The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-08-09
CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.
INTERESTING STATEMENTS.

A gentleman who left Savannah, Georgia,
on Monday, the 22d ult., contributes to the
Philadelphia Press some interesting state>
ments of the condition of affairs at the
South
THE NEWS OF THE BATTLE AT BULL RUN.
On the 22d instant only the first reports
of the Battle of Bull Run had been received
at Savannah, and there was no great dispo-
tion to rejoice over the result. The general
feeling was that it was virtually a drawn
battle, and as Georgia had lost one of her
Generals, 10 the person of General Francis
Barlow, OF Savannah Florida another, 10
the person of, General Johnston mot the
General Johnston who commanded at Har-
per's Ferry and as General Bee, Coloue
Wade Hampton, of South Carolina, and
Colonel jackson, besides large number of
the rank and file of the Southern army,
were killed and many wounded, there was
but little exutation over their victory
When be arrived at Atlanta, news of the
rapid retreat of our army had been received,
and cansed much rejoicing, and in Tennes>
see the same gleeful spirit was evinced. In
Kentucky the Union men bore up bravely
agaiCst the news of our disaster, and they
proudly boosted that the United States
Government was strong enough to stand a
dozen such defeats without being destroyed
or sensibly weakened.
The news of General McClelan's victo.
ries in Western Virginia had caused much
depression among the insurgents of Geor-
gia; and that they particularly regretted
the death of General Garnet and the de-
struction of his army, as a considerable
body of the crack troops of that State, who
had been considered by their friends uncon-
querable, had been under bis command.
STRENGTH OF THE REBEL FORCES.
He considers that the great error of the
North has been in undertaking the strength
of the Southern forces in Virginia. He
has seen reliable statements, showing that
previous to the late battle they had 1876 900
men under arms in that State, and since
then further reinforcements have been sent
forward. They consider Virginia the bat.
tie ground, and Howell Cobb expressed the
general conviction when he declared, re-
Gently, in Atlanta, that if the insurgents
could not retain possession of Virginia.
their whole cause was lost. There are great
efforts now being made to recruit more sol.
diers, but they meet with comparatively
little success. Nearly all the good
available fighting material Of the South has
already been sent forward, and those whom
they are now trying to force into the SER
vice'have but little sympathy with their
cause, and would prefer either not to fight
at all, or to sustain the Union. There is
also great difficulty in supplying with arms,
munitions, and equipments their new troops.
COTTON. .eaH
There will be great falling off in the
cotton crop of the south, this year-at least
one fourth. The planters are undecided ga
to the best mode of disposing of it. Some
advise them to prepare it as usual, and de,
post large quantities of it at New Orleans.
Others are opposed to this scheme, because.
as they allege, the accumulation of such a
stock of that precious article would nrove
an irresistible temptation to northern on.
pidity, and that the Union armv wonId
probably capture it. They therefore sav
that for the present it should not be oinne9
but simply deposited in its raw state. on the
plantations. The effort to secure cotton
subscriptions to the Confederate loan meets
with moderate success. The large planters
Of Georgia appear to be willing to sinh,
scribe freely, as they are animated bv snch
an intense hatred of the north, that thew
are ready to sacrifice everything thew nos.
sess to promote the success of the insurcent
| army. They say they would much rafho,