The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-10
&c.
OUR BALTIMORE CORRESPONDENCE.

BALTIMORE, Dec 8, 1861
Determination Of the Rebels TO Make a Sand on the
Line Of the Decentralization Of the Rebels in Georgia
aud South Carolina TO Make a MosoD of Their Whole
Country-P Preparations 10 Resist The Descent Of the Ms
sissipra-Trobabte Speedy 1eopening Of the baltimore
Ohio Railroad-Proores Of Matters in Eastern vuyinia-
Business in Baltimore, DC
From two persons direct from the South whose oppor
tunties for acquiring excellent, learn
very interesting particulars There is foundation
whatever for tho report that the rebel capital is to
be removed to Nashville. Some mcmbers of the re-
bel Congress- from Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana
very anxious to have it done but large majority
Of the members opposed TO it. JEFF Davis himself
in private conversation did not hesitate to say that
abandonment Of Richmond would BIO equivalent
to an admission the part of the South Of their
inability to defend that city, and Of their nten
ton Of abandoning Virginia. Nothing BIO fur
Their from the intention OF the rebels than
this. They will insist the line OF the Potomac
until driven from 1t after hard fought battle
Beauregard's army the Potomac my informant stat
ed had not been weakened by the withdrawal of single
regiment. On the contrary, considerable reinforce
ments had been sent TO 1t since the 18th Of November
These facts In regard to Beauregards army had prev
ousy learned from more direct Both Savannah
and Charleston very strongly defended each by
army considered sufficient to repe any attack and des
perate stand would BIO made at both points Other points
the coast Of Georgia and South Carolina where
thought the Union army might attempt land
being fortified l am satisfied, from what these gen.
emen said that 1t is the settled purpose of the people
all along the seacoas counties Of these two States to
burn what little cotton is still left their Plantations
burn their hOusest0 burn everything in word that
cannot be carried Off in the event Of landing by the
Union troops than permit anything TO fall into the
hands Of the Union army. Public meetings Of the plant
had been held in which it was " Resolved That
will make Moscow of whole country sooner than
permit in
vaders." General Lee, who is In command Of the military
forces there made arrangements with the planters
them in burning their cotton and grain crops such
Of as cannot be removed) in killing or driving of their
cattle, and in destroying all the houses gin houses, &C.
in the event Of invasion Most Of the planters in order
avoid this useless waste have been engaged for many
days in transporting their grain and cotton to the int
rior All the roads leading to the back country black
with gangs Of negroes engaged in this work After the
cotton and grain plantation has been removed the
horses mules and cattle are next driven off, Millions Of
dollars worth OF property have thus been removed within
the last three weeks. As Napoleon remarked viewing
the blackened and smoking ruins OF Moscow, "Truly
these people are Scythans" These gentlemen assured
that since the affair Beaufort fully 5OO 900 Georgia
troops, who had previously been drilling in different
parts Of that State acquired some proficiency in
regmental movements, had been mustered into the
rebel SERVICE and organized into brigades.
largo proportion Of them has been assigned to the de-
fence OF Savannah and other points on the seab0ad One
Of these gentlemen showed a letter which he had
ceived last week from correspondent in Memphis in the
course OF which wore the adopted by the
rebels in Western Tennessee and Western Kentucky to
prevent the Union feet from descending tho Mississippi
inc writer says me wnoe river, from Columbus
the most formidable kind" He then describes
no less than seven forts and twelve large
battcries commanding as many landing places and other
important points the river between Columbus and
| Memphis GAN these works. the letter says. are
mounted with plenty Of cannon and defended by strong
garrsons. The guns mostly smooth bores, and Of
short range 1.-TWO or three mlcs) but the river
much mile wide, that is quito sufficient Many Of
them the largest cabre thirty two and sxtyour
Founders, and they are plentfuly supplied with both
shot and she'll Tho channel Of the river has yet
INT hmm fhaC pr
fedoraes) operations. large number Of old huks have
been purchased for that purpose, and lying at
the wharvos here (Memphis and under the guns the
forts above At tho proper moment they viii towed
out into the stream and sunk In parts Of the chan
tho passage of hostile fleet The railroads too running
south from Columbus, have been strongly fortified at
| evory available point"
There Is some prospect now, at last at the eleventh
hour that the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad will be
reopcned. The bridge the Little Cacapoon river
twenty miles southeast Cumberland and sixty miles
west Of Harpers Ferry, completed yesterday. A
large force of men at work the bridge the
Big Cacap0on river forty miles east Of Cumberland and
fifty miles northwest Of Harpers Ferry and it will b.
