Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-13
VHlF KIEL KIRBY ENIfH boz
LnpOraaut Revelations OOneeznin1
His Plans.

Joe Johnston, surrounded by Stoneman,
Sheridan and Grant, will sur
render within week; Mobile has proba- |
bly, already fallen the only rebel army !
left viii be the Trans-Mississippi. In
view of this fact, the following extract |
from letter to the Cincinnati Commercial,
from New Orleans, which pretends to give |
information in regard to the pur-
poses and plsns of the rebel leader, will be
of peculiar interest:
Ifit were in order to set forth, in print,
all that is most surely known concerning
the aforementioned distinguished rebel
and his doings, HI could q tale unfold"
which would give its readers broad grin
Of satisfaction. 1t must suffice, however,
to say, as I do without hesitation, that the
understanding between that officer and our
military authorities, on some points, Is
quite as good as that which he has with
JEFF Davis. Between the latter and Smith
interYenes the Mississippi, and both under
stand, full well, that it can be crossed only
by single persons. Late Texas papers
which 1 have seen, admit this fact, and is
urging upon the troops of the Trans Mis-
sissippi Department TO go at once to the
reliet of their brethren of the East, tell
them that they can do SO only by disband-
ing near the river, with the understanding
that they re-sssemble at 8 dxed point some
where in Mississippi.
The Texas rank and file are rapidly
coming TO the conclusion that it is only
useless wasteof blood for them to fight any
more battles in the East, and they know
they will not be disturbed by Davis where
they are, and on that understanding both
Kirby Smith and ourselves have built, and
are building. 1t is a welLknown fact that
last winter two Texas regiments were
ordered ACROSS the Mississippi, and fatty
refused to 60; it is equally well known
here that the desertions of Texans and
Mississippians from Hoods army last
winter, when it was announced 10 them
that they were to be sent to South Carolina,
was only inferior TO that of Tennessesns
and Kentuckians after their defeat before
Nashville. Some Texas cavalry, the 9th,
particularly, have, OF late, been behaving
very rudely toward the citizens east of the
Mississippi; and it is strongly limited that
it was done to render Themselves obnoxi-
ous, and secure their being sent home
Such, then, being the temper Of the Texas
troops lit has not yet spread so much
among the citizens), Davis has very pru-
IDENTIFY refrained from giving many orders,
lest the weakness of his authority over
them should be made manifest to all men,
by their disobedience.
On the other hand, the country has oc-
casionally had its curiosity excited by ru-
mors of Kirby Smiths cotton speculAtioDs
with the Federsls. These Tumors are
based on facts, but, for the present. they
must be withheld, ''for the good of the SER
vice." 1 will give little speech, however,
which he is reported TO have made, which,
to say the least, Is curious. The stories OF
refugees and deserters sometin es give dis
torted outliniDgs of truth, which, when
compared with q few established facts in
our possession, give valuable intelligence
The slory runs, that the rebel General
talking Familiarity with one of his snbordi.
mates about his sPeculstions in cotton, said
"Nsver mind that-never mind that; keep
quiet. Ifyou don't blow this thing about
too much, 1t will fetch US out all right in
the end. PIl send enough cotton down
the river to the Yankees to pay our.
| EHlN6o bAA IL EAClhDlShE1 hn0 kANO w
troops something; then we'll take then
over to Mexico, put out Macmillan, and
earn for ourselves special amnesty, if the
people choose TO go back; or else establish
eur Independence, if they prefer that
Davis can't touch u.s." do not pretend
10 sift the fabulous from the true in tht
aLove; you can accept it for what it il
worth.
There are few facts, OF which we have
knowledge through Texas papers, that
will throw some light on this matter. The
remarkable letter, to which 1 have beforr
alluded, which wss written by Major West
Judge Advocate of General Smiths staff
asserting that the Oonfsdersey was lost, ,snC
that Texas should look to her own interest
has never received any rebuke from him
1t was necessary thRt the Texans shoult
make show of violent opposition to tn
sentiments of that letter, since public opin
ion had not yet sufficiently advanced to
ward independence TO secure its advocate
from violence; hence, meetings were csllet
to denounce the letter, and the Governo
sent a copy Of it to General Smith
to ascertain whether it was genuine
and whether, if so the Msjor had his sane
ton in it. He msien no expression Of his dis
pleasure which has yet reached US, and, 8
the letter was written early in January
is to be presumed the Msjor had his ful
approval, else, before this, we should hsv
heard to the contrary. The letter assume
new significance, when It is considered tha
Colonel G. M. Bryan, Smiths Chief c
Staff, wrote another, very similar TO it, pre-
posing, as Msjor West did, that new seE
sion of the Legislature should be called
The assurance with which these two officer
speak of the way in which this neI
Legislature should be made up, is proc
that it is a subject they have well consid
cred, and that it is matter in which Smit
means to have controlling influence
The impression is created, on one VII
reads the,lstter carefully, that he seeks {
shape that body to do his bidding, and tn
great popularity he enjoys in Texas, an
his patience and reticence in pursuing hi
ends, will avail him much. What he woul
have the new Legislature enact concerHin
himself we do not know, but it is sufficient
" easy to conjecture. -
The doubt which Msjor West SO fire
aUently expresses in his letter, whether th
troops would cross the Mississippi, even
ordered TO do SO, is noticeable. Sue
phrases IS "whether they will go or not,
'eVeu II they are Win z, 'For refuse
GO" so frequently and prominently useC
show great confidence that they will no
60, if ordered, and il is not difficult TO dil
cover that the writer does not wish theI
to go.
1 learn, from high authority, that th
statement of this letter that there are 81
600 available troops in the TranE- Missil
sippi Department. is not an over -estimsti
Yet the writer says: "But if the armies i
the East are defeated, it is certain that ou
army will be defeated"
In view of the disturbance which nigh
be given to ineomrleted possible roherne
, BY an invasion of Texas, at present, tn
following item. from the GAIvastnn Ns,r