White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-04-13
OFFICIAL REVELATIONS OF REB.
Ell SECRETS.
General Lees Testimony.
UNloNlsTs At The SOUTH.
Stephens Plan for Peace.
STRENGTH OF THE REBEL ARMY.
The Late Peace Conference.
The Late Peace Conference.
Correspondence of the N. Y. Tribune.l
WAsuIScror March o. 1S65

WASHINGTON, March 70, 1850.
Information has been placed in my hands
touching several points of great import
ance in regard to the rebellion. its mill
tary strength, it's condition, the opinion
and hopes of its political and military
leaders, and the judgment of one of its
most prominent men upon the possibili-
ties and terms OF peace. Without com.
ment of mine, submit them to You. with
the single remark that for every fact am
about to stare Their, ia unimpeachab'e au
thori,y, and that these statements hear in
themselves evidence of their authority aud
credibilily.
First as to military strength ofthe Con-
federacy. The figures which l give do
not dats later than February 4. 1865, at
which date they were not merely accurate,
but were compiled from the official OF the
Confederate War Department.
On the 4th of February, 1865, the en-
tire available force of the Confederacy was
l52 600 men. They were distributed as
follows:
Lees army, $4,000
Bragg. including Hoke's division 5000
Besuregard and Hsrdee. $4,000
Dick Tayl D. II. Hill aud
Howell Cobb 1000
West Of the Mississippi. $4,000
Total, $4,000
The $4,000 undsr Beauregard and
Hardee include the late army of Hood,
and all the forces which evacuated Ssvan-
nah and Charleston The 5000 Of Bragg
include all the garrison of Wilmington.
These 81 900 men constitute tba bulk of
the army now under Johnston in North
Carolina, with such additions as have
lately been made. The 1000 under
Taylor. Hill and Cobb. are or were sect.
tered through Georgia, Alabama and
Mississippi, part of them constituting the
present garrison of Mobile.
Of Hoods army the following is cor
rect numerical statement:
Entered Tennessee, $4,000
Came ont, 1880
Net loss of that campaign, " .5OO
In East Tennessee and West Virgins
there were in February but 500 men al.
together. and the greater part of them
we're transferred March LIST, and there
abouts, to Lynchburg.
GENERAL LEES TESTIMONY.
A committee Of the rebel Senate was
engaged early in the present year in an
inquiry into the condition of the Coincide.
racy. Among the witnesses summoned
before them was General Lee. and the
following are extracts from his testimony,
on the Oath January. 1865:
Question BY Senator Hunter.-Whas
Is your opinion as to evscustiog Rich.
mond. and Withdrawing the army to
North Carolina?
Answer.-In nv opinion it would be q
bad movement. The Virginia troops
would not go to North Caroline; they
would &c home.
Question.-Don't you think We have
troops enough for the next campaign?
Answer.-I do not. We cannot list
till midsummer.
Qusstion.-Whst do you think Of the
policy of srming 200. 900 negroes?
Answer.-If we are to carry on the
war, that is the least of evils; but in such
an event the negroes must have thei'
liberty.
Questionable you think we could sue.
coed by putting in negroes into the field!
Answer.-Thst would depend on cir
cumstances. We could ct least carry on
the war for another year.
QUESTION by Senator Hill.-What is th.
sentiment of the army in relation to peace:
Auswer.-It is almost unanimous fol-
peace. The men will fight longer ifneces
sary, but they believe We cannot continue
the var through another campaign.
Question by Senator Grahsm.-Whs!
| is your individual opinion on the subjec
of peace?
Aosver.-I think the best policy 10 h