Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-08-31
THE CONDITION OF THE SOUTH.


who was placed under fire at Charleston,
has written a letter which, for its highly re-
spectacle statement Of the South, should be
generally read. We commend it particular
ly to those who throw doubt upon the war
and the Government. Gen. Seymo,,r, 1t is
well known, passed many years of his mil
itary life III the old regular service, in friend
ly intercourse among the Southern people
and, to within very short time, has been
reckoned by opposition journals with those
unfriendly to the Administration. Without
saying word In favor OF Mr.. Lincoln on
personal grounds, General Seymour clearly
shows, from the convictions Of an experience
in the rebel States, that his reelection would
be the worst blow which it is possible for
the North to administer as Il people against
the South. He is convinced, as the Gov
ernment is also convinced, that the 'Confed-
eracy" is in its worst straits, and now relies
chiefly upon Northern sympathy to secure
It's independence by betraying the pacific
Union sentiment.
WLLIAMsTowN, Mass, Aug. ID. 1864
Wy LEAR DIX Gu aSh IUT my lul pres
sions OF the present condition of the South
ern COntederacy, and you shall have them.
For the benefit Of our cause | wish they
might be impressed upon every soul in the
land, that the confidence begotten Of my
three month observations IN the interior
OF the South might be shared by every man
| who has the least connection with the re-
! sponsibilities Of this struggle And [ am
| sure that these opinions are not peculiar to
myself Every one OF the fifty officers just
| exchanged will express the same-every one
OF them, whether from the jailS of Charles
ton, or the pens of Macon and Anderson
vile, will confidently tell the same story.
The Tedei cause Is JuSt tutitHg from er-
hdustion. Their two grand armies have
been reinforced this summer from the last
resources Of the South. From every corner
! Of the land, every old man aud every boy
capable of bearing a rifle has been inipres-
| sed, willingly or unwillingly, and hurried to
| the front. Lee ) army was the first so
| strengthened. 1t was at the expense of
| Hood :. Gov. Brown told the truth with a
! plainness that was very bitter. but it was
| none the less the truth Let me extract a
| few prominent statements from his procla-
nation Of July 9Th, addressed to the Re
| served Militia Of Georgia -
| * late correspondence with the Presi-
| dent Of the Confederate States satisfied my
mind that Georgia Is 10 be left TO her own
| resources to supply the reintorcementS to
Ten Johnston army, which are indlSpen-
| sible to the protection of Atlanta, and to
prevent the State from being overrun by
the overwhelming numbers now under com
nand Of the Federal General upon our soil.
But there Is need Of further reinforce
| mentS. as will be seen by the accompanying
| letter of Gen. Johnston. And it
/ becomes my duty to call forth erelY man in
the State able to bear arms. as fast as they
can be armed to aid in the defence Of our
homes, our altars, and the graves of our an
cestOrs.
IF the Confederate Government will not
send the large cavalry force now engaged
III raldlng and repelling raids to destroy
hthe long line Of railroads over which Gener-
| al Sherman brings his supplies from Nash
vile, and thus compel him to retreat with
the loss of most OF his army, the people of
Georgia, uho hare already been dr0,cn up
on more heartily III pr0porttoa to pOpU}dtioR
than those of any otjter State III the Con-
teoerdcy, must at all hazards, and at any
sacrifice, rush to the front.
IF Gen. Johnston 5 army is destroyed,
the Gulf States are thrown open to the en-
| emY, and we are ruined
There must, indeed, have been desperate
weakness when Georgia, and the Southern
cause with it. " ere so neglected that Lee :
army might be made equal to the task of
holding Grant to the Potomac or the James,
and the people of the South are Intelligent
e. ough to l Understand and tc appreciate the
fact and they have lost heart accordingly
The following is from lette written by
one rebel to another that accidentally fell in
to the hands of one of my fellow prisoners,
i ,,t' |
" cry few persons are preparing TO obey
the late call Of the Governor. His sum
mons will meet with no response here. The
people are Soul-sick. and heartily tired Of
this hateful. hopeless strife. They would
end it if they could; but our would-be ru-
lers will take good care that no opportunity
be given the people to vote against 1t. BY
lies, by fraud, and by chicanery this revolu-
ton was inaugurated; by force, by Tyranny,
and the suppression Of truth it is su: tanned.
1t Is nearly time that it should end and Of
sheer deptctioH 1t mast end before long. We
have had enough Of want and Of woe, e
nough of cruelty and carnage, enough of
cripples and corpses. There is an abund
ance of bereaved parents, weeping widows
and orphaned children in the land. If we
can, let us not increase the number. The
men who, to aggrandize themselves, or to
crafty their own political ambition, brought
this cruef war upon peaceful and prosper
Gus country, will have to render fearful ac-
count of their misdeeds to wronged, rob-
bed. and outraged people. Earth has no
punishment sufficiently meet for their vii
lainy here, and hell will hardly be hot enough
to scathe them hereaft r.
There is certainly no small proportion of
the Southern people despite the lying dec
larations of their journals, as we had good
occasion to learn, that not only favor the