Rutland Weekly Herald

Desertions from the Rebel Army.—The rumors of discontent in the rebel army in Georgia are not without foundation, especially among conscripts. A soldier's letter, dated at Atlanta about the close of last month, says:

"A night or two since one of our soldiers on the skirmish line saw a 'secesh' making signs to him to come over. At first the Union boy couldn't see it; but on being assured that nothing would happen to his harm he ventured over to the rebel lines. He was there informed that about four hundred rebel conscripts were heartily sick and tired of the war, and were anxious to come in and give themselves up. The difficulty was to get away, as every movement was watched with the greatest suspicion, and any soldier attempting to desert to our lines would be instantly shot down, and they wanted to make some arrangement with our men which would enable them to surmount this impediment.

The following plan was agreed upon: That night the rebels were to advance on our skirmish line, each party firing over the heads of the other, and as soon as the rebels were near enough, they were to throw down their arms and pass into the Union lines. The plan worked to a charm, and that night the rebel army was minus four hundred good men."