Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-11-26

ent, since ms conDection with TIE Cav.
airy, bids fair TO see q good portion Of
The so called Southern Confederacy.-
Al one time be was within IS miles Of
Rome. Ga. and 20 miles south Of
Lafayette, where Bragg's headquarters
then we're; again at Chsttanoogs, an
eye witness OF part OF that terrible con-
fiiet along the banks Of the Chieks-
mauga; thence back to Stephenson over
roads beyond all description. and now
Al the place from which this is dated.
By starting from Stevenson, follow
ing the line Of the Memphis and
Charleston Rail Road westward, you
will see q station called Brownsboro.
laid down, about 10 miles east Of
Huntsville. At a distance of 9 miles
north Of said road is situated the village
OF Msyesville, in a rich agricultural
region, but little run over BY the con-
tending armies. This is one OF the
best sections Of the South / have yet
seen. The land is rich and rolling.
climate delightful, at this season OF the
year. and the people generally loyal
There is better class Of people in this
section Of Northern Alabama, than I
have yet seen in the farming districts in
the South. There is more intelligence,
refinement and wealth. Here one sees
the aristocrstic Southern planter, with
bis large plantation stocked with ne.
groes, counted by hundreds. and Of
fabulous. wealth. Here one begins to
see the clark eyed beauties Of the
sunny South" who fourished, in the
good old times past and gone, as bellies
at the noted watering places. Ladies
who once dressed in silks and satins,
and measured the qualification Of hus-
band By the number Of his negroes and
his aristocratic connections; who ate
of OF silver plates with silver knives
and forks. Cotton was then king. and
his subjects lived and reigned 10 the
highest style, surrounded by all the
luxuries Of q sunny cline. This was
in times before they undertook to ego
it alone" King cotton has been de-
throned. and his subjects humbled.-I
Great was the fall thereof. The mud
sills Of the North roam at will over
the plantations. burn rails, forage on
the country. and the negroes flock into
our camps, leaving their lordly masters
helpless and dependent. These people
OF the South are getting sick Of the
war. Their only expressed wish is:
OIL that it were ended. Home-spun
cotton has taken the place OF silk and
satin; rye Of Rio, Sorghum Of New
Orleans, corn whisksy Of imported
cognac and port, and promises to pay
SIX months after peace, in place OF gold
and silver. Sueering and turning up
noses at Yankees Is "played out" and
charity is acceptable. They vie with
the mud sills in barter and traffic, and
salt will get anything from a chicken
TO horse. A bushel Of corn is OF
more value than bale Of cotton, and
pound Of coffee is an immediate cure
for sore eyes. Cotton is whipped, and
corn is king, triumphant. AlasI for
the pride and boasting Of the chivsl-
rous subjects Of King cottonl Their
house was built upon the sand: it fell
and great has been the fall thereof
Where pIide is once humbled there is
hope Of repentance. 1t has already be-
gun. The people are beginning 10 ask
each other, how shall we live through
the winter? Starvation stares them in
the :ace. They are about ate out Of
house and home, and hundreds, nay
thousands. within the federal lines,
will have to be fed by the government
during the coming winter. Their corn,
potatoes, hogs and cattle, are all gone.
The rebel soldiery is stripping the
country wherever they go and we finish
it. The actual necesssries Of life com.
maDd fabulous prices, with an upward
tendency. They are beginning to drive
their negroes of, owing to their insbil-
ity to feed and clothe them. They be-
gin TO see that this kind of labor is and
has been improbable and unreliable.
i heard a woman to-day, a bitter se-
cesh, beg. for half hour. for only
two pounds Of salt, after coming nine
miles alter it. Another one offered
fabulous price for Just barely enough
TO salt three hogs, all the meat she had
to run the family through the coming
winter. The condition Of the people in
the South, within our own lines, has
become distressing in the extreme.
know twenty families, and there are
hundreds Of such cases, in this Imme-
date vicinity, who have assured me
that they haye not sufficient meat and
bread to support their families, and they
know not what they will do. The state
Of affairs for the South is worse, even
than here. Taking the line west from
to Huntsville, land /
have been The whole length Of It. as q
sample Of the condition Of the Confed-
eracy, ! am satisfied that IL we bold
our present lines without moving sn
nch, the opening Of spring will see the
rebellion crushed without striking an
,ther blow. / believe it the best poll.
y that can be pursued. The people
ire already dependent. and discour.
lged. Starvation sits upon the door
iep, and men will not stay in the field S
zhile their wives and children are :
tsrying athome. II We bold our pres
mt lines, operating only on such points
IS Charleston. Savannah and Mobile,
Turing the coming winter, we will have 8
far more than hv tyvipo I