War matters.
We compile the following summary from the latest Southern exchanges which have been received:Affairs at Nashville.
From the Memphis Appeal, of the 27th ult., we copy the following: ‘ A gentleman, who left Nashville about ten days ago, and arrived at Memphis yesterday with great difficulty, gives us some later details than we have before had from that quarter. He says that on the 16th inst., there were but 2500 troops in and around the city, $00 of which were immediately in the corporation, and the rest in the suburbs. There was, in addition, one regiment at Murfreesboro, and another at Shelbyville, all belonging to Gen. Mitchell's division. ’ Our informant states that a few days before he left, the "cotton agent" of the Washington despotism proceeded out to Major Tucker's plantation, some distance from Nashville, on the Murfreesboro road, and stole about twenty bales of cotton in the name of his government, and hauled it to the city. It had been concealed, and was discovered by him. But little of this staple, however, had been obtain by the Federal since their occupation of Middle Tennessee. The bogus military Governor, Andrew Johnson, has been reduced to the necessity of keeping an armed guard at his door all the time, as a protection to his person. He had issued orders to allow no citizen to appear on the streets after nine o'clock, P. M., and on the night of the 15th instant the public square was filled with parties under arrest, who had violated the despotic order. He has also established a detective police, some of whom dogged the footsteps of our informant with much importunity. The chief detective is an unscrupulous Yankee scoundrel who several years ago occupied the same position in Washington city. Johnson has been attempting for more than a month to raise a full regiment as a body guard, but has so far succeeded in getting only about eighty Dutchmen to volunteer in that dirty capacity. The rigor of the despotism continued to grow more severe. The Nashville Banner had been suppressed for refusing to publish Abolition, sentiments and versions of affairs in general. Jas. T. Bell, late editor of the Gazette, who was arrested some weeks since, had been released upon his giving bail to remain in the city. On the day before our informant left the news reached Nashville that Capt. John Morgan was moving upon the city from Lebanon with a force of 1,800 cavalry. Great consternation prevailed among Johnson and his captions in consequence, and the full available Federal force was kept under arms all night in anticipation of an attack. About 800 cavalry were kept around Johnson's premises as a special force to resist any demonstration that might be made upon him. The despot himself is said to have been very much terrified, and had his clothes packed and his papers put up preparatory to a rapid begin in case of such a necessity. The people of Nashville are represented to us as positively being more hostile in their feelings towards the Lincoln Government than ever. The flagrant outrages of Johnson's minions have exasperated and embittered them beyond the description of words, and they earnestly look forward to the day when swift retribution will be visited upon their persecutors by the advancing legions of a triumphant Confederate army.South Carolina soldiers refusing to Serve.
The Augusta Constitutionalist, of the 15th instant, says the 19th regiment of South Carolina State troops reached that place (Augusta) the day previous, on their way to the West to join Beauregard's army, when some three hundred of them refused to proceed any further, upon the plea that they were in the State service and not in the Confederate service; that they had volunteered to defend and fight for South Carolina, at the call of their own State--for that special service, and that alone. The officers urged in vain the reproach it would bring upon the State, which had been foremost in this revolution, if they now refused to go where they were most needed. The malcontents refused to hear anything and returned back to the Carolina depot. The Constitutionalist says the Adjutant General of the State was telegraphed, and had ordered them to be arrested, and that their officers were proceeding to execute the order. Commenting upon the above, the Charleston Mercury says: ‘ There is no reality in the ground assumed by these misguided men, as a justification for conduct so unsoldierly, so unpatriotic, so wanting in every element of honor. The fair fame of the State is irreparably wounded by this wretched business. The discipline of the Confederate soldiers is deeply involved.--South Carolina washes her hands of these unworthy sons, and repudiates their conduct.--It is to be hoped that both the men who acted thus, and the officers who permitted it, will be summarily dealt with by the military authorities. Nothing less will meet the exigencies of the occasion. ’Confederate currency taken at Nashville.
The Memphis Appeal, of the 27th ult. says: ‘ Confederate money is now current in Nashville at a discount of only fifteen per cent., freely passing at eighty-five cents in the dollar in exchange for notes on all Tennessee . We are informed that the sutlers of the Federal army even take it at this rate in payment for provisions. These facts ought to establish confidence in it even where other and nobler impulses fall. There should be no disposition among our people on the frontier to refuse it. It is the main stay of the Confederacy, and the free acceptance of it is the basis of our Government credit. Whatever we do in this severe hour of trial and disaster, let no traitorous hand dare seek to stab our secured cause by refusing the currency of the Confederate Government. ’The Johnston Testimonial.
The Houston Telegraph, of the 18th ultimo, says: ‘ We are glad to see that the suggestion of providing a home and competence for the family of Gen. A. S. Johnston, in Texas, meets with the favor of our citizens. Messrs. Ballinger and House, whose names we suggested as the canvassing committee, report to us the following as the result of two hours work in this city: ’ These subscriptions amount to $4,160 and 22 bales of cotton. Let the subscriptions be taken in money, in cotton, in sugar, in stock, or in lands. We hope, from this beginning, to see it roll up to a goodly sum, a present worthy of the people of a State that has been honored with the citizenship, and is to be honored as the resting place of so noble a hero as Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston.The Fort Pulaski prisoners.
The following brief letter is from the son of the editor of the Savannah Republican: --We arrived here safely yesterday morning, after a long voyage. We are all quite well, and I hope you are giving yourself no trouble about us, for I must acknowledge that we are very kindly treated. We are well fed, and the officers, all, treat us very kindly indeed, and so far we have no complaint to make. Please write soon and direct W. M. S.--Prisoner-of-war, Fort Columbus, New York Harbor, N. Y. "W. M. Sneed, Prisoner-of-war."
Another letter from a member of the garrison says there are about one hundred of the party in Fort Columbus, from which we infer that the prisoners have been divided out among the forts in the neighborhood, and perhaps elswhere.
