April 29, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
CHEERING INTELLIGENCE FROM THE TRANS-MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT.
We were informed yesterday by a highly intelligent Confederate officer, recently from the Department west of the Mississippi River, that our prospects there are now brighter than they have been for many months past. The appointment of General Kirby Smith and General Price to take command in that country has already had a most happy effect. It has infused fresh life and spirit into the troops and given renewed hope and confidence to the people. Hundreds of families who were preparing to abandon the country have gone to work in earnest to raise provision crops, and thousands of men who had deserted from the army, while it was under the control of Holmes and Hindman, are willingly returning to their duty. Our informant states that not less than two hundred, who had been skulking in the woods, came in a body, and gave themselves up, avowing their desire to be marched against the enemy.
Our army there is consequently rapidly increasing in numbers and efficiency, and under the guidance of the able generals who are now at the head of affairs, we may reasonably expect the occurrence of important events within the next sixty days. The management, or rather the mismanagement of Gen. Holmes, had disgusted and disheartened the army and the people, and they were almost ready to despair when the change of commanders was made. They are now satisfied and hopeful. The old war horse of Missouri, Sterling Price, they know and love, and they repose great confidence in the administrative ability of Gen. Smith. The whole country participates in the feeling of relief occasioned by the removal of an incubus from the Trans-Mississippi Department, and the people generally are willing to trust the destinies of the Great West in the hands of those who now in a great measure control it. – Montgomery Advertiser