Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1864-02-03
Affairs In the S0uth.

OF letter from a Frencnmdn formerly the
, rebel army, dated Richmond, Jan. 18th. to a
| friend here. He reports the arrival of an
other agent of the French Empire, named
Martinique, via Nassau, and his mysterious
conference with JEFF. Davis. II is known, he
says that JEFF. has promised to recognize the
Empire H. Mexico, and promised France all
the advantages of the Southerli Confederacv
il Napoleon will recognize and support the
Southern cause. Ali our principal men,
he SAYS, think therefore a war between
France and the United States near at hand."
The writer has no doubt that the plan of
making Gen. Lee dictator viii be adopted, as
the only means to counteract the strength of
the North. Lee has expressed his willingness
TO accept it He and Jetf. are on bad terms
The latter would have 10 retire. He is very
unpopular IL consequence of keeping Bragg
SO long in command. He has even thought
since BraEg's dismissal of giving him com
mand OF the army OF Virginia, and sending
Lee to Dalton, but had to abandon TIE plan
on account of the great influence brought
against 1t. Johnston. who took command of
Bragg's dcmoralZed army, thought of re-
treating to Atlanta, but was kept at Dalton
10y orders from Richmond, that he might take
advantage of a probable Weakening of the
Northern army by turloushs and the expira-
ton Of terms of service
JeM plan is to keep the armies on the of
tensiye, though Lee gave his opinion that with
the miserable condition of the army in regard
to clothing and provisions, il was impossible
to do So Earlys expedition misera-
bile failure, more than 900 veterans return
ing hoTS ar combat, having hands and feet fro
zen.
" News from Charleston the writer saws.
us dIScouraging. Beauregard has expressed
the opinion that he could not hold Charles
ton much longer, Gilmore's guns are in
position To reduce it to ashes in few hours
If he intends to do so. One of the regiments
laying there intended TO desert e5t HIdSSe, but
were prevented by one of them giving inior-
nation Twenty of the ringleaG,~s were shot
january 4th, and the rest divided up among
other regiments. The 18th Va. regiment, or
dered to Alabama, refused tn go, and wen.
disbanded and used in filling up other req
mcutS, rs the only plan To avoid mutiny.'
Bread riots occur almost daily in the Soulh
The Southern people are tired of the war
John Morgan has been given the command q.
Magruder's army, but will not be more sue
ceSSul than the latter.
The writer concludes thus: "The DAYS of
the Southern Confedcracy are numbered, and
its back bone is broken"
A special to the Herald dated at the head
quarters of the Department OF West Virginia,
the oath says
We have captured rebel mail. The sec
rets Of the mail bag are curious and interest
inc and III one or two instances highly impor-
tant Almost all Of the letters contain re
marks on the Presidents amnesty proclama-
ton, the suiterngs anticipated i'll rcbeldom,
the disailcctcd state of the citizens of the
south the complaints of soldiers the manner
in which rebel officers high in position are
spoken of, &c., all serve, in very many re
spccts, II confirm the reports in circulation
IN the Northern papers regarding the condi
ton of the Contedcracy.
y lady IN replying To another SAYS;
Tour description of the President pains
me. ! had hoped for better things. 1t is
true we are Respondent, but our hope for the
future Is still strong"
The 756,mf& Washington letter SAYS Long
street is to be recalled from East Tennessee
and placed at the head OF 4 army with its
base at Suffolk, and to operate on the south
side OF James river. Kirby Smith is TO sue
cccd Longstrcet in East Tennessee.
Another correspondent reports the arrival
OF jim Dunnisou, otherwise Pemberton, who
for nearly twenty years has been personal
body servant of JcH. Davis. He SAYS the lat
ter Is unrcscryed in urging the abandonment
of Virginia, but Gen. Lee Is pcremptorily op-
posed thereto, and says all the Virginia sol
GicTs viii lay down their arms if their State
be given up to the Yankees.
Vice President Stephens has not attended
Congress this session, and has not visited
Davis house or Office for more than year
Report said he had gone to Europe.
The Past says: \ gentleman who has spent
several wears ut Macon Ga, recently reached
New York.
lie declares the rebellion an utter failure.
Even the leaders see that success is out of the
question, while the common people would hail
with delight the restoration of the Federal
authority One of the principal brokers of
Macon, told him: " our only hope now is that
the federal army viii deliver US from our
troubles, for without their Intervention we
must perish"
The utmost restitution prevails everywhere.
The CONSUMPTION is being enforced with pitt
less energy, including the gray haired men.
Slavery he says, is dead and this is admitted
by uine-tenths of the southern people.
Three years ago the same gentleman wrote
letters declaring in strong terms that the
south could not be -ubdued.
The Richmond E5,9uirer, Of the 18th inst,
has the following " Mr.. Hidell, Secretary
to the Vice President, received a dispatch
yesterday from Augusta announcing the sud
den and serious illness of Mr. Stephens. He
was attacked on Sunday forenoon. This at
tack, with the well known state of his health,
creates serious .pprehensons."