The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-21
NO. 232.

oath Of allegiance had they thu opp0rtu-
nifty. The number Of deseriers from the
Confederate army, is myriad. They are
in every part Of the State. Some have
been out for months--sOme are daily az
irving. These desertsrs are mostly ths
oOnscripts, though many were volun-
teers.
The position of the enemy is similar
TO your late advices. They form vast
irregular line, the various portions Of
which are widely detached, and which
stretches from Fulton, on the Washiia,
to North Fork Town, on The Canadian.
General Price is near Fulton. Hs has
between 5000 and 5000 troops. About
halfof these are Missouri ans-ihe broken
relics Of that hne army that engaged ia
his exodus from Missouri. They are
broken spirited, down hearted, s0rrowful
men. "0ld Pap" himself, il is said 10
be in the extremity almost of desrar,
desponding, weary and unhappy in the
last degree At Washington there is
small force, and also at MurfceesbOro.
Marmsduke, Shelby, Brooks Cabell and
the other rebel chiefs, are all in that
neighborhood. Bankhead with his
Texas and LOuisians brigades, is near
Fcrt TOWsOn, on the Western Arkansas
line, fifteen or twenty miles north OF
Red River. Steele is near the same
place. Cooper is at Warren, on Red
River. he has furloughed ell his ChOc-
taws till spring. The extreme left Of
their line is near North Fork Town,
where Mcintosh is camped with his
Creek brigade. They sFe also mostly
on a similar furlough TO that granted the
Choctaws. A few bushwhackers are in
side of this line, and are q source of
some annoyance; but they are not very
daring, and their successes are few.
The COnfederates are displaying some
activity in our front just now. Brooks,
especially, is quite lively. It is thought
by some that be is preparing for anoth-
er raid northRsrd. He viii not get very
far for he is closely watched and makes
few moves, without their being immedi-
lately known. The total force Of tle en-
emy is probably not far from 1900 men
counting Indians, partizans, guerrillas
and all. OF these scarcely more than
one-half could be concentrated against
this point, and not over tWO-thirds
against Little Rock, without exposing
their rear 10 attack and utter defeat. At
the same time, they are SO situated that
a couple Of thousand good cavalry, with
some light artillery, could do them im-
mense damage, if not destroy them in
detail.
Sandwiches expedition northward
has not been fruilfal. Captain Spillman
whipped him badly at first. he then
fell in the rear Of the supply train on its
way here from Fort Scott, and Col Jud-
son gave him another thrashing. His
band was small in numbers and dispir-
tied when heard from. The prisoners
taken by Col. Judson insist that no raid
was intended-that they were merely
going up to assist some families 10 move
out.
Communication is now fairly open be-
tween here and Little Rock. Supply
trains move backward and forward, and
a detail, with WoFkmen, are now putting
up the telegraph on the old poles down
the river road.
The intelligence daily received By ths
refugees from Texss is in the highest de-
gree interesting. They represent the
country as abOunding in sll the wealth
Of the South. The best stock; the finest
horses; the liksliest niggers; all the per-
sonal and movable riches Of the vast
horde thst have sought refuge there, aud
their unhappy possessOrs are trembling ia
their shoes, expecting each day % see the
advance Of a Yankee army, in the very
city Of their refuge. The next place for
them TO 90 is Mexico, but getting out Of
Texas in that direction has become Sc
rious difficulty. And if they get into
Mexico they have no Assurance Of safety,
and the belt is encircling them. The
Sea shore and the line Of the Rio Grands
are occupied. Our army is advancing
from the East; and this army will soon
be down TO bid them good morning.
The military authorities in Texas are
exercising tho most grinding oppression
10 stills the Union sentiment. Unheard
Of atrocities are perpetrated. Men are
shot, hung, starved and whipped 70
death, are turned naked into the woods,
are fogged, branded, and pursued BY
blood hounds, if they atiempt to escape.
These horrors are executed by Quantrips
devils who have been placed on that duty.
It is said that Quantril himself is with
Standwaits at the North, but the story
il doubtful. he was in Prices camp
about three weeks ago. It is rumorld
that be was ordered to turn in his com
mand TO the Confederate authorities, and
himself 70 report for duty, which be re-
fused. But you cannot tell, you know,
how much reliance to place in the gos-
sip Of dcserters aud spies.
A streak Of light has shone on the In
dians. Colonel Jackson, McCGrtans and
CAPTAIN Kincaid with an interpreter, are
here. They are influential chieftains
among the Choctaws. They desire 10
avail themselves Of the benefits Of the
amnesty proclamation. They also beRf
proposals Of peace from tie Nation.
Their proposition is, that for the present
they shall remain neutral between tho
North and the rebels, with the UNDER
standing, however, that when the Federal
army shall occupy the line of Red river
they are to become our sctiYe allies.
This was about the purport Of their big
talk at General MeNeifs headquarters.
The Generals reply was prompt and de-
cisiYs. he told them distinctly that the
United States would accept no terms bat
those Of unconditional surrender and
that 10 join our side after the victory was
completed, would be e very slow act Of
fsalty. This dissolved the conference.
The q big IDjins are still about, looking
with some wonder on the contrast that
eur well armed, well clothed and vel
disciplined troops offered to the Seeesh
razsmufIians whom they have been oper-
ating with.