The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-04-09
u~pereant IRON Alabama.

90 JO2cTUUt WIltce :.
esting conversation with q former acquaint-
anoe. from Montgomery, Alabama. He is
q resident Of the vicinity of the city, and
knew him to be Union man, though like
thousands of his class, he employed SUBJ
stitute, in the early part of the war, as the
only means Of avoiding the army himself.
He has now made his escape from the
clutches of JEFF. Davis and his satellites, and
is now in this city, where he will probably
remain till the present despotism in his ma
tive State has been removed.
He confirms the report I sent you some
time since, that there is to-day strong
party in the Legislature which favor re-
turn to the old Union and though fear
that he is somewhat sanguine. he athrms
that it constitutes majority of both hous-
es, and that they are only constrained to
keep silent by the reign of terror existing:
A proof of his position, however, and
aside from that, too, know him to be re-
liable-he states that at its late session, not
q measure was adopted, in the least calcu-
lated to aid the rebellion; while the laws
were passed, which would 60 far towards
thwarting the conscription. This fact I
know to be true and he attributes them
to the Union sentiment of the Legislature.
In addition he states that he was hunted
down by CONSUMPTION officers, for weeks
before making his escape from the State /;
and that, finally, he was piloted to the
tennessee river by . member OF the House
of Representatives, who stated to him on
the journey. that he had an understanding
with our authorities: He gave me his
name. but Of course I withhold it it 10
one not unknown to the nation at large.
JEFF. Davis sympathizers in Alabama
are fully aware Of the existence Of power.
full Union organizations, and they have
collected the names Of . large number Of
the leaders and sent them to Richmond,
asking the advice of the authority there as
to how they had best proceed. In this list
Of TRAITORS" as they are called, are TO- De
of the House Of Representatives OF the
State; Mr.. Silberne, ex-Minister to Bel
9ium. and late editor Of the Montgomery
Confederate; and Jos. Bradley, member Of
the House from Huntsville. An attempt
has been made by some of the fire-eaters
to GUST Gilmore from his position as clerk,
on account of his Union proclivites, or as
sentiments; but he was sustained by q
majority Of II members, on full vote.
NV informant left the city of Montgom-
ery, where he had been secreted at the
house Of a friend, on the It'll; and was in
the vicinity OF the place during the whole
of the Sherman raid. He AYERS that when
our troops reached Meridian, the Union
frightened the rebels more than the adj
vance Of our army: and no sooner had
sherman turned to the westward, than
MANY of them-too old or too feeble to be
conscripted-weret thrust into prisons.
He alleges that the number of troops in
the State does not, exclusive Of guerrillas,
exceed 1900; and Of these, 5000 are kept
ct Mobile, 10000 directly under Polk, and
the remainder are employed upon provost
duty in the different towns. There are NO
fortincations at Montgomery, and but few
9hefmaa exploit, these were all with
drawn, except two companies Of cavalry
and two Of infantry; but they have since
He ssys that IL Sherman had q, 600 men,
he could have advanced to Montgomery
without resistance; and half dozen regf-
ments Of cavalry could have opened and
kept IN communication with the Tennes-
lees river. He regrets the failure Of the
Smith expedition, q be feels certain that,
| had It been success, our forces would
have occupied the State Capital; and
think-indeed, may cay ! know-he IL
right.
he states, the Union members Of the Legis.
lature would have assembled, deposed the
Governor. taken the oath to support the
Constitution Of the United States, and or.
dered an election in counties to fill vacan-
cies; and get the machinery Of government
to work 1t once.
tionists. over Hhortee, . 6re-eAter, by Z
large majority; but he was no sooner In.
stalled into odice, than he out Heroded
Herod. and became the 6ercest of the pro
masicators.