The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1863-05-16
A "Nevvspaper Man, in Dixie,

The New-Yolk HeraiGs correspondent was
captured by the Rebs just before Rockers
recent advance, and sent to Richmond. From
long letter published in that paper on Sutur-
day last, detailing his adventures in Dixie, we
clip the following:
DIsArFECTION IN TIE SOUTH.
The inmates of this room in the Libby prison
represented many portions of the coniedclacy,
and from them | learned much of interest
regarding the feeling among soldiers and the
people in the South. | was assured that there
is great disaifcction in the army and among The
citizens, and that thousands, both in and out of
the military service, would leave the confcder-
acy and go North if they could. Many asked
me an1iously how they would be treated if they
should succeed in reaching our lines, and de-
clarng that they would take the first oppor-
tnnity to escape. They represented the con-
tolerate government as II terrible dcspo,isnl, by
which no mans liberty or possessions were
regarded. often heard the expression that this
contest on the part of the. South was the rich
mans war and the poor mans fight" The
CONSUMPTION is being everywhere rclcntlessly
enforced. In Virginia it is estimated that there are
twenty conscript hunters to each county. These
men, of whom l saw specimens, are gem
orally eX-negro traders and oyerseers, and are,
to great extent, destitute of any human feel
ing. One man confined here had been caught
two days before near Cupeppcr. His wife was
ILL., and the next morning he learned that her
situation was critical; but no eutroates could
prevail upon those who had him in charge to
allow him to go and see her for short time,
accompanied hya guard though the distance
was then but two miles. One old man named
Walton, of nearly sixty years, from Fauquier
county, caught by a rebel scouting party, had
been confined for several weeks, he did not know
for what cause or what was to be his fate An
ex-government clerk under Buchanans admin
istration had been caught near Wanenton. He
had been long in confinement, but thought lie
could not be conscrpted being Maryande
lie did not know that Il clause in the rebel con-
scrption act forces in the service all Maryland
ers found within the limits of the conieder,acy
Notwithstanding adverse circumstances, the
inmates of this prison succeeded in making
themselves "iolly" to an extent that would
have excited Mark Taplcy's intense admiration.
CONDITION OF THE CONFEDERACY.
Accounts from all portions of the confederacy
were of rapidly approaching starvation, of gen
cral dsaflectiOn among the people, and of return
ing Union sentiment. In Georgia are some two
thousand in the mountains who have so far sue
ccssfllly resisted the conscripton, defeating a
force sent to take them. In many places in the
South our prisoners found Union people, who,
in some cases, clandestinely Offered them money
In nearly all the Southern jas are individuals
confined and treated with great cruelty on the
plea that they were still entertaining Union sen
iments. In Knoxville particularly the Union
sentiment pred0minates and here citizen pris-
oners are treated with most atrocous cruelty
Confederate officers in Richmond confessed to
some OF the prisoners that if Lees army was
once i'll retreat there were not bayonets enough
in the Southern contederacy to stop it.