, 1864-04-11
E:hT1EES aT KN0avILLE, TENN.
Letter C1om Rev. ". W. Patton.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn, April I, 1881.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
Ore cry CONES up from all the camps: S:nd
~ vegetables The medical department, from
Dr. Hewitt, tho Medical Director of the de-
partmcnt, and DR.. shippcn, Director Of the
Post, down to the humblcst assistant sur
geon, proc1aims tho necessity Of continual
supply Of this essential article Of diet. Bat
stin more earnestly do the soldiers and their
officers beg the-senitary Commission to meet
this want. At this distant section the Gov
crnment Issues small quantity of dessicatcd
vegetables, which make valuabloBoup.
though savoring strongly OF carrots, but
give out no potatocs, onions, pickles or sour
krout. The Sanitary Commission has been
furnishing cact regiment in this region with
taste, say enough for two or three messcs,
but Its supply Is exhausted for the present,
In no quarter does the Commission meet with
more general praise than here, where the
army has suffered such privntions and receiv-
ed such valuable aid. The surgeons in charge
Of the 1arge hospitals here declare that it has
saved very many lives, and entreat me to
urge the people to contribute additional
stores Of vegetables. Let single case Illus
trate the ralue Of such mid. 4 soldier was
supplied with small quantity Of pota-
toes by the distribution of the Sani-
tary Commission. He had long been
suffering from diarrhca Which medicine did
not relieve. Immediately on eating those two
or three potatoes his disease obated, and he
sent ont by a friend and gave farmer dol
lar nnd 4 half for one peck. These he ate
with the greatest appetite, and they saved
his life. His diar7Le1 was caused by taint of
ecuryy. have just spoken with two medt-
cal inspectors who arrived this evening from
the regiments in front, who report the SOL
them week ago by the Commission. Allow
me to express my personal obligations to
Dr. Hewitt, who not only gave me oil the in
formation desired, but offered the use Of a
horse, and placed an ambulance at the dis
rosal Of our sanitary party to convey MS
wherever VIC wished.
News came in to-day from the front that a
flag Of tInco'had gone through Bulls Gap to
Greenville, which has been the rebel head.
quarters, and found that the enemy had re-
treated to parts unknown, perhaps to Rich
mond, perhaps to invade Kentucky. A rebel
Captain WAS arrested as a spy in Knoxville,
yesterday. He c1aims TINT he was only here
secretly to visit his wife, who lives In this
place. A Eallows stands by the side Of one
the roads, on which q rebel spy was executed
about two moths. since. It may receive
another victim. Refugees continue to pour
800 ~ AN-SAlf AA0A4A u1lIGl IArL,
brought family consisting Of father,
mother and eight children! There
is very bitter feeling in this region between
the loyal TcDnessccans and the rebels who
have 1atkly taken the amnesty oath. The
former find It dit1icult toBce those who have
:buscd and plundcrcd them nllowcd to come
in, take m oath, retain tl,eir property and
settle down Us loyal citizens. In eomc cases
there are violent outbreaks, lynching aud
threats against life, while i fow~have- been
driven away.
THIS morning called on parson Bsownlow,
He looked feeble, having been scrfouslp i'll,
but conyerscd with much animation and
force. He handed me copy Of Ills paper.
issued this morning, requesting me to rend
aloud to friend present. his pupEent reply
10 late article In the Richmond 1Fhig upon
his supposed death. 1t was very keen and
he enjoyed our comments much. He goes
strongly for the reelection of Abraham Lin
coin, and has warm hoi'es that the REBELLION
Will be crushed this year, and the South CON-
PEELED to obey old Abe'' for the four years
An interesting slave case Is reported On the
street today. The facts are said to be these:
There Is free colorcd man here, employed
by the correspondent Of the New York Iri
bune. &c Eas a brother. who is the slaye of
ono Haskell, the assistant Of Parson Brown
10y in the Custom House department. The
Haskell fhen applied to Gen Carter,
who is from East Tennessee, for d
gusrd over his house. 4 guard was
furnished from the I'd Ohio cavalry.
But the free brother put up ladder be-
hind, and got out the slave Haskell
gaye the nlarm and fired twice at
the slave while the guard hid wisely behind
the fence The slave has not been seen since,
but the free brother has been arrested and
put in. prison. General Schoheld has the
matter under consideration. The laws Of
Tennessee recognize slavcry, and tho State
Was unfortunately excepted from the Prcst-
dents Proclamation Of Emancipation. Hence
| Gen Schofeld may not be able to free the
| imprisoned colored man; but what about
| the alleged action Of Gen. Carter in furnishing
| guard to Haskell?
This afternoon visited the cemetery,
| where eight hundred OF our brave SOL
diers sleep their last sleep. The graves
| are arranged In consecutive circles. Thir-
teen contiguous graves had neat marble head
and foot stones with monument In the
centre, erected By their companions Of the
10Th New York volunteers, (iIighlanders,) a
toucEing token of affection. One loyal colored
soldiers. grave hal been with the rebel
dead; another instance OF the yi1e prejudice
TINT follows its victim even after death.
"Uncle Sam" has evidently made up his mind
to stny in Knoxville The Notifications are
ample to defend it against all future assaults,
nnd every day finds 1t even stronger
Yours truly ". W. Patron.