Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-02-04
Affairs i'm the S0Uth,

| 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. 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
II Napoleon will recognize and support the
Southern cause. "All our principal men,
! ne says, think therefore a war between
france and the United States near at hand"
The writer has no doubt that the plap of
making zen. Lee dictator will be adopted as
the only means to counterfeit the STRENGTH of
the Norlh. Lee has expressed his WILLINGNESS
| 20 accept it. He and jeff are on had tern,s
The latter would have to retire. He is varr
| unpopular IL consequence of keeping Rraom
so long i'll command He has even thouchf
since Bragg's dismissal of giving him com.
mand OF the army of Virginia, and sending
Lee TO Dalton but had to abandon the plan
on account of the great influence brought
against 1t. Johnston, who took command of
Braggs demoralzed army, thought of re-
| treating to Atlanta, but was kept at Dalton
by orders from Richmond, that he might take
advantage of probable weakening of the
Northern army by furoughs and the expira-
| ton of terms of service.
| Jetf.'S plan is to keep the armies on the Of
tensive, though Lee gave his opinion that with
the miserable condition of the army in regard
to clothing and provisions, it was impossible
! TO do so. Early'S expedition was a mSera-
! bic failure, more than 900 veterans return
ing hOrS dts combat, having hands and feet fro
zen.
| News from Charleston" the writer saws
| ''is discOuraging. Beauregard has expressed
the opinion that he could not hold Charles
ton much longer, as Gilmore's guns are in a
position to reduce it to ashes in few hours
II he intends to do so. One of the regiments
laying there intended to desert en- nadSSc, but
were prevented by one of them giving infor-
nation. Twenty of the ringlcaders were shot
january 4th, and the rest divided up among
other regiments. The 18th Va regiment, or
dered to Alabama, refused to GO and were
disbanded and used in filling up other regi-
ments, as the only plan to avoid mutiny."
Bread riots occur almost daily in the South
The Southern people are tired of the war
John Morgan has been given the command of
| Magruder's army, but will not be more sue
ccssful than the latter
The writer concludes thus: ''The DAYS of
the Southern Confedcracy are numbered, and
its back bone is broken"
\ special to the Herald dated at the head
quarters of the Department of West Virginia,
the oath says:
We have captured rebel mail. The see
rets of the mail bag are curious and interest
ing and i'll one or two instances highly impor-
tant. Almost all of the letters contain re-
marks on the Presidents amnesty procama-
ton, the sulierings anticipated in rebeldom,
| the disatfected 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-
spects, to confirm the reports in circulation
in the Northern papers regarding the condi-
ton of the COntederacy
\ lady in replying to another says:
Your 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 IrjG70ae'S Washington letter says Long
street is to be recalled from East Tennessee
and placed at the head of new 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 Dunnson, otherwise Pemberton, who
for nearly twenty years has been personal
body servant of jeff. Davis. He says the lat
ter is unreserved in urging the abandonment
of Virginia., but Gen. Lee is peremptorily OPP
posed thereto, and says all the Virginia sol
dcTs will 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 Il year
Report said he had gone to Europe.
The Post says: A gentleman who has spent
several years at Macon Ga, recently reached
New York
He 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 will deliver us from our
troubles, for without their intervention we
must perish"
The utmost destitution 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 nine-tenths Of the southern people
Three years ago the same gentleman wrote
letters declaring in strong terms that the
south could not be subdued.
The Richmond Ej,g~iJey, of the 9th inst,
has the folowng "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 approximations"