Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-09-03
An Important Rebel Letter.

Below we give letter picked up in the
streets of Brandon. Misa., by Capt. Dennis
OF the T2d U. v. l. We have the original
in dur possession. Itis written in unusually
fair penmanship, and, as the reader will see,
in good style decomposition. It's writer's ev.
idently an intelligent man, and in position
to speak correctly of that whereof he writes.
The letter is as follows:
BRANDON, July 10, 1858.
II wrote to you very hurriedly yesterday,
and this morning learn that General John.
ston has ordered this army to be marched
across to Enterprise, 100 miles further
II will take 2 week longer. No provision
has been made along the route, and the men
are already much dissatisfied with the vacil-
liating policy and hollow promises by which
they have been duped so long. OF the 30,-
600 parolled at Vicksburg, only one-half are
now together, and ere We reach Enterprise,
this number will be reduced to s, 5,OOO-they,
Of the Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee
troops, who, also, will leave with or without
furloughs SO soon as they learn the alterna.
tive Of going into camp Of parol. The
Army of the Mississippi is completely lost.
Meantime, Gen. Johnston holds Jack
son--we hear the guns constantly. The en-.
emy are making gradual approaches, and
after q week longer will have that place.
With it falls Mobile. This entire section is
fleeing eastward. Georgia will have pop
ulation Of 5, ,000,000 to feed this year. Ruin,
utter and entire ruin, has swept over this
State. The negro emancipation policy, at
,ohich zoe 90 long hooted, is the most potent
euer Of our overthrow. 1t steals upon us
unawares, and ere we can do anything the
plantations are deserted, families without
servants, camps without necessary atten-
dants, women and childen in want and mis-
cry. In short, the disadvantages to us now,
arising from the negroes, are ten fold great
er than have been all the advantages deri-
we'd from them earlier in the war.
1T is useless to discuss the errors of the
past-possibly there are none that could
have been avoided-but certainly pe are a
defeated and ruined peopls-shorn Of our
strength-powerless for successful solu.
tion Of the problem undertaken; or rather
ours was erroneous. The solution has been
shown US by more favored people.
Il have been staying with my friend Man
love, who bought . residence here some
time ago, and moved his family from Vicks-
burg. Mrs. NJ. is to start with her children
and the only two servants left her, for Mo
bile to.day-thence she goes further east
with party from Jackson-none know
where. Everything, save articles absolute.
ly necessary, is sacrificed, and Manlove from
great wealth has sunk to poverty. His case
is type Of all.
Provisions cannot be bought here at dny
price. The enemy fed our army for ten
days-gave them five days rations of ov.
erything, (including coffee and tea) to make
this march upon. Now the men are going
about with empty haversacks-living on
green corn and fruit. No conmssary stores
have been provided for them by General
Johnston. The fact is, that the creates,
Encouragement and most ruinous neglect
has been the reward, so far, Of this army
Such confusion and dissatisfaction as is now
presented here, was never before witnessed
and unless the troops are moved out Of town
to-day, the citizens of Brandon will have
more cause to rue the advent Of '.The Clio
rious Army Of Vicksburg," than they have
had to fear the approach Of ''The wanda
hordes of Northern barbarians."
If leave Of absence is refused US, or limit.
ed to 80 days, may not be able to get, tc
you until ordered into Georgia. Thirty days
Is no leave at all. Afectionately, Il.