Wednesday, Oct. 22, 1862.
Gen. Bragg has sure enough fallen back, being
within forty miles of Cumberland Gap at last ac-
counts. The explanation from our side is, that
he was obliged to fall back for supplies. The results is that
we lose Kentucky. Our accounts state that all
the fighting was favorable to Bragg. It seems, however,
that we did not take many prisoners, and our suc-
cesses, as reported on a previous page, are greatly exag-
gerated. We hear that the battalion with which Mr.
Stuart and Addy were traveling, had joined Gen. Marshall
and they are therefore with the main army in Kentucky.
(Sister and her children went to James Calhoun's yesterday,
to spend a few days). The last reports from the
lower Valley are, that Gen. Lee was advancing upon
the enemy. The latter came across the Potomac in
large force, occupying Charlestown, but after some
skirmishing retired. The elections in Pennsy-
lvania, Ohio and Indiana have gone for the Demo-
crats, but as all parties advocate the war, the result
will not do us any good, probably. Draughtinghas of
(or drafting) has been going on in several of the
Northern States. Even Maryland had nearly furnished her
quota of men, only lacking 6000. But we have more
to fear from the scarcity of bread stuffs and clothing
than from the Yankee armies. The drought con-
tinues unabated — the fields are perfectly barren — the
wheat must perish soon. Farmers are unwilling to
sell the produce they have on hand. Flour $14 — Butter
75c Corn $2 per bushel Pork will probably be $20 to $25 per hundred lbs.
Many persons who have money can scarcely procure
necessary food, even at this early in the Fall, usually
the most abundant period of the year. Clothing is sold
at extravagant prices. Tate got dresses for Nanny +
Matty in Richmond a few days ago, and paid
$60 for the two, a common article. I have heard
of an infant's dress costing $18. Felt hats sell
from $10 to $15. Shoemakers in town demand
from $5.50 to $6 for making a pair of shoes,
leather, lining and threadfound furnished to them.
The small pox has spread from the Hospital
into the town. Yellow fever raging in Wilming-
ton. War, pestilence and famine! Oh for the
faith of Habakkuk! Alas! we never know
how little faith we had till the day of trial
comes. Twenty-three artillery companies have
been dismantled by Gen. Lee, and the cannon +c
sent here. — the men put into other service. A few
days ago thirteen thousand recruits for Gen. Lee's
army had passed through Staunton since the battles
in Maryland. The news of the apparent Yankee
successes in Maryland had reached England, and the
British press were complimenting Gen. McClelland.
They seem not to have heard of the capture of Harper's
Ferry by our army, and to be in a great degree igno-
rant of the course of events. As usual when the Con-
federacy has sustained a reverse, there is again talk in
Europe of acknowledging our independence. Whenever
we are successful foreign powers seem determined to
take no such step. It is apparent that they wish
the war to go on till the sections are hopelessly broken
down, but would interfere to prevent a reunion.
They desire the ultimate success of the "rebels" in
dissolving the Old Union, but want to see the country
ruined first. Hence they encourage which ever side
is at the moment suffering from reverses.
[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow Project]
MSS 38-258
within forty miles of Cumberland Gap at last ac-
counts. The explanation from our side is, that
he was obliged to fall back for supplies. The results is that
we lose Kentucky. Our accounts state that all
the fighting was favorable to Bragg. It seems, however,
that we did not take many prisoners, and our suc-
cesses, as reported on a previous page, are greatly exag-
gerated. We hear that the battalion with which Mr.
Stuart and Addy were traveling, had joined Gen. Marshall
and they are therefore with the main army in Kentucky.
(Sister and her children went to James Calhoun's yesterday,
to spend a few days). The last reports from the
lower Valley are, that Gen. Lee was advancing upon
the enemy. The latter came across the Potomac in
large force, occupying Charlestown, but after some
skirmishing retired. The elections in Pennsy-
lvania, Ohio and Indiana have gone for the Demo-
crats, but as all parties advocate the war, the result
will not do us any good, probably. Draughting
(or drafting) has been going on in several of the
Northern States. Even Maryland had nearly furnished her
quota of men, only lacking 6000. But we have more
to fear from the scarcity of bread stuffs and clothing
than from the Yankee armies. The drought con-
tinues unabated — the fields are perfectly barren — the
wheat must perish soon. Farmers are unwilling to
sell the produce they have on hand. Flour $14 — Butter
75c Corn $2 per bushel Pork will probably be $20 to $25 per hundred lbs.
Many persons who have money can scarcely procure
necessary food, even at this early in the Fall, usually
the most abundant period of the year. Clothing is sold
at extravagant prices. Tate got dresses for Nanny +
Matty in Richmond a few days ago, and paid
$60 for the two, a common article. I have heard
of an infant's dress costing $18. Felt hats sell
from $10 to $15. Shoemakers in town demand
from $5.50 to $6 for making a pair of shoes,
leather, lining and thread
The small pox has spread from the Hospital
into the town. Yellow fever raging in Wilming-
ton. War, pestilence and famine! Oh for the
faith of Habakkuk! Alas! we never know
how little faith we had till the day of trial
comes. Twenty-three artillery companies have
been dismantled by Gen. Lee, and the cannon +c
sent here. — the men put into other service. A few
days ago thirteen thousand recruits for Gen. Lee's
army had passed through Staunton since the battles
in Maryland. The news of the apparent Yankee
successes in Maryland had reached England, and the
British press were complimenting Gen. McClelland.
They seem not to have heard of the capture of Harper's
Ferry by our army, and to be in a great degree igno-
rant of the course of events. As usual when the Con-
federacy has sustained a reverse, there is again talk in
Europe of acknowledging our independence. Whenever
we are successful foreign powers seem determined to
take no such step. It is apparent that they wish
the war to go on till the sections are hopelessly broken
down, but would interfere to prevent a reunion.
They desire the ultimate success of the "rebels" in
dissolving the Old Union, but want to see the country
ruined first. Hence they encourage which ever side
is at the moment suffering from reverses.
[transcript by the Valley of the Shadow Project]
MSS 38-258
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.