New-York daily tribune., 1861-08-14


last. ..
Crops are very promising, and there have peeh
abundant haryests. Corn is unusually thriving
much more than the usual quantity having o'0"
planted. the backwardness of the Spring mas peen
more than compensated by subsequent eood
weather. though sad havoc was mace I'D some iields
bv bai,storms in July. There is no lack of pro-
yisions-such as they are. am satisfied that the
South never can be starred into sUlechon, and that
nothing short of vigorous pushing of the war can
restore the solidty ofthe Union. The South is pre-
eminenty an agricultural region, with compara-
lively sparse population covering its vast territory.
Corn and pork, Of which they will always have
enough, are their great staples of subsistence. The
rations at which danty-fed Northern soldiers turn
up their noses, and to which it ia found difficult
TO accustom them, would be luJuries to South
rons-far better than their daily fare. Beef, lamb,
mutton, veal, &c, are not known here; milk is
rarely used with tea and coffee; potatoes and ether
vegetables, 80 far from being considered indispen
sable, are only occasionally seen; while wild
fruits, together with squirrels, birds, rabbits,
"possums," and other game, constitute the prin-
cipal decaces Of the table. Every man who
has had opportunities of travelling South will
substantiate this statement, unless, indeed, his
dietary experience has been limited exclusively
to the hotels Of the larger towns, where, as
general thing, the bills of fare aud styles Of
cooking are made as Northern as possible. The
salt junk and bareback of shipboard would never
b. unwecOme 10 Southern harder. Ham and
cabbage is the universally y-relisbed dish, and a
s.'I bread, compounded of white corn-meal and
water, taken hot from the ashes, 10 eaten with
complete contentment and with no complaint at
TIE absence OF butter. The negro munches his
with molasses, his peculiar and undisputed lux
ury, of which be is usually allowed quart per
week. The smoke house, is the repository Of
| household stores, the lack of variety being made
| CD by amplitude of quantity. The cooking is,
Of course, extremely simple, guiltless Of the
man,'old refinements of the French cuisine, and
inrnsLd generally to some halfblind, supcran-
suaied negress. Culinary implements are few
and primitive, and the kitchens ignorant Of the
modern hereses of staves and cooking-ranges.
The most exaggerated aud meDdaciOus stories
are told and apparently believed about the law
lessness and brutality of the Federal troops, into
which alleged Outrages upon females enter large
ly. Their plurderng propensties are particular.
ly dwet upon; and it is said that nearly every
one of our men has sent homo stOlen silver
plate watches, jexelry, &c. Really, it would
seem as if the horn gate spoken Of by Virgil, by
which lies enter this world from the other had
been set wide open, while the ivory one, which
! admits true reports is shut and sealed-at least
" during the war;" BY the way, l would re-
mark that accounts of matters South, by re-
fugees and others going North, should be re-
ceved with liberal allowance. Mary of these
persons are disguised Secessionists, and part
of their game IL 10 assnme the character Of
volunteer spies. If their statements are credited
and acted upon, they may seriously mslead.
Union man of this State told ne that so alarm
ing is this abuse, and systematically is it per-
petrated in the Rebel interest, he felt it his im-
,o,o,;ro At - - ca.
him on his guard against this bogus information.
Those who are not disunionists, in many in
stances, have been guilty of gross exaggeraton.
To these, the seeming safety of the thing, de-
sire to appear well posted, and Willingness to
deiame the Oppressors they had left beaiDJ have
furnished strong and perhaps irresistible tempta-
ton. 1 have heard men, recently retdrned from
the North, bOasting Of their devices of deception,
and how they had played upon " Yankee" cre-
dulty and bamboozled the reporters.
To judge from the frequent boasts bear, even
with every reasonable allowance for what may
be empty gascOnade, l infer that there must be
something rotten in the State" at Washington,
and that the Departments are infested with sly
aud secret traitOrs, as much more pestent and
dangerous than the rebel, as the night assassin
is than the open enemy who cOnfronts you with
equal arms. Letters from Federal employees are
often read by their recipients to little knots Of
friends IL is even said that Gen. SCOTS plans
are minutcly revealed to the Confederate generals
but doubt the ability Of the rebel exchcquer to
pay the large sums reported. This may account
if true, for the disastrous repulse Mt Bull Run.
1t is indeed pitable if the Union is to be stabbed
to the death in the very house Of its friends"
and If the strategy of our great captains and the
prowess Of our armies are 10 be defeated by the
yenal perfdy of confidence nen-and women.
The most shocking thing about it is that this
treachery is not attributed solely to persons of
Southern nativity, but even Northerners, migrate
for their politics, and kindly retained them in
office, are charged with it, and / believe too
truthfuIy. Let the Government beware Of all
whose patriotism is in the least eluiyocal. The
rebels have far too many " friends ct COart in
Washington. The race of Sir Robert Walpole's
men is not ypt extinct and the rebels count