The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-30
IMPORTANT FROM ARKANSAS.
Kirby Smith to Join
Macmillan.
Discomfort OF JEFF. DAVIS.
Trouble I'm the Trans-Mississippi
Department,
&C., &C., 60.
Our 1t. Louis Correspondence.

Our St. Louis Correspondence.
81. LOUIS Jan "A, lscS
piece Of ncws has Just come into my possession which
deserves 70 be entitled "Highy important, II true"
But whether true or false, will hereafter form part Of
the exciting history Of the times.
Some weeks since tho Provost Marshal General OF this
department suspected from variety hints, insinua
tons End inuendoes, that tho rebel General E. Kirby
SMITH has been negotiating with the Emperor
Macmillan for transferring nearly the whole Of the rebel
army west Of the Mississippi 10 Mexico 70 ght for
tho French. The Same story now current among tho
prominent soccssonists Of this CITY, and Is founded on
private communications received regularly from the
Trans Mississippi Department Of rebellion.
The denunciatons which have appeared in the Rich
mond Journals against Kirby Smith have proved sum
GENTLY his unpopusrty at the rebel capital II has
been known quite generally 10 cotton spectators along
the river from Cairo 10 New Orleans that Smith has
pcatody permitted shipments OF cotton through his lines
The validity Of the cotton contract entered into with
Kirby Smith some time ago. has boon questioned;
and his cupi,y Is notorious that he believed 10 b.
capable Of this any other act Tho only scount
tho whole story Is the ability Of this rebel general 70
troll his army. The discomfort manifested In Georgia,
North Carolina and Virginia Is but speck compared 70
the volcanoes OF Dissatisfaction raging In Arkansas,
West Louisiana and Texas
The rule adopted Is this-"Every man for him.
ecf and the devil take the hindmost" Under the cir
cumstances is not surprising that tho project Of
moving the rebel army Of the Mississippi Mexico
should have entered the fertile brain Of Kirby Smith.
The HERALD Of January 20 contained announcement
that the rebels evidently preparing 10 abandon
Arkansas entirely, and concentrating their troops
At Camden, Arkansas and that rebel citizens had been
ordered to remove south or the Rcd river by General
Nagruder These facts Ia connection with the positive
of the stories circulated among the St. LOUIS
cessi0nts and information in the hands Of the Provost
Marshal General seem TO indicate that there may
be more truth than poetry In the whole story
There Is another link In the chain VIII CHI has not been
previously made public but the emergency which called
for It's suppress on and the intelligence which to
my knowledge upwards Of four KS ago cannot be
considered coniraband. While the country was In
expectancy and anxiety concerning the movements Of
General Sherman in Georgia. rebel courier captured
Morgnnz!a, In with dupcai Of order signed
by General Cooper, Adiutant General Of tho SO IT,
ordering Kirby Smith to Immediately transfer twenty
thousand men to the command OF Dick Taylor, NJ Meri
dian, Miss. Tho order was drp!ica.e marked "Dupli
cato No g." and is now on flo In tho War Depart
ment The Information kept secret, but wal
transmitted to headquarters ia this city fol
the guidance OF General Ros Grams 1t VA
dated Richmond, November ~. The order pcremp
tory; but had mover been obcycd, and will bc DO
cause the troops Under Kirby Smith merely en-.
listed for services Of the Mseissppia fac, which
tsanspred in the course Of previous attempt tho
part Of Ie Davis transfer troops the relief Of Hood
pending the seige OF Atlanta
Tho demoralizod condition Of tho rebel army west Of
the river has been increased BY tho death OF Stirling
Price and the gDominous end OF the Missouri invasion
The bulk Of that army will he reduced 20 guerilla
gangsa foreshadowing Of what rs yet to In vr-
ginia, North Carolina and Georgia