The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-09-12
The Rebel Situation.

MEMPHIS, Sept. 4, via CAIRO, Sept. -
An Intelligent refugee from Columbus,
Miss, who has been in the Quartermaster' 8
department of the rebel service for the
past two years, and who has had more than
ordinary means of observation, has just
reached here. He states that Johnston2s
losses are fifty men night, on an average,
by assertions. His army is dispirited and
demoralized, and those who have not de-
serted are only waiting for an opportunity
to do so. He has heard rebel officers es-
innate the number of troops between Col
umbus, Miss, and Corinth, at 7,000 all
told. @ a.,a .,stas'r r-zs T,ad t.!c
Two regiments of Johnston's army have
been sent to Georgia, aud two came up
to Okalona recently to repel an expected
Yankee raid on q large scale.
A reconstruction meeting had been ap-
pointed by the Unionists in the vicinity of
Columbus, but it was suppressed by the
military.
There is strong latent Union sentiment
among the inhabitants, which is becoming
more open and bold in its movements. The
citizens regard the rebel troops as their
oppressors and invaders, and look for the
advance of the Yankees among them.
A deserter from Bragg's army has also
reached our lines and states that they are
on one-third rations, which consists of
beef, rice and corn meal.
and the strength of his force is about 25, 600
men, who are much dispirited and want to
throw down their arms,
| The wheat crop through the State was
very good. The Government was Selling
every tenth bushel for taxes. ii.
The rebel officers acknowledge that they
will be obliged to give up all the country
county, the place of this deserter's resi-
dence. III
The union feeling was so strong that no
secessiOnists were allowed to stay there.
| In other places the men were secreted in
swamps and cane brakes and would join
the federal army but for the danger Of cap
| ture by the rebels while making their way
| to our lines.
Three hundred deserters are rendezvous
ed in Weston county, armed and deter
| mined to resist the rebel authorities to the
| last. Two more companies were in St.
Clair county, who were of the same mind.
The Contederates were conscripting ne
groes In Talladega county to build breast
works at Selma. These statements are
confirmed by deserters and refugees, and
are believed to be true.
John Sharkey, of company K, 9Th Ohio
| Cavalry was murdered by guerrillas while
on a scout. He fell into the rear of the
column and was attacked by three men,
shot, and his head was beaten to Jelly
with the butt of his own gun. His body
was stripped and left in the road
Col. Burke, commanding at Camp Davis
has the names of the offenders.
A deserter faom Tapelo, Miss, formerly
an orderly to Gen. Furguson, has Just
reached our lines. He reports that Furgu-
son has at Tapelo and Pontotoc four thou
sand cavalry with IL pieces of artillery
He also reports that Furguson is con-
templating a raid upon the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad and that Roddv iS IN
same time that Furguson strikes the Rail
road.
--- with seven hundred men is
near Jackson, Tenn, conscripting, for
| aging and stealing horses.
Richardson is also actively enforcing the
| rebel CONSUMPTION where he can.