The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-01
Tie Rebel Var Rennrf.

So much Of the Report of the Rebel
Secretary of War as that officer thinks
it advisable to publish, has been sup
piled to a journal in this city, and ap-
peared in its columns on Friday. What
the omitted portions may be we cannot
say; but the report in its present shape
is not a document of very great inter
est After a brief reference to the cam
paign of l863-concerning which Mr.
Seldom seems to have thought the less
said the better-he considers the con-
dition and strength Of the rebel army,
and the reforms in its organization
which are necessary, touches on the
question Of exchange of prisoners, gives
a history Of the supply during the year
Of arms, munitions, quartermaster's and
commissary's stores, to the army, treats
az length upon railways and the trans
DOrtation necessities of the rebellion,
describes the ventures of his Depart
partment in running the blockade.
passes TO the Trans Mississippi country,
gives q paragraph to the Indians, and
concludes his essay with the customary
remarks on the sacredness and sure
success Of rebellion.
On these subjects, Mr. Seldom states
little that's new Tne value o : is testi-
mony is mostly III its confirmation Of
previous accounts He admits, for in
stance, that "the Quartermaster and
Commissary-Ge erals, in the admins
tration Of their respective departments,
have had, during the past year, extra.
ordinary difficulties and embarrass
ments TO encounter that FOR some
essential articles, such as shoes, blank
cts and wooden cloths, partial Deepen
ieuce on importation could not be
avoided" and that nothing has given
SO much trouble as the purchase and
transportation Of sufficient forage and
subsistence for the army" The most
ne claims is that the armies have been
kept moderately supplied; and he is
obliged to say, How long their exer-
Jions will avail to assure such results,
S now a matter Of grave anxiety. The
consumption OF all animal life in the
war has been very great, and in addi-
ton, during the past few months, de
structive and widespread disease has
prevailed among the swine, which con
stitutes the most serViceable as well as
the largest resource far meat Bacon
and beef, in view of the needs of both
the army and the people, must be
scarce during the coming year. Cop
Delhead journals at the North who
nayo thought it worth while to deny
the reiterated accounts of scant sup
plies at the South, may possibly accept
u statement from this source as conclu-
sive
Mr.. Seddon's account Of the block
ade-running business Is entertaining if
not important He describes the events
which led the rebel authorities finally
70 undertake on their own account the
evasion Of that blockade which they
so long declare TO exist only on paper
The rebel Coz eminent was Obliged Q
pay for the freight al)ne OF a steam 7
Of 800 tuns TO the West Indies the sum
Of S2,000,000 in its own currency.
Although it had a monopoly Of the 4
manufacture of this currency, this |
price seems to ave been considered |
pr, baby in view Of the cost o. paps - I
too large; and he War Department /
therefore bought fur steamed and 4
Btk HD JUSTICES u 4boEA4. U Il NNlle, ]
went on We y we'll A success
ful trip paid Il whole expense Of a 4
steamer, and Mr. S ,ddon reckOns his .
gains a. upward Of $20,0J000)-in cur
rem y. an in progement upon the 4
original plan vas also effected by re-
quiring private yes els to surrender a 4
portion Of their Lol Is to the War and 4
Navy authorities But the bloc a .
presently grew no. stringent an /
=" within the last twi months (Uctober I
and November, 1869 q considerable
number Of steamers among them those .
belonging TO the Department, have
been captured, or destroy Ell to prevent
their falling into the hands Of the
enemy" But il AZ p sars that at no tin
were the rebel aut iorities able TO ex-
port q sufficient "a nifty Of cotton 70
10 provide for the expenses abroad
IN Mr.. Seddon's language. The
quantity of cotton " lich could be car
RED out by the q ;amers, owned or
held in part by the Department, by no
means supplied the sterling which was
abroad for the wants Of the
IN Z. IiibwAG