Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-02-06
Affairs in the south.

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. It 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 will recognize and support the
| Southern cause. "All 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 counterfeit the strength of
| the North. Lee has expressed his willingness
| TO accept it. He and JEFF. are on bad terms
| The latter would have to retire. He is very
unpopular in consequence of keeping Bragg
so long in command. He has even thought
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 il. Johnston, who took command of
Bragg's demOralzed army, thought of re-
treating to Atlanta, but was kept at Dalton
by orders from Richmond, that he might take
advantage of a probable weakening of the
Northern army by furloughs and the expira-
| ton of terms of service.
Jeff.'s plan is to keep the armies on the of
fensve, 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. Earlys expedition a misera-
| BILE failure, more than 900 veterans return
ing hors do combat, having hands and feet fro
| zen.
News from Charleston" the writer SAYS,
sis discouraging. Beauregard has expressed
the opinion that he could not hold Charles
ton much longer, as GilmOres guns are in
position to reduce it TO ashes in a few hours,
if he intends to. do so. One of the regiments
| LAYING there intended to desert en- nidSse, but
were prevented by of them giving infor-
nation. Twenty of the ringleaders 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 tired of the war.
John Morgan has been given the command of
| Magruder's army, but will not be more sue
cessful than the latter.
The writer concludes thus: ''The days of
the Southern Confederacy 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 a rebel mail. The sec
rets of the nail bag are curious and interest
ing and in one or two instances highly impOr
tant. Almost all of the letters contain re-
marks on the Presidents amnesty proclama-
ton, the sufferngs anticipated in rebellion,
the disaffected state of the citizens of the
South, the complaints of soldiers, the manner
in which rebel officers high in position
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 Confederacy.
A 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 TriJa1,e's Washington letter says Long
street is to be recalled from East Tennessee,
and placed at the head of a new army with its
base Mt Suffolk, and to operate on the south
side of James river. Kirby Smith is to sue
ceed LOngstreet in East Tennessee.
Another correspondent reports the arrival
of Jim DunnisOn, otherwise PembertOn, who
for nearly twenty years has been a 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
diers will lay down their arms if their State
he given up to the Yankees.
/ Vice President Stephens has not attended
Davis house or office for more than year.
Report said he had gone to Europe.
The Post says: A 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: 4" our only hope now is that
the federal army will deliver from our
troubles, for without their Intervention We
must perish"
The utmost restitution prevails eve rywhere.
The conscriptiOn 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 Enquirer, of the 10th 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 spprehensiOns."
THE JEws.-No longer is the jew only
found among old clothes, second hand brogans
/ and cast-of haberdasherie. Since the COM
mencement of the present century, the chill
dren of Israel have played hand in the great
So fHnpx