. Immediately after
our capture we were sent to Richmond,
where we were imprisoned for a
few days, when we were sent to Staun-
ton, Virginia, and, on the 29th of Sep
tember we were assigned TO the Sth Vir-
ginia Regiment of Infantry. Since that,
all the forty, except myself and bro, her,
have been either killed, wounded or
taken prisoners; and" he added, with
a deep groan, 'you see, sir, what am"
referring TO his mutilated limbs. After
further conversation with him on the
subject Of religion, offered prayer, in
which other brethren with me Joined,
and then bid him farewell. A few days
afterward, the evening before l left the
battle field, visited him and never did
| converse with a man who had reason
to believe death near, who was able to
| give a better reason for the hope that
was in him. ] met with many other
similar instances, but this was the most
affecting Of all. Many OF the rebels say
they have no heart m the war; always
regarded secession as a curse TO the
South rather than a remedy for any
wrongs she may have suffered or that
might in the future be inflicted. The
North Carolina men found unanimous
in making this statement, and one of
them speaking ofthe men from his State,
Of the impressed men from all the South
ern States, and of all Glasses in the ar
my who did not from the first enter into
the rebellion heart and soul, remarked,
with heavy sigh, "Well, sir, they can
put us in the front ranks but q short
time longer, for We are nearly all killed
or wounded" What heart is not pain
ed in listening to such statements, and
who that prays does not feel quickened
to pray more fervently for the wicked
ness of rebellion TO come 70 an end.
am, sir, yours respectfully, Nh,
WEST PHHADELPHIA, July 20, 1863.