he Kansas 9th, though this may be a
mistake), under command of Lieut.-Col. Clark and Capt. Coleman, came up
and took them all prisoners.

"After a little parleying, Mr. Rice and his son were released and
ordered to leave; which they did, of course. They had not gone much over
three-fourths of a mile before they heard firing at the point at which
they had left the soldiers with the remaining prisoners. In a short time
the command moved on, and the wives and other relatives of the prisoners
rushed up to ascertain their fate. It was a horrid spectacle.

"There lay six lifeless forms--mangled corpses--so shockingly mangled
that it was difficult, my informant stated, to identify some of them.
They were buried where they were murdered, without coffins, by a few
friends who had expected to join them on that day, with their families,
and journey in search of a home.

"These are the unvarnished facts with reference to an isolated
transaction. There are many, very many others of a similar character
that I might mention, but I will not. The unwritten and secret history
of our border would amaze the civilized world, and would stagger the
faith of the most credulous. In the case just mentioned, we find an old
man who had passed his threescore and ten, and a youth who had not yet
reached his score, falling victims to this thirsty cry for blood.

"The world will doubtless be told that six more bushwhackers have been
cut off, etc. But believe it not, sir; it is not true. These six men
never were in arms, neither in the bush or elsewhere, I have been told
by one who has known them for years past. The widows and orphans of some
of them passed through this city yesterday, heart-broken, homeless
wanderers."

OCTOBER 12TH.--Hon. G. A. Henry, Senator from Tennessee, writes to the
Secretary that it is rumored that Gen. Pemberton is to command Gen.
Polk's corps in Tennessee. He says if this be true, it will be
disastrous; that the Tennessee troops will not serve under him, but will
mutiny and desert.

It is reported to-day by Gen. Elzey (on what information I know not)
that Meade's army has been reduced to 30,000 or 40,000 men, by the heavy
reinforcements sent to extricate Rosecrans. Be this as it may, there is
no longer any doubt that Lee is advancing toward the Potomac, and the
enemy is retreating. This must soon culminate in something of interest.

I saw Commissary-General Northrop to-day, and he acknowledges that Mr.
Moffitt, who s