The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-09-04
8lashrilIe A(nlOu.
Freedom and Nationality.
Interesting Conversation with a
TEissihs'ppian.
=. g. MERCER, Editor.

the following very interesting, and we
doubt not very uthful sketch Of \ con-
versation with arebel soldier:
OF late, the Generalization has not been
confined TO the troops from Tennessee
and Kentucky. Amongst the deserters
who now each day flock TO our lines, are
men from every State repr scented in
Bragg's army. The tall of Vicksburg
and the destruction of Jackson, crushed
the last hopes of the Mississippians, and
they are as anxious 10 return 20 their
homes as the troops from the border
States. Recently | conversed with a
very intelligent soldier from Mississippi.
Have you seen much active service
my friend?"
Eyes" he replied, 81 was at Shiloh, at
Perryville, at Murfrees boro' and in a
score of smaller combata At Shiloh |
received severe wound in my thigh,
and in one of the minor fights in Ken
lucky, lost finger, as you see" hold
ing forth his lett hand, from which the
middle finger was gone. "And that is
not all" he continued, zone of your
bullets grazed my temple at Stone river,
and knocked mo senseless upon the
ground where was run over by one of
our own caissOns, and so badly bruised,
that for time | almost despsired of re.
covery.",,
And did you think, all this time, that
you were really fighting and suffering
for n good cause"
mo-" said he, 81 believed the war on
our part was uncalled for from the first;
but the potent influences thrown around
me, and a sort of blind enthusiasm, with
which my INDIGNANT had nothing to do,
carried me away"
"You were not cOnscripted them" l
inquired.
so far from that" was the honest an
swer, 81 was among the very first to
volunteer from my county and town"
"rhen, of course, after you were in,
you wished the rebel cause to sucoeed?"
GAS long as my fever of enthusiasm
lasted did; but for the past year have
been convinced that the success of jeff
Davis would actually be calamity for
our country, and for mankind"
How long since you determined to
abandon the rebel cause?'
"Only since 1 heard of the dreadful
mislortunes which befell our arms in Ms
sis'ippi'
"And why did you not take the reso-
luton before that, it, as you say, you were
convinced that the rebellion ought not t.
succeed
81 was too proud said said he, with
a tear glistening in his eye, ito think of
deserving even bad cause after | had
once engaged in it But the fall of Vicks
burg crashed my pride, and then had
no motive for continuing the contest.
Why should we fight any longer? Since
| came into your lines, heard an idea
advanced which appeals 80 strongly to
my own common sense, that accepted
1t at once as the exact truth"
"And what is that?" | asked.
Why" rejOined he, "it is this: the
rebel leaders have themselves no longer
any hopes Of success, and now they only
desire to use our bodies to shield them
as long as possible from the righteous
wrath of the Government
"Are there many Mississippians in the
army who entertain your sentiments?"
81 don't know bow it may be with
others" said he, "but in my regiment
there are not score of men who would
not gladly throw down their arms to day
and agree TO spend the rest of their
lives in wondering how they could have
been such fools as ever to take them up.
But" suggested, "lhey would lose
their rights in the Territories. "
AT this he burst ino hearty laugh
"Gou need only repeat some such phrase
IS that to us" said he, ITO make the
depth OF our folly open like a gulf be-
fore as
By this time had become deeply in
terested in this ser sible and candId young
man, aud resolved to learn if possible
a little more of his private history.
81 do not wish to hatter you" l re-
marked to him, "but you seem to be-
much more intelligent than men of your
class usually are. Are you a native Of
Mississippi
yes sir" he answered, 81 was born
and raised near Holly Springs"
"Whee were you educatedP
"My only education" said he, twas
obtained at q common school in my
ne ghborhood. It was taught for tire,
years by man from Cleveland, Ohio, 10y
the name Of Sanders, and a most excel
lent teacher and estimAble gentleman h,
was Some of the richest families in ou
vicinity preferred to send their children
to HIM, rather than employ private tutors
and so, with what ho got from them
and what was obtain d from the State
he made handsome wage?
May | ask how it came, sad l, "tha
you, with 80 much better abilities, boil
natural aud acquired, than the mass o
soldiers in the rebel army, failed TO obtaiI
office amongst them|
lie smiled at this. any parents wer
poor caid he, "and of all the offices Il
our regimen, l cannot think Of one tina
has ever been held by poor mans son.
"Were your parents slaveholders|
"Not az all, They owned and cult
waited little patch Of ground, some mile
from the city, the value Of which wa
scarcely equal TO that Of a single slave.
You would doubtless have ob,aine
promotion at last?' | suggested.
"Not,' he bitterly replied until euer
rich stakeholder or rich shareholders SON d
my company had been promoted b.f2re me.
did your company contain man
such as yourself ~
ayes, said he, three. fourths Of thel
were poor men"
"And in your army IL is the bushes