Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1863-10-28
OBSERVATIONS IN REBELDoM.

| nc DoSton oOuTUN leCeutly puUllSneu
an article which is of great interest as an
apparently trustworthy revelation of the
present condition and sentiments of the
southern masses. The writer is vouched
for by the Journal as very intelligent
man, a lawyer and native of New Eng
laud, who was residing in New Orleans
when the war broke out, and was forced
into the rebel army as conscript. He
escaped about the time of the fall of Vicks-
burgh, and travelled through Mississippi,
Alabama and Georgia, coming within our
lines in East Tennessee, after horse
back ride of eight hundred miles. He
says:
In riding some $50 miles through the
State of Mississippi, and from the river
to its eastern boundary, | do not recollect
of talking with single man who really
belived the Confederacy would ever be az
kuowledged. The prevailing sentiment
expressed by the people in common con-
versation was that the war had lasted long
enough, and had brought enough of suf-
fering and bloodshed upon the country ;
they were willing to go back and have
things just as they were before, if they
MI hau I,
as to predict the disabilities that would
be imposed upon the revolted States upon
their return to the Union. But upon
crossing the Mobile and Ohio Railroad,
and entering upon the rich cotton growing
regions of Central and Southern Alabama
the tone of sentiment was changed. 1t
was admitted that the fall of Vicksburg
was a great blow, an immense loss, that
it removed to dim perspective all hope of
recognition and peace. But none of the
wealthy planters of Alabama spoke of
submission or reconstruction. They will
not listen to an orator or read paper
that suggests it as u possibility, for they
3 have made up their minds to long war,
and modified their agriculture to suit the
condition of things. Very little cotton
is raised in counties which were formerly
covered, as far as the eye can reach with
the growing staple. The whole face Of
the country has been planted in corn, and
often, as | rode through the long straight
lanes that divide those magnificent es.
tates my eye could reach for miles over
the fertile plain, and see only one vast
corn.feld, broken here and there by clump:
Of trees, or long rows of huts, the habta.
tions of the slaves whose labor has enriched
these landed proprietors
| Containing northward from Marion
G and Selma, we came into the wheat grow
: ing and farming portion of Alabama
: Here there is comparatively little cottor
. produced, and the proprietors are mostly
, small, and often labor regularly in thu
! field with their slaves. Among them
found different sentiment. They arr
r not only tired of the war, but large ma
. jority of them were never in favor of Sc
, cession, and speak of the rebellion as thu
{ act of few restless demagogues infamire
F, the prenjudices and binding the eyes o
the people.
There have been a vast number of de
sertcrs among the volunteers from thes,
e counties Of Northern Alabama. In eve
0 ry neigh borhood the farmers told me o.
t gangs of men, sometimes fifty or ont
o HUNDRED in number, who were lurking
among the hills. evading the conscrip
law and often firing upon the officers sen
to enforce it, committing depredatious up
on the stock, and frequently robbing tn,
houses Of persons living remote from fire.
quented roads. The most common expires
sions heard with regard to the war we're
This is the rich mans war and the poo
man does the 6ghting;" LET then
that owns niggers go and fight for 'em
don't own nary niger and never expec
: to, and haven't got anything to fgh
for;" "they say we're fighting for free
: dom and independence For my part
was as free and independent as | wantet
to be before this thing was got up, apc
| never expect to be as we'll off again
J made constant inquiries as to the valu'