completed in few days The entire operations OF the
railroad company have been prosecuted with the
vgor; and not only have their workmcn built bridges
and culvers and laid the track far they have been
protected by military force, but they have actually
extended the scene Of their operations far beyond the
pckets Of the Union troops and have penetrated
| gions WHERE only few weeks ago the rebel troops
| owing to the fact that the rebel troops at Win
chester all sick and destitute of ammunition (as is
! aileged) or whether they ''paying possum and
have deep game in view it is certain that the
pany's workmcn have to this time been unmoested in
their operations In my letter of November IS spoke of
the very material which in power of Gen
Banks to render towards protecting that part OF Virginia
berkeley Morgan and Jefferson countes) through which
the road passes week before the end of November
General Mcclellan summoned General Banks Washing
ton, and communicated to him his plans, far hey
related to operations in that part of Virginia 1t is not
that within the last few days orders have been given
General Banks Tocced to Wiiamsport, and 70 operate
thence in Vrgiils1n the manner Indicated in my letter of
November TO- II this information s correct. and if Gene
raj Banks juses tho opinion entertained OF him, he will
DO able to drive the robels far enough from the locality
the railroad to enable the latter to be rebuilt without
| further delay.
Nothing has taken place in Eastern Virginia since
my last report by telegraph The county meetings, which
talked Of at that time, have been postponed the
present. General Lockwood's troops have penetrated
some distance south of Estve tho county seat of North
ampton county. At place has any resistance been
made has there been the slightest manifestation of
disphasure at the of the Union troops On the
other hand they have everywhere been gladly received
and hailed friends and dcvercrs from gricvous
tyranny. The OBJECT Of General Lockwoods proclamation
cnoning all magistrates to discharge the functions of
their Office in accordance with the provisions Of the
| constitution of the United States and of the
| new state Of Western Virginia, has been to cause
| feeling of security to pervade all classes Of
| people. The citizens are returning to their old
habits Of industry, and to their old ways of living bust
OF all kinds revvng and the trade Of the inhab
tants with Baltimore has been reopcned Their postal
facilities too of which they have boon long deprived,
boon restored to the people, and they once more 70
The which the business OF Baltimore has been
injured by the events which followed che unfortunate
Of the 10Th Of April has never been fully
brought to light As winter approaches, however, II be-
comes painfully evident. Business houses, whose sales
amounted heretofore to million of dollars annually
and of such there many horenow sell not quarter
of that amount One house, whose sales Of woocn cloths
amounted to two millions of dollars annually was com
PEELED TO close their establishment here their sales not
being sufficient to pay their rent They have moved
Now York where they now do good business in selling
army cloths the cloths that they coad sell here
The fact is, Baltimore has been avoided as IL il was
plague stricken. prominent merchant Of this city a
short time ago went to Washington and had an inter
Wow with the President and all the members Of the Cab
separately, this subject. Mr. Chase did not hest
to toll him, without mncng his words the least
that Baltimore and Mary land of no account "tJp
to this time" said the Secretary Of the Treasury
Maryland has not subscribed single dollar to
/ the national loan, has she furnished more than
couple Of regiments for the national army" Since that
time, however, Maryland citizens have taken million of
dollars of the Loan and have in the field eight reg
mcnts of Union troops The committee of Union business
men OF Baltimore, who went to the President few
days ago did not receive much encouragement the
Executive. few citizens Of Baltimore, however, have
obtained contracts from the government which they
now filling. Among them is one for the manufacture Of
cavalry saddles, which employs 500 men, and another
for tho manufacture Of army tents, which keeps four
large factories operation day night and EMPLOYS