The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-02-25

cines, and in many instances, their cloth
ing Robbed the officers Of their side
arms, over-coats, hats, &c. The boat Of
all her freight stores and money, and
her officers of their personal property. /
demanded Of Col. Wade some explana-
tion Of his inhuman course, he being so
drunk only made me an idiotic reply. |
then looked round for some other officer
and discovered Capt. Buford, General
Wheeler's A. A. General, in whom rec
ognized an old acquaintance. / appealed
to him; be was powerless from the fact
that the whole gang was drunk. He
however reported the facts TO General
Wheeler, wins authorized him 10 parole
the Hastings" on condition that she
carry no more supplies for the Federal
Government. accepted the parole. l
then took on board the wounded Off of
the steamer "Trio," also from the steam
err "Parthenia," and had succeeded in OBJ
tanning permission to pass on, when they
for the frst time discovered that the deck
Of the Hastings was covered with bales
Of cotton. on which our wounded were
lying. Wade instantly ordered me to
put ashore all the wounded (ovef 400
that be might burn the cotton, IL being
theirs by capture, and with them a con-
traband Of war.
To move the men again, was almost i'm
possible they had been virtually
stripped of everything--med defines
tAuons, clothing we thirty five miles
from any Military post; night
coming on; no place of shelter,
no place to put our wounded, and
dying men, save muddy corntield; a
heavy snow had begun TO fall, and in
view Of all this, and my sympathy for
men, who for eighteen months had done
their duty as true soldiers, and who tor
days had fought under you, and only
ceased when borne from the field. / de-
manded other terms. | told him / would
not move a soul from the boat, &c. All
this was reported TO Wheeler Cat least
they said SOY and he ordered that
should be held personally responsible for
the burning of their cotton on reaching
Louisville under penalty of my return to
their lines as prisoner Of war. | deem
ed the terms mild under the circumstan-
ces and ] Immediately accepted them,
in which | claim l did my duty The
passengers and soldiers of the "Trio"
and "Parthenia" were robbed in like
manner. After they had done us all the
harm they could, barely escaping with
our lives, they allowed US TO cross the
river during the burning of the steamers.
While they were preparing TO burn, the
gunboat "Sidell" hove in sight, and TO
all appearance made preparations to
drive the enemy away, But from some
cause or other Van Dorm made no fight,
and surrendered the boat without firing a
single shot. They then took possession
of her, threw over her guns and arms,
fred the three boats, and in a short time
nothing remained but the charred hulls.
On reaching GAINESVILLE, l reported by
telegraph to Maj or Sidell, who ordered
me to proceed on as rapidly as possible
TO Louisville, aAd report TO Gents Boyle
or Wright. This done, and the enclosed
papers will explain the final result of the
unfortunate affair. Thus hoping that in
all this you will not condemn me.
remain yOuI obd't servt
Signed M. 7. GADDlS,
Chaplain I'd Regt. o. Y. l.