The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-10
To Maj. Gen. Grant and the officers and
Men under his Command.
Correspondence Of the Nashville Union.

Correspondence Of the Nashville Union.
Pardon this mode of address by one
of the daughters Of East Tennessee, in
behalf Of the women and children, the
infrm and old ofthat unhappy region.
In my reading, havehmet with let
ter written over one hundred
years ago, by the Princess Char
lotte Of Mecklenburgh-Strelitz after
wards Queen Of England, to Fred
erick the, Great of Prussia, which in
many particulars so exactly des-
cribes our condition, that beg
leave to adopt it, as more APP
propriate than anything / could
presume to write. The circumstances
under which it was written are the
following
During the continental war, which des-
plated the fairest provinces Of Germany,
from 1856 to 1868, the duchy of Meek
lenburgh suffered severely its towns
and villages were occupied by the troops
of Prussia, who levied heavy eontribu-
tions on the inhabitants, and compelled
the young men to enlist Many fami-
lies, in order to preserve wreck Of
their property, made their escape to
Hamburger and Lubec; and at length
the country was almost depopulated.
under the impulse Of strongly-excited
feelings, which the miseries of her ma
tive land, more than justified, the prin-
cess sent the following letter to the
King of Prussia copy of which, after
wards falling into the hands of George
the Third, excited in the bosom of that
monarch an attachment towards its
feeling and eloquent writer
'']Iay Il please your Majesty.
81 am at loss whether l should con-
4 graduate or condols with your late VIC
tory over Marshal Damn, Nov 3rd, 1860,
since the same success which has COW
cred YOU with laurels, has overspread
the country of Mecklenburgh with
I desolation know, sire, that it seems
unbecoming my sex, in this age of Vi
cious refinement, 10 feel for ones coun-
try, to lament the horrors Of war, or to
wish for the return of peace know
you may think it more properly my
province to study the arts OF pleasing
or to inspect subjects of more domes-
! tie nature but, however unbecoming
/ il may be in me, cannot resist the
I l,-s,. ,,F ;v,faryaa1s,,o c., eb;- ,,-l,,,.,,,,
people. 1t was but very few years
ago, that this territory wore the
most pleasing appearance; the
country was cultivated, the peasant
! looked cheerful, and the towns abound
/ edwith riches and festivity. What an al
Iteration, at present, from such a
| charming scene am not expert at des-
cription, nor can my fancy add any hor-
ror to the picture; but surely even con-
querors themselves would weep at the
I hideous prospects now before me. The
J whole country,-ny dear country, lies
one frightful waste, presenting only
objects to excite terror, pity, and des-
pair. The employments of the husband
man and the shepherd are quite sus-
/ pended; for the husbandman and the
shepherd are become soldiers them
selves, and help to rayage the soil
which they formerly cultivated. The
towns are inhabited only by old men,
women. and children; while, perhaps,
here and there warrior, by wounds
or loss of limbs rendered unfit for ser
fvice, is left at his door, where his little
children hang round him, ask the
1 history of every wound and GROW
themselves soldiers before they find
i strength for the field But this were
nothing, did we not feel the alternate in
science of either army, as it happens TO
advance or retreat, IN pursuing the
operations Of the campaign. 1t is i'm
1 possible, indeed, to express the confu-
sion which they, who call themselves
our friends, create; for even those
rom whom we might expect relief only
Cypress as with new ealamities From
your justice, therefore It IS sire, that
4 We nope redress to yOu, even women