, 1864-02-23

sr. Lou1s, Feb. SO, 1864.
A story is current that the rebels have been
crossing arms and munitions of war oVerthe
Mississippi river between Helena and Port
Hudson in large quantities, for the purpose
of asmipg several thousand rebels who have
been conscripted into Prices army, and that
Price and Kirby Smith have planned cam
paign designed to recover Little Rock and
Fort Smith, and to drive back the Union
forces in Missouri. This is very pretty pro-
1ramme, and If nothing but arms, -amnunl-
ton and men were required, it is within the
bounds Of possibility there, might some dan
ger arise from It. Unless the rebels possess
an Aladdin's Lamp, however, they will have
to wait some time before they can accumu-
Into provisions and transportation sufficient
for successful assault: II the occupation Of
Union forces. Yet this story has deceived
few crcdulous persons in the interior, and
they were In some degree alarmed by 1t.
ii is Of course impossible to predict the fa-
.ture ofthe war "a it effects Missouri. ! Past
| experience has shown that whenever the reh-
| els have obtained the advantage at'any other
point, our losses have revived the rebel in
| sur1echonary spirit in Missouri. Gen; Rose.
craps has been busily engaged during the last
| few weeks In gathering Information as to the
| actual condition Of each county, and pro2o-
| poses 10 foster and encourage all, citizens to
/
| and the cultivation Of the soil: It Is esttma.
| ted that not more than one third OF the soil
under cultivation at the beginning Of tue war
| is titled now. Between the scarcity Of labor
and the fears Of gueE1las, and: fears Of our
: own troops, there hts been general cessa-
districts ofthe State. Gen. .Rosecruns firmly
bclicYea TINT the restoration Of peace Is
mainly dependent on the resumption Of the
ordinary ayocntfons by: the people When
| t1iS is done, protective associations can De
formed for the common defense; and then
I apart, be believes that bushwhackcrs cannot
Successfully. prosecute their calling unless
countenanced by the people Al such cases
| Of couutcnauciug euorillas will be treated
very seriously for tile parties invaded Many
persons are wondering why Ten. hosectaus 1s
has not commenced wholesale sweep 10 gsl
lid Of many Of Gen. sehoaeld's former sup
orsfnaJes and general orders Patience !.
required for q few days longer, Ine Genela u
has been bard at work Informing himseu ae
to everything connected with the department.
Like thorough tacticinn, he wishes 70 IN
de.stand ill points In the position. pelo1e NJ
makes his Combinations: and dispositions
When he acquires all this information, thers
vim be q general oyerhaulins Of eVefytnlne
l. necessary 10 bc reformed One o. the mat
teras which attracted his earliest attention
| was the power exercised by the governor ~
authority Of the War Department. over Mf
regiments Of; Missouri State militia. whtct
are designated State troops, though! paid
clothed, and fed from Unsls: SUMS .tteasury =;
Tbeee troops were osten6ibly under com1Aa. o q.
@ e1por has The | power to dismiss officers, a9! !
select companies, change them from. 5egl
1nent to regiment, and order them hlths;
and thlthcr at his pleasure, This e1trnordf
nary power has led to many abuses and hn
! caused many complications hitherto IN
known IN military circles. Coy. Gamble aas