The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-24

siderable posson u We eonfederaey w sSdysiss ths
citisess Of Alexandria, said that DO bad beeo brought
contact with many Of the civil and military eneers Of
the cosfedsracy, and had Of obtaining full
curase information Of tho situation strength Of ,he
rebel armies and the reseurcesal band for their subsst
ence He gave tho aggreg1p number oi rebel troops
now actual service being over three hundred
eighteen thousand Of whom sixty thousand were win
Leo ono hundred thousand Braggs old army, thirty
ave thousand With Beaaregard ut Charleston ,hon.
sand 10 Richmond and its defences, ten thousand In
Forida thirty thousand with Johnstoo before he
signed 70 Bragg's department, thirty eight thousand
three hundred under Kirby Smith 10 The Trans
Mississippi department. twenty thousand IN North
Carolina, besides twenty thousand more estimated In
detached brgades, regiments batlaous companies
He described the condition or the troops better Than ii
had been BEFORE and asserted that the rebel armies
had not only gained in numbers, but In effective power,
from continued experience, from discipline and from the
knowledge gained many battle fields. He described
the resources for the support OF all these troops as
abundant everywhere But, the othor hand, o rebel
officer OF distinguished rank remarked 70 mcEc says
we have three hundred and eighteen Thousand effective
soldiers In the ae but, for my part, would not know
whore 70 find so many" And Il is q well known fact
that, while the rebel armies may not actually suffer for
want Of food there commissay stores TO epare in
the confederacy.
DEsPRRATIoN or THE REBEL LEADERS.
Ousvf the principal things that impressed itself upon
our minds the energy and desperation OF the rebel
leaders, notwithstanding their inevitable ruin, and
the crumbing condition OF their cause. Indeed, what
them so very desperate Is the fact that the
game gone far they have all 10 all TO lose.
II they had had any adequate idea Of the calm settled
purpose that the North has shown TO put down. what
cost, such formidable rebellion, rebel officers
have told me that the country would have been
sweps by the flames OF civil And there some
officers 10 the rebel armies now who, being convinced
that the North must eventually conquer, would be glad
20 sheath the sword they could do go with show OF
honor u is an unfortunate circumstance in the eduoa-
,ion Of Southern people tnathey have placed low
estimate The intelligence, spirit and power Of the
people Of the North Many Of them have been nurtured
the doctrine that the people OF the North bear In their
boeoms an mplacabe hatred or the people Of tho South
That one Of the many evils growing out Of the peculiar
institution Many have been taught to believe since the
commencement OF this war, and especially since the
PRONUNCIATION Of Mr. Iincolns emancipation proclamation
that the waged by abolition ADMINISTRATION
for the sole purpose Of emancpatng all the southern
savos and reducing the Southern people to condition
equivalent TO dependency and vassaage The Soutneners
are exceedingly high Spirited and, though they might be
convinced thai they were 10 the wrong, many Of them
mpr1anng pride BY wilful stuboornness would sooner
die desperate struggle than be subjected to the hu
initiation. disgrace universal degradation which they
believe would follow submission 70 the authority Of the
government at Washington. This Is sad condition Of
AFFAIRS bot u Is the result OF their early education.
DEsPoTIsM IN THE SOUTH.
Another thing that mad favorable opportunities Of
have over the OF the people, The South is
vast military establishment controlled by few energetic
ana determined The wishes Of the majority Of the
people entirely ignored, and the machneyof despotc
government Is well managed by the chiefs that 10
impossible ,s have popular expression Of the real SEN
tments and opinions Of the people, Every one looks
upon oe,ghbor with suspicion Men Of one mind are
afraid express their feelings simply because they have
nos perfect confidence In each other Hence often hap
pens thai among company, apparently composed Of
bosom friends, there may be many who talk way ana
think another In tho South there is longer freedom
Of speech OF action Of opinion. The whole country
under the iron rule Of despotsm, and s fast sinking
into anarchy aud ruin
THE MISERY OF THE PEOPLE.
Is lamentable TO witness the dreadful state OF misery
into which the rebellion has plunged the Southern PEG.
pie Young and DID, rich and poor. unfortunately
forced into the army The last sweeping conscrpt act
calls for many who have hitherto kept out OF by ing
various kinds Of work needed by the government, and
most Of them. determined not 10 fight,
endeavoring TO leave the lines Of the confedera-
cy. The towns and cities that have been destroyed
and the magnificent farms and plantations ruined not
meniion the proportion Of the population wasted
truly terrible 10 contemplate. All the Southern towns
and cities that have look, comparatively speak iug
dismal and deserted. Most OF tho colleges. academies
been put into the army: and Of tho buildings
either going 70 decay used army hospitals. There
is literature IN the South, save the sieKenng siur
that "6res the Southern heart" the rebel newepa
pers There are few Of the eujoymen,s Of social lfe
There 20 business transacted except such as Is either
directly or indirectly connected with the war Indeed
the whole business Of the south war; and at the
time every one 10 looking and longing for peace.
WHEN SHALL WE HAVE PRAcRs
Upon what terms peace be made IL is almost i'm.
possible 70 State Both North and south have strong
desire for peace The terms Of the South appear TO be
eternal separation from the federal government and tho
recognition OF q Southern confederacy. The terms OF
the North the unconditional return u the Southern
people 70 their former allegiance the Union Were Il
for the rebel leaders would have peace and re-
union. The leaders seem determined TO prolong the
struggle. The temper Of tho south IL told n this
characteristics expression, which the rebels are
fond Of using;-"Wen 1ght you ill He'll freezes
over, and then wen fight you the j" And the
temper Of the Nsrth 10 told In the made by
Of soldiers Every we'll were used 70 the ood; We
whip you on the Ice" Some Of the most corserva-
tive southern citizens and officers have assured that
is impossible under the present administration.
At the time they have that should the North
elect fair conservative Presdesi they would bope
for suspension Of hostitcs that they would consider
Suspension Of bosiIites almost equivalent peace for
conditions which they would not listen 70 from Mr. Lin.
coin they would be happy 10 accept from another Pes
dent Some OF them have also told me that fur and
complete amnesty 70 all engaged 10 the rebellion and
repeal Of the conscaton act, might tendency
end The war Immediately. III you would only do that"