Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-01-28
RumOr from the South.

An Inside View Of affairs IN the South
ern Confederacy The Contederates
Still Hoping for aid from France
Gen. Lee to be made Dictator-,Jef
Darts ,ery Umpopular-Gen. Beau
regard Disheartena. ..f
New York, Jan. 24.-The Times con-
tains a translation of letter from a
Frcnchman, formerly of the rebel army,
dated Richmond, January 18th, to a
friend here. He reports the arrival Of
another agent of the French Emperor,
named Martigny, via Nassau, and myste-
rious conference with jeff Davis. 1t is
known, he says, that JEFF has promised to
recognize the Empire in Mexico, and
promised France all the advantages of the
Southern Confederacy, if Napoleon would
recognize and support the Southern cause.
All our principal men, he says, think,
therefore, that war between France and
the United States is near at hand.
The writer has no doubt that the plan
of making General Lee dictator will be
adopted as the only means to counteract
the strength of the North. General Lee
he says, has expressed an unwillingncss
to accept. He and jeff. are on bad terms
and the latter would have to retreat. jeff
is very unpopular in consequence of keep
ing General Bragg so long in command.
He has even, thought, notwithstanding
this, since Bragg's dismissal, Of giving
him the command of the Army of Virgil
mia, and sending Lee to Dalton, but he
had Abandoned the plan on account Of the
great influences brought against it,
johnson. who took command Of Bragg's
demoralized army, had thought of retreat
ing to Atlanta, but was kept at Dalton by
orders from Richmond, that lie might
take advantage of the probable weaken
ing of the Northern army by furloughs
and expiring terms Of service. III
Jeff's plan is to keep his armies on the
offensive, though Lee gave it as his opin-
ion that, with the miserable condition of
the army in regard to clothing and pro-
visions, it would impossible to do so.
General Early's expedition was pro-
nounced miserable failure. more than
200 veterans returning hors du combat,
having hands and feet frozen. ..st
The news from Charleston, this writer
says, is discouraging Gen. Beauregard
has expressed the opinion that he could
not hold Charleston much longer, as Gen.
Gilmore's guns were in position Sufficient
TO reduce il to ashes in few hours if he
intends to do so. One South Carolina
regiment doing duty there had intended
10 desert, but was prevented by one Of
them giving information. Twenty of the
ringleaders were shot on the 4th Of JAM,
and the rest were divided up omong the
other regiments. The 18th Virginia
Regiment were ordered to Alabama, but
refused to 60, and were disbanded and
used in filling up other regiments as the
only plan to avoid mutiny. T e.
Bread riots occur almost daily in the
South and Southern people are getting
tired Of the war.
John Morgan has been given command
Of Gen. Magruder's army, but will, it is
thought, be no more successful than the
latter. u. s.t .... .l.s..l
The writer concludes by saying: The
days of the Southern Confederacy are
numbered, and its back bone is brohen,
How OUR STRUGGLE Is REGARDED AT
RoME.-Amohg the diplomatic documents
recently submitted to Congress is one
dated April A, 1868, in which Minister
Blatchford says to Mr., Seward: "Holi-
ness, as we'll as the Cardinal Secretary,
are decidcd friends Of the Union. and
ardently desire that its integrity may be
preserved, The latter was strong in his
hopes that tie North would speedy sub
due Ii. rebellion"