The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-03-01

/ lost that air OF expectation and that
sanguine glow they had month or two
ago. That they have lost confidence IN
the cause they have struggled so ener-
getically to maintain is. evident from
their creast-fallen appearance. l have
seen no such encouraging symptom Of
the decay of Secession as | have found
in conversation with the Rebels from
seven of the principal Southern States.
Almost every Rebel with whom |
have conversed expresses himself very
weary of the war, and hopes peace will
soon be made on mu .ually acceptable
terms. They confess the victories at
Forts Henry and Donelson took them
completely by surprise, and say they
had no idea we would lave the temer-
iy to attack them on their own SOIL
They felt compile. ely confident of their
ability to repulsc us at Donclson, and
many of chem vowed when that Fort was
taken they would vote for Abe Lincoln
for the next President. VIII the repre-
scntatives of Secession keep their prom
Use?
A very large number of the Scccs-
sionis,s state they are disguised with
their political leaders, 10 whom they
ascribe all the existing troubles and
say they would not wonder, in the event
of the hopeless defeat of the South, if
Jeff Davis, looms, Breckenridge, and
others would run away and leave the
people to their fate, as Pillow and Floyd
did on Saturday night
Many of the officers say that when
they are exchanged, they will attend to
their own affairs, and let the war 20 to -
Anothsr correspondent says:
There will be no difficulty in bringing
the common men back again into the
Union. But the officers, and those who
strive to be, declare they never will be
reconciled. Such men lead the majority.
1t is an important question how to deal
wi h leaders, L may be ques ion to
decide by our rulers whether the Union
is worth their lives.
Our officer spoke about as follows -
You may overrun our country, but to
retain it, you must send dctachments to
hold every county seat and every cross
road you may burn our towns aud
destroy our property, but We will steal
up and shoot your men, take refuge in
our swamps, and only yield when we die.
What is the Union worth at such a cost."
The Union is worth more than you or
|, Sir" I" But you never can subdue
us. 1t is an impossibility." What,
do you not know that we have the means
to conquer you as no other ever were
conquered But we do not wish to
conquer you've only desire that We
have one fag-that we be one people,"
"We do not want to and we will not be
one people" "This war goes step by
step we Will occupy Nashville !: new
State Government will take the place
of the old, and you will have chance
to return to your allegiance. If you
consent, good it no, ano her step will
be taken" " What step 2" " The
last one. We cannot fight always
Men sometimes look into each others
eyes without speaking, and yet speak
much.
The impression l have, on the whole,
received from many and long conversa-
tions both with officers and privates is,
that the most Of the common people
care very little which way the war ter
inmate, except that it Terminate soon
Some passably intelligent men think the
du les they owe to their State more to
be regarded than those they owe to the
General Government. Some of the
officers are candid, and perhaps would
be content with "Squatter Sovereignty.
The rest, and frequently the elder as
younger, are spiteful as hornets.
Let the war 60 on.
add what l have just overheard of
the conversation of some Secesh officers,
and it may be considered as nearer the
truth than anything we ourselves can
gather. Invariably have they stated to
me that their loss was light-not over
one hundred. They confessed among
themselves that their loss is fully 1000
in dead, and that their wounded is an
immense number.
The prisoners arc very poor, having
lost nearly all their personal effects at
Fort Henry, and they now have no
money but Tennessee paper, which they
cannot use. they are very kindly, and
even magnanimouly treated by our
Union officers, and the captives condes-
ccndingly acknowledge that there are
a great many gentlemen among the YAM
KEGS after all.
The Union and Rebel officers harmon
izc very we'll socially, and pass the time
pleasantly in conversation, and what
would seem strange at fist thought,
discuss the question of Slavery with
amiabllity and suavity, and often agree
almost entirely in opinion. Many of the
encmy's necessary expenses have been
generously anticipated and betrayed by
their deadly enemies of last week, and
the benefited parties seem to be duly
grateful.
Many of the Scccs.l officers are very
bitter. When pairing, they shake
hands, and say "We may be happy
yet" Several say they had rather died
than be taken. One officer, getting
excl ed, shot our Lieut-Col. Nudd in the
back. Their side-arms would have been
retained. This circumstance caused the
order that they be taken from them.
Some are very sensible men, and they
talk over the battle as calmly as if they
had been only spectators. This is ex-