The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-22
Tho Miserable Condition OF tho Rebel
Army-Revolt Against the Confederate


Governments
From telegraphic despatch which we pub
lish from Baltimore it will be seen that the Con-
federate army is in a most miserable condi-
ton, and that the government is assailed by the
popular leaders as well as by the press We
recently published an editorial article from the
Richmond Examiner in which the whole per-
soanel of the government, including the Presi-
dent and the Secretary of War, were denounc-
ed, and not only SO, but the generals were held
up to public contempt as incompetent to lead
thirty Thousand men, much less the large army,
now in O demoralized condition, in front of
Washington. The Richmond Wing now con-
tains another onslaught from Franklin Minor,
a man endorsed by the Whig as "first in posi-
ton and intellect in the great county Of Abe
marle." II is under date of the 29th of August,
and the writer says that one day last week the
troops at Manassas had nothing for breakfast but
salt and potatoes, were sent eight miles at dou-
BILE quick to meet false alarm, and got neither
dinner nor supper when they came back to
camp. This witness as to the condition
of the infantry is fully corroborated by
the Prince Napoleons description of the ca
valry after the battle of Manassas, the troopers
being as ragged as bsggars, having "shoes with
out soles and hats without crowns" The con-
cluson drawn from the premises by Mr.. Minor
is, that he is utterly disguised with jeff Davis
and his man Walker" that +" the government is
rotten in the head, and Davis ought to be spiked
up where men can see him." He goes on
to say" You have won great victory and
got no fruits from it. You have had charge Of
the government for six months, and have done
nothing. No meat, no bread, no powder, no
wagons, nor anything but salt and potatoes, and
and yet you sing out, the government
has the entire confidence of the whole peo-
lieve am not singular in my distrust If you
editors would only speak out full toned about the
abuses which stink under your nostrils things
would get right 1t is o shame which cries to
heaven for vengeance when you men of the pen
are talking about confidence, and our soldiers
are made to trot sixteen miles on one meal OF
potatoes and salt. There is rottenness enough
in the medical staff alone to damn any admins
tation. Why hoodwink the peoplc2 Your
government is rotten and stinks We must
smell it at last, and the sooner the betterv
This is plain talk, and If Mr. Franklin Minor
and the editor of the Richmond Whig be
now at large, 1t is only because the
Confederate government feels its own
weakness, and dares not arrest them. The
Examiner explains why such proceedings might
be dangerous:-"I 1t is evident to every intelli-
gent observer that the embittered remnant of
the submissionist party, which was fully repre-
sented in the Virginia Convention, is bent on
organizing regular. opposition to the govern
ment."
Here is an inside view given US of the rebel
army and rebel government, not by Union
spies or correspondents of Northern papers.
but by their own reliable men and trusted or
gans. 1t presents sad picture of Southern
folly in breaking away from the Union. It is
clear that there is rottepness at the root. and
rottennessin every ramihcation of the tree of re-
bellion. Walker has been removed and Bragg
has been appointed in his place, but the change
Of one man cannot possibly cure the radical
evils under which the Southern army groans.
1t is now thoroughly demoralized in very
brief time, upon the approach Of winter, when
heavy clothing is needed and other indispensa-
BILE requisites Of an army, which it will be inn
possible for the Confederate government to
procure, the disorganization will be completed,
and the great army Of the Potomac will melt
away without receiving blow, unless General
Mcclellan should previously come to the con-
clusion to thrash the conceit out of the Southern
Chivalry in one great pitched battle.