From the Yorkville (SC) Enquirer, 6/26/1862

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

MANCHESTER HOSPITAL, RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,
Thursday Evening, June 12, 1862.

Dear Enquirer: - Everything invites your wounded correspondent to resume his pen this evening, while he sits at his window, enjoying the balmy sunlight, the musical roar of the river, and a delightful view of our “seven-hilled city.” Richmond is quite a beautiful place; and Manchester Hospital, immediately on the South bank of the James, is well situated for viewing it. The capitol, with the Confederate and Virginia flags floating proudly over it, and the magnificent equestrian statue of Washington in bronze, on the public grounds hard by, are prominent features of the picture. The city appears as much at repose, as if there were profound peace. The golden waters of the James roar on over their shoaly bed, through willowy banks and around diminutive little islands; occasionally a train whistles over the long bridges; the factory bells ring loud and clear at morning, noon and night; while the sick and wounded around us, and the occasional gallop by of an officer, are about all the evidences of war to be seen.

But here we have the rude horrors of human strife sufficiently near and numerous. To-day Dr. Jenkins, chief of this ward, (No. 2.) came in with both hands bloody. Upon enquiry we found that he had been assisting in amputating the leg of Mr. Walker, brother to our Lieutenant-Colonel. Lieut. Black is the worst case in this ward. His left arm is shattered near the elbow; and will be at least a very narrow escape from amputation. Dr. Jenkins is a very skillful and gentle dresser of wounds; we bear grateful testimony to his kindness; and we hope that he will be able to save the Lieutenant's arm to him.

General Anderson has been round with his able Brigade Surgeon, J. McFadden Gaston, and given us all a symbolic shake of the hand and talk since we were wounded. He never fails upon occasion to exhibit care and feeling for his men; and such a general will never fail to have men enthusiastically attached to him both in camp and on the field of battle.

We are sorry that the wounded in whom you are more particularly interested, are so scattered that we cannot give you a satisfactory account of their condition. We think we may say that they all have excellent attention; and that they are likely to be unmolested by the Yankees, until they recover sufficiently to get home.

Indeed, we have never yet felt any serious apprehensions for the safety of the city. We have been assured that the approach by river is impracticable; the engagement at Drury's Bluff made the Yankee naval commanders acknowledge it so; and the battle of “Seven Pines” demonstrated with equal clearness, that the land route is a hard road to travel.

Old “Stonewall” and General Ewell are still giving Banks, Milroy, Fremont and Shields all, their hands full of work in the Valley. Jackson whipped out Shields so badly the other day near Port Republic, that he scarcely recognized his army afterwards. He discovers a portion of the enemy detached somewhere; slips across a river and burns the bridge behind him, then turns is boys loose upon them, and the work is done. But Col. Ashby, one of the finest spirits of the South, is lost to him now. He fell heroically in a fight near Harrisonburg recently - fell just at night after fighting nearly all day; and now his remains lie in the cemetery at Charlottesville. He is lamented by the whole army.

Everything is entirely quiet around Richmond, so far as we have heard, today. But we are still expecting the most stirring events; and the storm may break out any moment.

Laconically,
MILES.