Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-12-04
A Rebel Omccr,- confc--io,.

Capt W. H. Henderson, late the rebel army,
which he has lef, after two years service, from
a conviction that the cause in which he fought
was wrong, writes To the New Orleans Era that
the rebel cause is hopeless. He says Gen. Kirby
Smith may fall back with his army into Texas,
but years time will use him up; that large
majority of the Louisiana volunteers will never
cross the Sabine to go into Texas, and he will
stake his existence that two-thirds of Taylor's
army deserts before he gets into Texas. He
adds: 4rH' ia s.7a sii'- ~
"There is great dissatisfaction among the
citizens OF the country who, previous to the
Emancipation Proclamation of the President of
the United States were good SecessiOnsts, are
now as good Uuion men they were rebels
They saw plainly that by complying with the
proclamation the war could be brought to
speedy close, and the further effusion Of blood
eyaded. But ahl why did not the people Of the
rebel States comply2 Gladly would seven
eighths OF the nom n-slaveholdng population have
complied; but proposition, or HINT, of such
a thing from any person, would have been the
signal Of death to him or her without ceremony.
And then it would have frustrated the designs
of Generals Lee, Joe Johnston, Bragg, Beaure-
gard, Smith, Holmes, Magruder, Bill Yancey, etc.
They all expect TO be President of the COnfcd-
crate States; and before they would see the res
toration of the Union-thereby blasting forever
their political expectations for the future-they
would see the soil of Texas crimson with the
blood other (partly deluded aud trodden DOWN
people. -
the citizens Of the States in rebellion that the
war is not ended and the Union reconstructed
Twelve months ago II the legal voters of the
rebel States could have gone to the polls and
voted their sentiments perfectly untrammeled
they would have voted reconstruction by two
thirds majority. The u. s. Government should
wage war of extermination against them, and
never lay down the sword till jeff Davis, with
every other leader of this rebellion may be sect
dangling from the limbs Of trees at the end of
rope. l have witnessed scenes in the Confed-
crate army perpetrated upon the helpless and
uuoffending by Confederate soldiers, that would
make humanity itself blush When Gen
Taylor retreated from tho Teche last summer
(orthe latter part of last spring believe there
was scarcely farm house on the line OF march
but what bore occular proof of the depredations
Of Sibley's men; and the only excuse they gave
for rObbing the citizens was that they did not
wuit 10 leave il for the Yankees.
The stronghold Of the Western rebel forces Is
Galveston, and is nothing to compare with those
at VicksbuIg and Port Hudson; and indeed
they may be forced 10 eyacuate Galveston with
out firing gun If General Banks penetrates
Texas from the east toward Houston as far as
the Naichez or Trinity river, Magruder will fall
back TO Houston. The supplies of the Coldora-
do river cut off from the Confederate army, they
are lost. A want of clothing, provisions and
money has completely demoraized the trans
Mississippi Department" .'i p"