Everywhere the Rebel soldiers clustered on the corners, or mingled in the throngs about the bar-rooms and hotels. They still wore their uniforms, for the best of reasons—they had no other clothes to wear; but nothing could have been more unexceptionable than their general conduct. “I tell you, sir,” exclaimed one of our Generals, in a burst of enthusiasm, “I tell you, they are behaving splendidly. In fact, sir, these Rebel soldiers are an honor to the American name.” “You’ve whipped us,” said one of their officers, with whom I had been carrying on a desultory conversation, “and you did the work thoroughly. I think too much of the bravery of our army and of my own honor to admit that we would have surrendered if we had _not_ been thoroughly whipped. Of course, then, we’ve had enough of it. If we hadn’t, we’d have fought on. As we had, we mean to d——n politics, try and get some clothes, and go to making money.” Nearly all the old inhabitants of Mobile were in the city when it fell, and very few had yet procured the means, even if they had the desire, to leave. Stores that had been closed for months, or even years, were being reopened, in the hope that the antiquated stocks of goods might bring in some trifle in a currency no longer worthless, to supply the wants of the family. A large furniture store was pointed out, where the owner had sold enough to supply himself with the immediate necessaries of life, and had then closed again, declaring that he wouldn’t sell another article till fall. His explanation gives a curious glimpse into the condition of the people. Everybody, he said, wanted to buy, and nobody had any money. When they began to sell their lands or their cotton, and get money, he was ready to resume business; but till then, it would ruin him to have his store open. If he refused credit, he would make all his old customers enemies; if he gave credit, he would soon be bankrupt. To save himself from destruction, there was absolutely no way but to bolt his doors and put up his window-shutters! * * * * * Cotton was beginning to come out, but the enormous frauds which have since made the very name of cotton agent odious were then only in their infancy, and there is no reason to suspect that at that time the Mobile agent already referred to, who subsequently gained such a disgraceful notoriety, contemplated any other rascality than a swindle of the “Rebel holders,” that should still seem technically honest in the showings to the Government.