Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-19
PRICE: FIVE CENTS.

inability or failure of the Government TO meet the
obligations of the department has been proliEc OF
| mischief. II has been the occasion or excuse Tor
desertiOn, marauding, sale of clothing and equip
ments among soldiers. II has prevented the accu-
mutation OF supplies il has affected the efficiency
OF transportation it has prodrced careessnesS or
Indifference among contractors; officers re-
sentfu, and soldiers reckless, discontented; and
suffering"
This condition Of things did not, at that early
day, produce des Jair but it mrst have causel a
state of mind on which any great subsequent dis
asters would have q powerful eject. Seldom was
| replaced by Breckenridge as Secretary OF War,
| and some sort Of financial hocus pocus vas gone
into by Trenholm and the Congress galva1ize tie
Confederate credit 10 a show Of life That hopes
were still enterta.nel OF retrieving their affairs by
military success, il evident Gom the state OF things
| in Savannah Just previous TO is capture by Gen
eral Sherman. General Hardee was called 10
count by tie Confederate Government for not burn
! ing the cotton in Savannah. In his exculpation,
dated February G. he makes il evident that the loss
Of that place was unexpected, inasmuch no
preparation had been made for that event. The
reason given by Hardee for not burning the Con-
| feie.a.e cotton that 10 stored in cellars,
garres, and other places, scattered over the ty,
which would have been destroyed in any attempt
to burn it, and that after the cutting Of :sa rail-
roads, which prevented his sending IL aFar, ne had
neither time, wagons nor hands Tor collecting i
together.
Sherman's successful march through Georgia
would seem 70 have been The turning pOin: which
put the rebel authorities on the ste-p dechvlty
toward despair. As early as January, the idea OF
| evaclat ng Richmond and abandoning Virginia be-
gan to be actively but secretly canvassed among
| them. Some officers Of tie army got wind OF this,
and it stirred up quite commotion among the in
dignant Virginisns. Among the documents which
we publish is a confidential letter from virginia
officer to Governor Smith, of that State, conmu-
nicating this ruInor and telling him how it is re-
ceived by the Virgiri soldiers. " From what /
can gather" says the officer, " they are not willing
10 struggle further if they are TO be taken away
from their homes and fires $. l state this in the
srictest confidence, for your ear alone" The same
letter gives melancholy picture of the suferings
OF the army stating, among other things, that they
are '' on half ratons, and those of bad quality
From that time forward prominent rebels !. Rich-
m1nd ware GU .et!y and clsndesncly removing their
most valuable effect, 10 points in the FAR South
This process was going on, when tho victories OF
General Grant, on the Irst days Of April, came
with an overwhelming sudGenness TO convince them
that they had been too tardy IN the SeystAey we're
taking toward evacuation.
But despair of the Confederacy had already over
taken them aud they we're making active PFepara-
tiOns TO fly from the country. To this end tle on
| GERS OF the rebel government pretended u aCopt
the new policy of conducting their hnalc!a! opera
tions in goli-an excellent expediant for facilitating
Il cir fig tto foreign country with some means Of
subsistence ifthsy driven TO extremity. IN cne
ID ofApr, the chief clerk OF the Confederate treas
ury notified Breck ridge, the Secretary Of war; t1at
ga LARGE amount Of II easure" had been sa!tsd on II,
yav TO Charlotte North Ca-ona, and asking him 10
give such triers as would ensurets safe conduct a
few days previous TO tEis, Iauey, on the Zo;n OF
March. Trenholm gave written directions % us
assistant secretary OF the treasury to proc eco 70
North Caro.ins, South Carolina, and Georgia, 10
negotiate with the banks Of those States fo. loans
in coin TO be deposited with the aS.'S'A' '' aier'
On the 2G;h Of March, Trens. va. ...i>A Or
der 70 the chief Of loan o9.e~a ~. ar & Inn
that the State Virginia had furnished e tae Con
federate treasury three hundred thOusatA LC15aIs
in coin, for the OF the cOmmissary department,
and direct ne him 20 tCrn over TO the State - VIZ
gnia two millions poGn S of government cot on AZ
fifteen cents per pound. Doubtless the CO." mus
acquired forI.ed-a considerable proportion OF the
treasure sent tCder military escort 20 Charlotte.
The Confederate leaders will probably use this
money together with what they raise i-cm the
| Southern banks, as Kossuth used the money be
raised in tie United Sta for the Huncsriat use
converting il into the means OF support y tJ-egn
| land. There are men in the CCniederacy who can
never live in this country, however great may De
! the clemency Of the Federal Government. Davis,
Toombs, Cotb, aud rebels OF that stamp, can never
hold up their heads again among the southern peo-
/ pie whom tie have deceived with false hopes and
! mised to their rlin.
The majority o. the Southern people d.d not 60
spontaneously into the rebellion \ part "ere Ia.
tally deluded, anu tie residue were monc c@i, bll-
! lied overawed and coerced into a movement which
their judgment disappToyed, thinking unity IN
doubtful cause better than intestine war in the
South. The terrible sufier.ngs they have under
gone would naturally lead them to wreak their VEN
geance on the arch authors Of their ruin, who soad
ed them into a movement they disappToye1. The
original sson leaders will therefore Ind u tor
their interest 20 esve their country for their couu
trys good"
The New Orleans True Data claims TO have o:lcia in-
telligence that General Rhesgena, commanding the
chief army of Juarez in Central Mexico has aando ned
the contest; Hi. whole army las given up fg-; rgsanss
re.nrhed % tLeir homes.