Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-17
WOrttster Daily SPY.
The War News.


tanned In the matter of dollars and cents,
we have lost trihe more than the enemy
AS concerns the loss of men in killed, wound
ed and prisoners, the two sides are nearly
equal. Nothing more than this could be de-
sired, unless 1t was a victory. But surprising
Ice had been attacked and beaten, would our
army have been able to follow up the advan-
tage, situated as it was, remote from supplies,
an a country full Of intricate paths and nearly
covered with thick forests? do not believe
the confidence of the army in its leader is at
all impaired as yet"
CAMPS OF GEN. MEApE's ARMY.
Some Of our cavalry still occupy Culpep-
per, and our pickets extend several miles be-
yond that town.
All is quiet with the army of the Potomac,
as a truism oft repeated, but never more APP
proprately tilan now. The same may DC said
about Lees army. Both armies have quietly
settled down in the places occupied six
weeks ago, and the men composing both are
engaged in the herculean effort, trying to make
themselves comfortable; every camp now re-
sembles more an Indian village than militia
ny camp, for, i'll place of tents, nearly all of
both officers and men have huts or Lighthouses
to live in; indeed some of the more fortunate
have houses, with board floors, and roofs, and
brick ahmneys-thanks to the owners of
nelghb0nng saw mill and a brick yard. Of
course most every one is expecting to make Il
long stay in this l0cality-because, practical
ly, the army is in winter quarters. SO the
same army thought and acted one year ago
this time, but the world knows that the army
had but lite guiet last winter, and there is a
bare possibility that 1t will not be suffered to
remain quiet during tins winter.
TIE REBEL ARMY RALLYING IN GEORGIA.
a correspondent of the New York World,
writing from Chattanooga, SAYS: although
beaten, the rebels at Dalton are making al
most Superhulnan efforts u recuperate. IIar-
dee, anxious to establish his capacity to COM
mand, and to gain Il reputation for military
abilityis busily engaged in reorganizing his
- army; and to strengthen it has his gangs of
guerraS securing the whole country, gather
ing up cOnscripts, taking all between the ages
OF fourteen and sixty, and also gathering up
patroled men who have not yet been eX-
changed-all Of whom are at once forced into
the service, to fill the depleted ranks of veter-
an regiments.
lie appears utterly regardless of all the OBJ
legations which one beliigerent owes another;
and though every one of Pembertons men
taken in arms is liable to be shot according
to the rules of war, he utterly ignores the
fact. One of them, have learned, urged tile
dangers to the general in person, when the
latter replied: ''rhen don't be taken prisoner:
die first. Go to your quarters, and get you
gone"
The question is, can Hardee, by collecting
together all that remains of the old armies of
the gait states, and by cunscriptiun of
beardless youths and gray haired sires, obtain
a force sufficient tor defensive purposes-of-
fenslve operations being out of the question?
Time alone can determine that question. One
thi-'es hn'vever is certain if Grant were in a
condition 20 move Immediately upon the
rebel works" the answer would be satisfac-
tory, and would be speedily given. But he
is not prepared for such IL demonstrations
If Hardee were to get $4,000 men in this
way, which is 4 high figure, it Is my impress
sion thatthey would avail him little. Unwl-
hing conscrpts, III this country, are not first
class soldiers and add to this the fact that
they leave their families starving at home, and
the measure OF their discomfort will be full.
STRENGTH OF BRACES ARMY.
Our forces are scattered around at such
points as will enable concentration within
twelve hours after an order is given, but there
is no probability of Il movement being made
for several weeks. The rebel army actually
with Bragg cannot now reach 10000; and lie
has but thirteen pieces of cannon left, the
captures having reached sixty three fifty three
of which are parked in the town in front of
Gen. Thomas headquarters. The whole loss
of tie rebels will reach from 10 900 to IL, 900
and then, by deducting LOugstreet's forces
and Muchelrs division of 5000, it is impossr-
bic 10 allow great number than the above
estimate for Braggs main army, now at Dali
ton or some point to the southwark
Bragg has lost 80, 900 men since the first
onset at Ciickamluga; and the forces in East
Tennessee, including Gen. Mitcheil's division,
which has been started up the river and which
has been compelled to retreat northward, can
not be less than $4,000, including cavalry-so
that believe 10000 to be rather above than
below the true figures Of Briggs immediate
command. Longstreet, in the meantime,
learning Of Bragg's utter discontinue, and
having himself been promptly met at every
point by Burnside, suddenly raised the seige
OF Knoxville, and retreated toward Virginia
From all | can gather, lie was disguised with
Bragg, and had no inclination to remain.long-
er under hi. command; and, therefore, he lit
tie regretted the fact that necessity compelled
to retreat toward his old staging ground, on
the Rapidan and Rappahannock, though many
a weary mile, over almost impossible roads.
and through mountain gul ;hes, lay before him.
The following table | received from ma
jor Of Tennessee regiment, whose name |
suppress by his request. He naively re-
marked, in giving me the figures, that, as the
cOntedvracy WIS dead, it was altogether regu-
lar to hand IN statement of its assets. The
table is as follows =
With Bragg at Dalton. 600
IN Mississlppi ........................15,0 600
AT Mobile. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .......... 5000
scattering. '................'.... O,OOO
This is exclusive of those west of the Mis-
sssippi, and also of irregular guerrilas. The
major was man of much Intelligence, but
was completely dsloyal. OF the force at
Charleston, and north Of it, he knew nothing,
and said he would not speak save from the
card.
On December IL, three regiments went out.
on reconnaissance from Chattanooga to the
field Of Chickamauga, accompanied 6y Gems.
Grant and Thomas and other officers for the
purpose of examining the field. The sides of
trees receiving our fire were filled with balls
literally covered-while the opposite side.
receiving the enemyS fire, had very few bull
lets, showing our fire to be much the severest.
All the firing was very low.
UNION MEN HUNG IN TEXAS.
The Tribune has accounts from prominent
gentlemen in Texas, stating, among other in
formation, that it was rumorcd in the early
part OF October, and probably truly, that on
the Colorado river, in Fayette or Baslrop
counties, thrty-tour prisoners had been
hanged-our Americans and thirty Germans.
Among them Mr. Grassmyer, an old and
respected resident of La Grange-an inoifen-
sive old gentleman of 10 years of age.
THE CORPS D'AFRlQUE.