, 1865-01-14
From Orr Own Correspondent

NASHVILLE, Jan. 0, 1866,
Not only has the notc of preparations for u
change Of base" from this place to North
Alabama been sounded, but the work OF
changing has commenced. Seven STEAMBOATS,,
left here yesterday afternoon, for Eastport,
and others arc loading at the wharf. ALI the
boats in private employ have been seized by
the Government, and will remain in the ser
vice Us long as demanded while fleets from
the North are sailing up the Tennessee, with
stores to supply the army which is about to
f" move on the enemy's works." In Central
Alabama, with yicw to seizing, occupying,
ard possessing the whole State, and partlcn-
1atly to destroy the little remnant Of Hoods
army, which u hiding somewhere hundred
or two miles south Of the Tennessee river.
Hook for no more big battles to the west
Of the Savannah river, for the reason that the
power Of seriously resisting our progress has
ceased to exist. After the capture Of Atlanta
Hoods army began to disintegrntc, bat the
promise Of speedy advance north stopped
ttesertions, mud hope of success was engen-
dered under the impression that orr army
had become reduced by the return homo Of
men whose terms of service had expired go
that WHEN Hood commenced his northwarl
move lis army was really in fine spirits, as
was proved ct Franklin. But the inspiration
ofthe troops was but temporary. They plainly
told their officers that they would make on.
more trial and no more If successful, Tennes-
see would be redeemed, md If not they would
remain no longer in The service !, and the otll.
GERS told them that II defcated-but they de-
nicd the possibility OF that-they would ask
no more sacrifices, aud the men are taking
them ut their word, and deserting by hun
drtde.
B:Corr the battle Of Franklin. ali were hops
full after 1t. none expected anything, saye
Hood. Cheatham, and a few Of the leaders
and this fact accounts for the stnbbornncss
OF the assault at the eformer place and the I'M
becility Of the resistance IN front Of Nash
vllic.
The great number ofdcscrtezs arriving here
constantly, kept the Provost Marshal so
busy that It became necessary to hold "5pe.
cjal Cnurts'' at different points, with q view
to more speedily accomplishing tne herculean
task Of converting live rebels into loyal clti-
zens: and accordingly tile following order
was Issued:
HEADQCAE1Ens Dgr'T nr THE CuNBERLASD,
NASHVILLE, Jan. 5th, 1885.
Col. J. Parkhnrst, Provost Marehsl General:
The Major General commanding directs that all
State OF Tennessee md Kentucky, and Who can
furnish satisfactory evidence Of their intention 10
becoma law:ahldtng md pcaceable citizens, may,
upon reporting to yonr ONCE and taking TIC am
When practicable, transportation will be fur
nished by the Government
Ton will adopt such measures for carrying ont
rcmain, Colonel, very respectfully, four obe-
TsIgnca1 Wn. D. wmrrzE,
Chief Of Staff.
The great difficulty has hitherto been, that
Notwithstanding tho fact TINT we hare had
not know how they will be. received. Their
officers steadily falsily the flcts, telling them
that they nrc ut once pressed into the Yam
kee army, and that II any of them were cap-
tured they would be hanged as deserterB, Sc;
and every prccautfon is taken to prevent nuy
communication with those who have succeed
cd in making their escape. I have talked
with many deserters, and very. few Of them
had any intclligible idea Of their fate If they
reached our lines, SO great is the ignorance
among the poorer classes in the South but
they declared that no fate could be worse
than continuance in the rebel army, and.
therefore, they hazardcd the consequences.
Ilany one has been hitherto at a loss to un-
dcrstantf how the leaders In tho cotton States
succeed in "fffng the Southern heart" they
have but to converse with descrters here
and discover the material ont of which the
mass Of the population Of the cotton States is
made up. The people are too Ignorant to
form Intelligent conclusions, and were, there
fore, mere Instruments in the hands Of aspir-
Ing politicians.
You can scarcely imagine the feelings of
these dcserters after they had met that terri
BILE creature the Provost Marshall I saw
yesterday, and went to the Office Of the Pro-
vost Marshal to hear them questioned. The
[l1st man came In trembling with fear, with
guard at his side, while the Others were kept
outside under strict surveillance. After few
questions. Capt Goodwin said:
Do you want to 20 hoHle?''
"Yes, but I don't expect you will let me?"
s'You can go," said the Provost Marshal,
''if you will take the amnesty oath," and the
path WAS read.
"I'll take it, I'll take It'll" shouted tho
prisoner, in ecstacy; and after being duly
sworn, he WIS asked how far he lived in the
country, t. . Thieh he =, repllsd s ~. about 50
that be be supplied with pass aud one DAYS
rations for his ,urney, when he Was told that
be was free, and the orderly WAS directed to
show him out. As he passed ont near his
comrades, without guard, they commenced
perfectly astounded, but did not
say a word, for fear Of the twelve Yankees
ThO had them IN cn0fge. as. ne came up
to them, however, he relieved their anxiety BY
shouting ut the top of his voice: "An right,
boys; let loose, told to go home. and rot ra-
lions for two days" The astoniahmelt and
oy Of the others may be imagined.
A captain in the rebel army, an old and in
Innate friend Of Gen. Cheatham, came into
The lines few days since, aud he reported to
ne that the number. Of Tennesseeans with
Hood ut present was less than 1850.
ON TIE AoyB.
An expedition Of cavalry, infantry aud at
tlllery was to have lett Decatur for the south,
ast Saturday; but have not Jet learned II
Il left. L presume its destination is Mont
,omery. It ia sufficiently strong to accom-
o,isl any duty assigned to it. I suppose it
vii aid in thespeedy opening Of the Alabama
liver. -.
NOMINAL HEADQUARTERS.
Gen. Thomas will leave the Adjutant Gene
ral here, to whom all reports from different
points are to be made, 80 that we shall not
oe without news Of the progress made by tho
lifTerent expeditions which are either move
ng or preparing to move. Sherman also
seeps his Adjntant General here.
CONVENTION.
Tho Union State Convention meets here
to-day.: A laEse number Of delegates have
arrived. East Tennessee, In particular, will
'e well represented.
Ey Carlyle is reported to have said, "Let
America succeed, and England goes to de-
norrocv hv avnraas train :, He hos clasroa