Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-01-21

Officers to 90 10 IHe1ico--His Proposition !
said to hare been For1odrded 10 Wash
ington - Decentralization Of the Rebel
Army. ...r."
The following extracts from the Memphis
Of the st. Louis Republican,
are thus editorially indorsed by that paper:
"Of the correctness Of this information we
have no doubt, for it comes from sources
likely to have the best means of informa-
ton; this would involve the complete dis
bandment Of the rebel force in Arkansas,
Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, and the
immediate return Of those State to the
Union"
A REBEL OFFER.
learn from good authority that Quar-
termaster in the Confederate army, at Her
nando. acting by authority Of Richmond Of
fcials, has offered to General Hurlbut to
sell to sell to him, or the United States, all
the cotton now remaining within a certain
district in Mississippi, now outside Of the
Federal lines. The quantity embraced in
this offer is about fifteen thousand bales,
which, | think, is all Confederate States
cotton. The offer is to sell and take pay in
greenbacks. am credibly informed that
Gen. Hurlbut favors the purchase, and has
already communicated to Washington the
offer that has been made, with his recon-
mendation that the cotton be bought. In
deed, | understand that General Hurlbut,
commanding this department, would favor
the purchase by the United States of all
the cotton in Mississippi. He is said to
favor it Cor several reasons. First, it would
put stop to the operations of rascally spe-
culators, and the corruption and bribery SO
common now. Then it would be heavy
blow to British holders Of Confederate se-
curities, based on cotton, and would remove
one of the strongest motives for contribut-
ing aid to the COnfederac-. Then, payment
being made in greenbacks, the receivers OF
such funds would become stockholders in
the Federal Government, and interested in
its success.
/ But the offer of the Confederate officer
! to sell the fifteen thousand bales, is very
conclusive evidence that the rebels foresee
very clearly that the portion Of Mississippi
in which this cotton is, must very soon pass
out of their control. The whole of Missis-
will have the whole of it early in the spring.
i STARTLING OFFER.
! l am credibly informed that the rebel.
/, west of the Mississippi-aQ of them, lead
ers and led, military men and civilians
consider the secession game "played OUT
. that Arkansas, louisiana and Texas mus
: inevitably pass out of their control, an
that all struggle to hold those States is vain
q They perceive two things: ]. That tn
!. Federal power is fully adequate to dispo:
n sess them-that they cannot maintain a
i army in those States, for the very cogen
q reason that their soldiers are tired and hope
;. less, and that every new conscript runs ava
4 the first opportunity. 2. That the peopt
!, of those States-the masses-are determir
"a ed to get back into the Union, and that th
h war shall end. Rebel officers and rebel so
y diers speak out plainly their thoughts an
" convictions on the subject, and the who
r. country may be certain of speedy an
Is and complete repossession of the entil
er trans. Mississippi region BY the FEEDER
power. No one could be here a week, an
meet, as l have done, citizens of Arkansa
Louisiana and Texas, who, for two yea
and more, have lived within the rebel line
lg in constant intercourse with rebel general
ne subordinate officers and soldiers OF the reb
%, army, and citizens of those States, and he
their statements about the prevailing hop
and fears of the people among whom tn
is have lived, and for one moment doubt tn
in the rebellion is practically dead in tn
d. region, and any vigoI Gus or ,protracted hgl
ws ing on the part OF the rebels Impossible.
ire And in this connection, l will state
E somewhat startling statement which hes
re. last night. It is affirmed here that recen
Gen. Kirby Smith sent an authorized m
senger to Washington to propose to {
an Federal authorities to furnish every requis
r. all fha rnttQU fha
tiop of the fed River and Western distr
ma within rebel control, the money for
~. same to be paid to the class of officers {
'ai cented from the amnesty offered by Pre-
Ibs dent Lincoln, they to retire from the rel
army and to 60 into Mexico.
/ should hesitate 10 make this stateme
If had not received it from very bl
source here, with the assurance that th
no; we're good reasons for believing 1T to be tr
'eo The fact is, the rebellion is collapsing; o.
as rats instiuctiyely desert sinking sf
ou' the rebels feel the sinking of the foundati
b, of their fabric Of treason, and hasten
hs ready to escape the tumblipg OF
m, walls.
OFFERS TO DESERT.
Within the past ten days, Gen. Hurl
sent out flag of truce on some busines
. Of Gen. Forrest. On going out, the party.
this a flag of truce from Gen. Forrest. A
an exchange of greeting, and the partic
get business was transacted, the rebels who
come out from Forrest proposed to rel
hey with the Federals to their camp and
,sas the Federal army. Being under a fla
per- truce, the Federals declined the prop
ting not wishing to abuse the sacred rules
Gag of truce to any such purpose. II
an however, reported the fact to headquar
ai on their return. Desertions from, the
lsas, ranks, and entry into the Federal lines
you so common, occurring every day ana al
over that they cease to bo talked about, tho
they are promptly reported dahy.
lown losses to the rebels by desertlons are
hunt nous. They may enforce thor eonscriptt
thew Thev NAV lake all between the ages Of
you tsen and sixty. They may perfdiously
gers, those who, in good faith, paid large
arts, If money for substitutes, as the rebel
NJ eminent now threatens to do; but wit
GO such efforts, whether fair or foul, th'
b the good reason for saying that they ca
materially increase their army, because
COM cannot retain their conscripts beyonS
FIRST hour offering an opportunity to es
These dssertiens are not matters Of
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