The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-18
[For the Nashville Uniou,l

Mr.. EDITOR There is but little doubt
that the rebels have, since the beginning
of the war, been guilty of the most viii
lainous tricks ever known 20 civilized
warfare. Indeed, do not think that
the annals of either ancient or modern
warfare present such atrooious crimes as
some Of those committed by these iends
in human shape. have frequently
mentioned some of these atrOcious crimes
TO the military authorities. will here
note few,
1. Murdering our PriSonsrs.-I have
heard more than . dozen rebel officers
mention system of murder prActiCed
by the rebels upon our captured men, of
most villainous character. II is this {:
They select a certain per cent. Of all eaptared
Union soldiers 10 bs executed, and this Sc
lection is kept profound secret, so far as
those released upon parole are concerned;
they can never tell what became of their
comrades; and they are usually reported
by their officers as missing" and are
never heard from again.
| will mention few cases
1st. Last December n Brigade was
captured at Hartsville. was at Murfrses-
boro' on special business when it was
brought in, and saw the men parOlled
out of this Brigade they selected forty
three to be executed. l would bear testi-
mony to this statement before any tri-
bunal on earth or in hell or heaven. My
eyes and ears were fully open and
charged by the rebels that some of these
men had been pArOlled, that some had
l,ioiO that these two vehicles, when com
bined, do not often deceive me. 1t was
stolen from "citizens Of the Confederate
States" that some had been bushwhsck-
ers that some had fired on the rebels
after the surrender at Hartsville; and
others had been spies. But there wSs no
real charge against any of them. The
rebels call the selection a "nleclan-
ical selection !" and frequently talk and
laugh about it.
I'd. They gave thirty of our men,
captured as the battle Of Stone River, Ia
a bushwhacking company commanded
by one Capt. Bates; and they were exc
cuted. / could mention other cases un.
der this head, but think these sufficient
ii. Exchanging names ReOsr taken
When the names Of parolled prisoners arr
exchanged the rebels, If allowed 10, in
vAriably claim that they have released
more Of our men upon parole OF homo
than they really have, They did thi
last fall aud perhaps At other times
The authorities ought to be very watch
ful of them in exchanging the names o
parOlled prisoners. They frequentl
laugh among themselves about the
shrewdness in getting several hundred {
their men restored 10 their ranks fC
nothing.
III. R9JJiag our Dead and Wo1'ded'-
The rebels have been guilty Of this ride
ulous crime ever since the commencemer
Of the war. They steal their clothe
money, and all their other little tFioA
not contrabAnd Of war. They have 4
right TO steal our mems money and clOth'
from them; yet they do it. Go dow
South and you will find men with "greer
backs;" ask..them where they came fror
/. and in nine cases out Of ten you will
! told that they were taken from dead (
, wounded Yankee. When caught, the
criminals should be severely punisho
, U. s. SoOUT.
. CHATTANOOGA, Oct. 2, 1858.