From the Charleston Mercury, 5/6/1864
FROM
LONGSTREET’S ARMY.
VIRGINIA, April 27.
In spite of the grand preparations now being made to reduce
Richmond, one cannot discover a nerve shaken there, anticipating the result. The
clatter of machinery at the Tredegar Works is as deafening as ever - the huge
columbiad turns over and over while the hard augur cuts out its great throat
just as before - the iron ore runs from the furnace into the mould a white
rivulet of fire, quietly and undisturbed - hundreds of wheels are buzzing and
hundreds of workmen busy in the armory, constructing implements of war, all with
as much nonchalance as if an ocean of fire stood between them and an insatiable
enemy.
Among the throng of soldiers that are daily crowding
through the city to the army, the question is scarcely ever discussed. The
merchant and speculator hurry through the streets, intently wrapped in a purpose
of gathering in, quite oblivious, seemingly, of all extraneous dangers, and fear
no immediate perils as long as good terms are maintained between the street
guard and conscript officers. Gay faces wreathed in smiles and flashy bonnets
enliven the capitol square every fair evening when the ‘turn out and the
company’ parades as if it were peace times. Provisions are scarce enough to
leave the demand unsatisfied - the poor sewing women crowd around the government
establishment, pale and care worn, for each day’s work that is to sustain life,
the ‘Song of the Shirt’ in every liniament of their anxious faces - the ragged
newsboy cries out in his usual piercing phrase: ‘Here yur morning’s paper’-
drays and wagons rumble over the stony ways until one must use high words in the
streets to make his vis-a-vis understood him - officers in fine uniforms guard
the hotels from cavalry raids, and have guarded them so long their faces are as
fair as ladies’- the President is calm - Gen. Bragg is stern - everything is an
unassuming picture of sublime indifference to outside dangers. Such comes from
the confidence in Gen. Lee and that army before it, standing like an adamantine
wall against which tyranny has broken itself time and again.
In the army there is the same indifference to Grant
gigantic preparation. The war worn southern soldier shrugs his shoulder as he
looks across the Rapidan and says to his comrades, “over yonder is going to be
hurt before they get into Richmond.” His comrade replies, “____, and a ----
sight of , too.” A dark eyed North Carolinian was hurrying on to the army with a
number of his fellow soldiers from the same State. There was none of that white
livered, detestable, Holdenite fraternity among them. They talked like men. ‘Boys,’says
the dark eyed one, can show our scars for Richmond, but I say we ought to show
our graves before they shall have it.’ True courage, wherever it is found, is
sublime.
General Lee is no doubt ready to try the issue if Grant and
Lincoln still insist that more blood must be shed, but of the disposition of
forces this is not the time nor place to speak of them, if they were all
perfectly understood. It is thought that the published programme of the Federal
campaign will be followed: that is, to advance in North Carolina under Burnside,
up the Peninsula under Smith, and across the Rapidan under Grant,
simultaneously. A victory at either point will be deemed a key, possibly, to the
ultimate overthrow of our capitol. The enemy’s forces are being moved very
secretly, and will in all probability terminate in massing at one point (perhaps
the Peninsula) and at other points, making simply heavy feints for no decided
results except to deceive our Generals. Of course these moves have been
anticipated. All that is necessary apparently, to success is a hearty
cooperation among our General officers in executing superior orders. General
Lee, great in his magnanimity, justice and natural dignity, always commands the
love and willing obedience of his subordinate officers.
The jarrings which sometimes take place among our Generals
can be traced to littleness in superior commanders. To what can that be
attributed which has lately affected General Longstreet’s corps? Facts are
stubborn things. He went into East Tennessee, and his first step was a failure.
Subsequent ones there were magnificent competitors with the first. What
followed? Was he as magnanimous as Gen. Lee to Gen. Wilcox after the battle of
Gettysburg? ‘You did well, General, it was my fault,’ he said, speaking of the
failure. If he was, it appears so under singular circumstances. After the
failure at Knoxville Gen. McLaws was arrested and court martialed the result of
which has been withheld. Gen. Robinson was pursued with the same. Gen. Law
arrested and furnished with charges - his brigade transferred to another
division - the charges sent back subsequently as frivolous - the brigade
returned to the old division - Gen. Law released and restored to his command;
all immediately or indirectly flowing from General Longstreet and his East
Tennessee failures. Not to go into statements which can almost prove malice,
what does this look like? Instead of the greatness of Gen. Lee, it resembles
subterfuges to hide what imbecility has occasioned. This is plain talk, but such
things ought to be noticed in such circumstances as ours, if they could ever be
passed over, and it is time, too, that the public mind should know a fact not
often recognized - that good troops will sometimes make great captains when
nothing else will.
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