The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-04-26
IMPORTANT FROM TEXAS.

Statement OF q Describes from the Rebels
The Condi ton or Affairs There-Muti-
nies In the Rebel Army-A Rebellion
Within . Rebellion-Rebel Prepare.
lions to Receive Their Steel-Clads from
Europe, &c. fHNkv.lsr
NJ. A. D. Peterson who left velasco, Texas, at the
mouth Of the Bazos the 5th inst furnishes the fol
lowing Of how be escaped from the rebel army,
has experience 10 IT, and the condition Of things generally
n the rebel lines in Texas. Mr. Peterson Is originally
from Grand Rapids. State Of Michigan resident
o. Texas when tho rebellion first commenced. He
was conscripted by the frss rebel CONSUMPTION.
IN the or 1862. After being conscripted he
sent the mouth Of the Brazos where he remained up
70 the 5th nst except three months last summer when
no was absent from there from May to August, in
Louisana, engaged in the campaign a.ainst Banks He
was present, however, in battle, and considers
sireak Of good luck that he compelled to Gre
o1s bullet against the army and flag Of his country
From the time that Mr.. Peterson arst entered the
rebel camp or the Thirteenth Texas infantry,
N which regiment no served during his expo.
rience in the rebel army, the rebels were short
Or clothing, coffee and other necessary articles
that had 10 be brought from abroad They have since
gradually out Of everything except ammunition and
arms, and present they dependent entirely upon
bread and beef for subsistence There very little
tea coffee -four, and the army have received but
y 80 bushel -four, 81 a POUND coffee, 500 .
pound sugar. 81 pound butter So pound; eggs 81
DOZEN, common pair Of calf boots cost $3.50 70
3l76, and everything else in. proportion. The
whole army In Texas 10 dissatisfied, and would
gladly give up the war any conditions u
possible. Remarks made by tho soldiers con.
ceung the army the eop(ederaoy and I've leaders, for
which they would have been hung year ago u they 20
dared 10 express themselves. There many Northern
in the army, and these tho most dissatisfied;
but the discomfort universal the extent our in
formants experience among officers and The great
majority Of the people share the sentiments Of the army
regarding the coofedcracy and Us leaders. The higher
officers pretend 70 believe In the ultimate success
q the rebellion but the mon and subal
terms have long despaired Of establishing the
Southern confedcracy. Among the troops stationed
At Galveston two sscus riots occurred Tho FIRST Of these
occurred 10 July Of last year and account Of the
snor. supply Of rstions The troops turned their
she town. fne commander Of the post Colonel Cook sent
WSd nom the town that they would be sarved into sub
mission TO this the men replied tina, they would apply
20 the blockade runners Colonel Cook then came 10
terms and supplied all that demanded and thus the
mutny quecd. Tho second revolt Of the troops In
Galveston occurred about three months ago. The troops
turned out a. Galveston In body, demanded and
better ratons rstous that had been issued
CvIopc Cock again accedcd 10 their demspds In comp
with from General Magruder who was then
~ Houston.
Tho Department 81 Texas comprising that state, Ari
and New Mexico is under the command Of General
Magruder The forces In the whole department consist
ing III state troo.s vs.. old and all that could be
mustered, consist OF twenty thousand men, In Texas
arc M ne sas resdy r
wards Red river what this force Is numerically, and its
exact distribution, Mr.. Peterson does not exactly
Know; but u cannot exceed ten thousand men.
Tue coast force. from Sabine @ far west as there Is
any force, msht be set down at two thousand i've hun
urod. The balance OF the whole force In the depart.
ment " scattered throughout ts cntirecxent Calves
ton now pretty well fortified Tho mouth OF the Bra
fortified by two batter,csnnc OF six guns and one
Of three. The heaviest guns arc thirty two Founders
and the ghicst twelve Founders. They are all smooth
Brazos, and immediately the mouth The force there
" four hundred men and Colonel Casey OF the
Texas u In command. Our Informant does NOT know al
Ter and Zee are both At Hoast o with Magruder.~
Men have frequently gone homo to their families
and have been put 70 hard labor when they caught
The dcscrtous are very numerous Fifteen LETT with
Informant the 9th, and sometimes hfty or
sixty IN day About two thousand OF these DISORDERS
have taken position IN the Jungan thicket, the
Rod river and express themselves determined not 70 be
torc,d to take ~ arms again for the conederacy This
rendezvous been bshed for eight months aud is
now quite formidable They have regular organization,
and constantly receiving accsssions OF force,
sting OF discAncnted rebels and desperadoes OF oil
Kinds These men have no artillery, but are ail well
armed infantry All the capable OF bearing
In the ranks. There are NJ their homes ex
cert the aged and crippled me men allowed TO be ex
hands on them nnd their places supplied by crppes and
themselves placed In the army. Mr. Peterson and two
Others escaped In blockade runner beat The blockade
was the steamer Alice, which arrived at Brazos
yaHs, aLost s~s ino4tLs Az. is@ stainss s.l-s -