New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-11
LETTEB FROM A DESPONDING
REBEL

Tn. following letter found at WILMINGTON on the cap
tuss Of that place II addressed By the writer to
spondent In London and sent doubtless to Wilmington
90 ard by blockade We omit much Of Il
relates to family and matters well AZ the
Of the writer publishing only That portion treating OF public
affairs ], was written two months and half ago before
Sherman had moved from Savannah. the writer almost
In despair then what must be his state 81 mind n0wf
ATHENS Ga, Dec. 2s 1894.
My DEAR SISTER: This Is Christmas Day.
But oh how different from happy Christmas Of oIden
timesl On such day the mind invountsrily calls up
the incidents Of the past with which the day init
matey associated and comparing them with those OF
to-day II would be heart Of stone indeed that would
not be pierced by the bitter contrast. The day 10 made
doubly sad to US by the which received last
night confirming the OF the evacuation Of Ss
yannah, and Of Hoods defeat Nashville and his
retreat preceded il by the dearly bought vic
tory Of few days previous at Franklin. As both our
railroad and telegraphc communication has been de-
stroyed by Shermans recent march to Savannah. the
to through Yankee papers via Richmond.
What the extent Of the disaster may BE- and NJ proba
bic consequences, 1 know not. But the danger with
which we are threatened by the loss OF Savannah and
the permanent establishment Of the enemy with q
powerful and victorious army, to my mind the great
mencem.nt Of the war With such base of operations
and such army, do not how is possible to pre-
serve our line OF communications between Richmond
and the country west Of this from whence supplies
are chiefly drawn. ness by dc,aching so large part
OF Less army IS would endsnger that place ichmon)
and perhaps compel its evacuation. by . moro rigid
system OF CONSUMPTION Ne may gather up few more
men, and we may collect together many that are on
furough, absent without leave &c. But do not see
how We can raise number sufficient 70 meet those that
may yet be had rom the North; for, beside the
vast difference in the population Of the two
sections the negro troops. which according to
Federal accounts number over two hundred thou.
sand may be considerably increased, as tho enemy
his advance and large accessons too are con.
s,antly made from foreign nations Coupled with the
vastly superior strength Of this enemy in point Of num-
ters the dissensions among ourselves are source OF
extreme embarrassment Every reverse We sustain is
charged to the malsdminstration. incompetency and
obstnacy Of the President lie IL even charged with
procrastinstng the war through motives Of ambition
when an honorable peace might be obtained with the
recognition Of Independence or course the eonn'
enance which is given charges BY such men as
Vice President Stephens. Gov. Brown. Toonbs and
other leading men, affords pretext to al those who. st
do and say almost any and everything calculated to de-
troy his influence. to discourage the weak and demor
alxe the army; but more than ALL 1t has encouraged
the hope with the enemy that public sentiment at the
South is tending 10 unconditional submission. Alto
getbcr therefore things have never looked 60 gloomy
Since tie commencement Of tie war. But other ma
tons have darker days ard yet have fnaiy sue
cecded. Up to the present time and to-day. at the
hour Of this present writing there H. So far ~ know
an Insbskon determination TO fight II ont to the last
come what may. he tsS.s proposed by Lincsln make
death preferable 10 submission. To be governed BY
military power a. subjusated people would indeed
be hpmiaing but would not equal the disgrace Of VOL
untary submission while are able to raise arm for
resistance. To this II may ct last. We have no
such the enemy. They stronger In oil
the elements Of war to-day than when the war began.
The incentives 10 continue thewar stronger They
have no longer any fear Of recognition Intervention
The strongest passions of the Yankee heart more
than ever enlisted in the conhic-pride hate f.na,.
iei-m and cupidty. I confess. therefore. the
future Of Confedersey shrouded IN such obscury
that am unable to penetrate it. Indeed would
rather could, shut my eyes If the vail Of futurity
were raised which yet conceas the horrors OF submis
SION it'll all its attendant insults and csn,ng express
sons Of sympathy the part OF those who would be our
masters Should We 20 down, the Governments OF Eu
rope will DAY repent that they turned their back
upon US when ono word might have saved u.s. "recoen
ton We are not unmindfn OF the generous sympathy
which individual En- shnen have extended to But
the masses well know only the fact that the Govern
nent while affecting neutrality gave substantial aid to
the Federal Government that 1t refused privileges
which it granted to the other side and that its moral
10
alton Of individual sympathy. We might forget the
wrongs Of the Government, we shall have practically
no influence after subugaton in directing the councils
81 the Federal Government. We shall be subject to
DRAFT and willing or unwilling. be forced to fight for
the Yanlee battles whether 1t he against England or
France. May Heaven avert such doom. Having
spoken Of negro troops onght perhaps 10 add that
very few of them enter the Federal army voluntarily,
though obedent az the negro BY nature and habit 70
the white man. he is easily driven into the ranks or
battered BY the idea Of standing upon level with the
white man We are even astonished ourselves at the
fact that 50 very few run Of from their masters OF.
ccp where the srmy OF the enemy encompasses them.
and that many then escape and return to their
masters left oil OF our negroes at Chattansoga, and
have not heard from them since.
You must no, infer from anything that have said
that have despaired of Ultimate successs still less that
should be willing in order to avoid the caamities
which threaten us. to submit to such terms as the
Yankees offer U.s. " any terms, in fact, short Of indie
pendeuce.
have felt very anxious abont your pecunary condi-
ton, and am deeply greyed that it 10 not in my powes
10 assist you But orr bank stock Is yielding nothng
is in fact as good as sunk eroy dollar Of IT, would
be clad to-day to sell II At ten cents the dollar Our
real estate is all within the enemys lines and without
nome guarantee against conGst alton which, of course