The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1863-11-09
From the New York Herald.
The Bread Question in the
SOuth..-ImpOrtamt Confess
ions of the Rebel COmmissary
General. -t-'

The bread question in the rebellious
States, we havefrequently contended since
the beginning Of the war, would inevitably
become powerful ally Of the Union cause.
In confirmation of this oft-repeated opin-
ion, so far as the problem of Southern des
titution is concerned, we submit to our
readers this morning well authenticated
letter from 81. B. Northrop, Commissary
General, C. S. A.' addressed to Hon. JAS.
A. Seddon, Secretary of War, Richmond,
Va" and written from Athens, Tenn, on
the 25th Of April last --.
Commissary General Northrop com
mences this suggestive letter with refer
ence to "the excessive want of supplies IN
this department;" vet he writes from the
heart of East Tennessee, that very section
of country which the rebel journals, from
Atlanta to Richmond, declare now to be
indispensable to the subsistence of Braggs
army through the winter. But then Bragg
had eaten up only the crops of last year,
the crops of the present year having been
gathered in since his expulsion into deor-
gia. Northrop next complains that the
cotton States planters "evince no disposl-
ton to seed for more than the usual quan-
tity of grain and other articles necessary
for the subsistence of the army aud the
people.n notwithstanding tue resolutions OF
their rebel Congress and other appeals on
the subject. "1t is lamentable," says the
anxious writer, "that the people are so deaf
to the appeals of their representatives and
so blind to their own interests. 1t is obvi-
Gus that something must be done immedl
atelv, or both the people and the army must
starye next winter "This," he further
saws. "is an alarming reflection; but it is
| fully warranted by the situation. lew
DAYS more and it will be too ate"-that Is,
the season for planting the great Southern
standby of Indian corn would be at an end.
| The writer next proceeds TO discuss varl-
ous plans suggested by General Bragg for
compelling the planters to give up -eetten
and plant corn, and finally recommends
Bragg's third postion--that "the Govern
ment take possession of the plantations, or
such portions of them as the owners do not
Intend to seed with grain, &c, and employ
the negroes belonging thereto in raising
such products as may be deemed necessary.
| Officers and soldiers who have been render
| ed bv wounds and disease unfit for further
| service IN Tue uSiu COulu NC 90
superintendents and oyerseers.' Toe rebel
Secretary of War is admonished that it is
leDly by arbitrary measures that We can
4 prevent distress in our towns, and subslst
j the armies in the field, through the winter
and spring" Next we are Informed that
this years wheat haryests of the South
have produced not even half a CROP and
> that an inventory taken by Gov Brown, Of
Georgia, of the stock of bacon (Which is
i eaten morning, noon and night by the
lSouthern people when they have it, *show'
3 the we'll nigh exhausted condition of that
State; and vet, beyond peradventure, it il
less nearly exhausted than any other State
: in the Confederacy.'
Such is the testimony given in April las
Iby the rebel Commissary General OF Sub
siste nee touching the prospects OF south
ern subsistence through the coming winte
:, and spriug. Il, presents dismal pictur
to the rebel government, and the six month
which elapsed have only contributed t
make it darker and gioonierl lmmens
; corn crops vera plsassd4ast spring on th
rich alluval bottoms of the Yazoo and bi
Black rivers, in Mississippi; but they ha'
been devoured or destroyed by the tW
contending armies that have desolated th'
State The abundant supplies OF whea
a corn. beef cattle, sheep and swine; VINE
last year were brought to the rebel arml
IL So