The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-01
For the Nashyllle nany Union.
An East Tenne.,eau,s Lettc,


Soldiers Of Bradley aud other Counties Of East Tns.,c,
By Friends in Poac. and Comrades in War:
By your fires have warmed, and at
your tables have feasted. You are true
patriots and brave men. You love your
country more than all else beside. You
have been tried and proved yourselves
worthy soldiers. You have been in
suited and denounced as traitors by per-
jured rebels, because you love the glorious
old Union of our fathers because you
dared 10 praise the sacred old stars and
stripes which have foated victoriously
over a hundred goary battlefelds-the
pride of the nation and wonder of the
world. For this alone you have been
driven from your homes, your wives,
your children, your fathers, your mothers,
your brothers, and your sisters. They
have been insulted a thousand times by
the vile miscreants of hell The blood
thirsty outlaws, acting under the as
sumed authority of one JEFFERSON DAVIS,
continue to oppress, murder, and hang
our loyal friends in East Tennessee.
How long is this unhOly oppression 10
last? Have not the cries of down
trodden people reached up to heaven,
soon to be answered by the swift de-
struction of their oppressors e? Our faces
are homeward turned, and we are home
ward bound. The green and lovely spot
of our more youthful days, lies just be-
yOnd, and must be reached. Loved ones
are waiting TO embrace US as their de.
liverers from the thraldom of monarchiea
power. They are bound, and we mus
unbind them. Their letters must b,
broken and their prosecutors destroyed
But before this is accomplished, hare
battles must be fought, and great vic
tories won. Heroes must fight and he
roes fall, yielding up life nobly in de-
fence of great and good Government
The President must be supported, anC
his proclamation enforced. "The UniOr
shall be preserved" Let all other human
institutions perish, but this free Repub
lican Government must stand. Th'
great experiment Of mans cape shility Q
self-gOvernment is being tested, and mus
prove successful. If we fail, all is lost
Heaven forbid it. Conservative Cop
ps'heads" of the North must be laugh
lessons Of prudence and moderation
They must learn that this is no time {,
talk of peace. They must understand
that we will accept Of no compromis
that leaves US out Of the Union. We ar
for the Union right or wrong. We in
tend TO fght for il, and desire TO Sc
every man employed for its preservation
If the institution of slavery is in th
way, in putting down this wicked rebel
lion, it must be put out Of the way. /
the Government cannot stand wit
slavery, il must stand without il
And the man who would give up hi
country in preference to his slaves, is th
vilest of traitors and deserves not th
name of an American freeman. This j
no time TO talk about the rights Of tn
South. II the people are loyal they vii
be protected. If they are not loyal the.
Are not entitled TO protection. We ar
dealing with traitors. Men who hav
perjured themselves and proved recrean
to every principle of honor They hav
forfeited all right to hold property Of an
kind. They have forfeited life itsel
Treason, by tho laws Of all nations,
death, aud they deserve TO die. The
have committed treason, rapine and mur
der, and should suffer the penalty Of III
law they have violated. East Tennesss
ans, soldiers, brothers, let me ask yOr
the noble sons Of illustrious sires, sha
we ever be the slaves of JEFE. DAVIS an
bis wicked cohorts9 Never no never
We shall never be conquered, but forwT
march. Yours truly,
sam. w. LEE,
Private Co. Z, Sd Reg. Ky. Vols.