Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1864-04-01
What a Confederate Member of Congress

says.
The special correspondent of the Chicago Tri-
5u,se, who accompanied General Sherman's ex-
pedition, secured the following private letter
from Confederate Member of Congress, writ
ten to one of his friends The letter, which we
append, was written by O. R. Singleton, of
Casston, Mississippi who has brother of some
notoriety residing at Canton, illinois, 1t is an
interesting private letter, and wears a gloomy
aspect touching the Confederate iuture:
RICHMOND, Jan. &C. 1864.
HoN. j. B. HANCOCK:
Dear Sir:-I wish | had to-day a glass of
your excellent wine, as | feel somewhat languid
and fatigued after my multiplied and incessmt
duties here. l hope some day to drink the
health of our young nation and talk over our
"hair- breadth escapes" and great tribulations.-
The present hour looks gloomy, to be sure; but
like yourself believe in ultimate success
To give us this success, We want to strike an eff
fective blow early in the spring. This will set
us on our legs again. Doubtless the Federals
will open the campaign by moving heavy COL
umn upon Atlanta, Ga. and at the same time a
heavy one from Knoxville in the direction of
Southwestern Virginia and Northern North
Carolina This latter, if not repelled, will force
upon Gen. Lee the necessity of falling back
from his present position, il may be from Rich
mond, and almost entirely from Virginia, to pre-
vent himself from being fanked, and his army
from being entirely disbaDded or Destroyed
You can see at once if this movement be allow
ed to succeed, that these conseq quences must fol-
low This portion of Virginia is now pretty
well eaten out, and if Lees army We're cut off
from the South it could not be prOvisioned for
three months. Pressed in front, and harrassed
in rear, with provisions exhausted, disbandment
and destruction must follow.
1t then becomes a matter of the first moment
to guard the rear of the Army of the Potomac.
Should the movement upon Atlanta succeed,
then Georgia will be laid waste, and our chief
source Cat presently Ofprovisions be cut off. No
man can look forward to Spring without great
apprehensions. Doubtless our severest trials
will then be upon us. If we sustain ourselves,
or more, if We gain any signal advantage over
the enemy soon after the opening of the CAM
pagn, we may give the opposition elements of
the North a chance to combine and beat Lincoln
for President. This should hail as good omen
and begin t0thideof peace atno cery distant day.
l see no chance for peace until the Republican
party is beaten and overcome. In the mean
time things are assuming more unfavorable
aspect in North Carolina. Her course is deeply
humilliating to every patriotic heart. Congress
is laboring diligently to strengthen our army
and improve our currency hope we. shall
succeed materially in accomplishing both Of
these ends. The remedy is a severe one, but
the disease is desperate, and no silly nostrum
will answer. The cause is the peoples sand they
must sustain it at all hazards and the represen-
tative who falters IN this hour of trial is moi
worthy of confidence. Iwould tell you what
measures we are likely to adopt, but that would
be contraband, as our proceedings are in secret
session. As ever, your friend, most trnly,
O. r. SINGLETON"