The New York herald., 1863-12-09
RxpnI. srrrLIss.-It appears from tho Rich

REBnL SrPPLIEs,--It appears from tho Rich
mond Eaqsirer that the supplies of subsistence
Qndian corn) for the rebel armies, including
the army OF Lee, are now chiefly drawn from
Georgia aud Alabama-two States which, down
to the outbreak of the rebellion, mainly de-
ponded for their provisions upon Tennessee,
Kentucky and the Northwest aud upon Texas
But during the last season the fertile fields Of
Georgia aud Alabama. heretofore entirely do
voted TO cotton, have been almost exclusively
devoted to Indi,n corn, and the result is
corn crop in th sc two States believed to be
sufficient to supply the rebel armies east of the
M ssissippi till the next summer. At all events
upon Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina
tue rebellion now depends for its subsistence
through the winter. Virginia. in some portions
has been reduced to desert, in other portions
has been exhausted; Tennessee Kentucky tie
great Northwest and all the States west of the
Mississippi are utterly cut off from jeff Davis,
and even Mississippi, extensively planted in
corn last spring, has, by the contending armies
within her borders since May last been almost
impoverished. The cutting OF the remaining
railroad lines, therefore, between Virginia and
Georgia, in compelling jeff Davis to evacuase
Richmond, will leave his mOckery of govern
ment without local habitation or name. Is
it necessary to wait till spring to achieve this
work. This is the question which. from policy
and humanity, we would urge upon the atten-
tion of the administration
GENERALS BURNSIDE AND HoOKER.-In holding
Knoxville against the superior army of Long
street, until relieved by reinforcements from
below, General Burnside has done that good
service to the national cause which may be
classed with the most important victories of
the war. He has fully redeemed his failure at
Fredericksburg, as Hooker, in his brilliant
battle .above the Clouds" has redeemed his
failure at Chancellorsville. If in their failures
they lost thousands Of men to no purpose, in
their successes they have saved thousands of
men who otherwise would have been sacrificed.
"Honor to whom honor is due"
IMPORTANT IN REGARD TO ALIEN PRisoNKRs-SoMsrnING
FOR BLOCKADE RUNNERS TO PONDER oN-An important
matter relative 10 the disposition OF aliens captured vic
latng the blockade is agtatng tho War and Navy
departments at Washington Until recently aliens have
violated the blockade with mpanity, always claiming
their discharge after capture upon taking oath that they
subjects OF foreign Powers Upon being discharged
many of these parties have made their way directly back
to Havana Nassau and reshipped in other blockade
Thus Of them have violated the blockade
from two to eight times, the with large por
tion of the Of the prize steamer BaDshee. The
government has found it necessary to distinguish in the
these facts between neutral aliens and aggressive
aliens and is probable that all prisoners hereafter cap
violating the blockade who may be known TO have
al fha fanca will hp peanl n
Fort lafayette Fort Warren and other sronghods,
matter what the evidences may be regarding their
tvity. In that it will be found exceedingly difficult
to procure enough TO man the numerous steamers
now engaged the Illicit trade. The Banshee's
now awaiting settlement OF this grave question
at Washington before United States Marshal Murray
dispose Of them.