The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-12 00:00:00

The Confederate Army in Virginia.

We have received the following from a correspondent :
"As much misapprehension is just now rife here and in
Europe at large respecting the condition and privations of
the Confederate armies, and more especially that of Vir-
ginia, I subjoin some extracts from a letter on the subject,
dated as late as Feb. 22 last. It is from the ingenuous pen
of a gallant young Marylander, who has been a volunteer
from the beginning of the war, and who is now command-
ing a company of artillery in Lee's army near Petersburg.
As it comes, therefore, from a seasoned soldier, who has
served under the sorest hardships, and ' assisted' at many
battles, its statements are all the more valuable. They
derive, too, an additional interest from tho circumstance
that they were made without a thought of their meeting
any other eyes than those of his own family :--..‘ The
papers must give you alarming accounts of short com-
mons in the army. To prevent errors, let me simply
has
fsatailteedthoantlyforontheedapiastto tgweetiviets mouths mrayticooumar
unny
that
day sugar and coffee were issued in place of meat. I
fancy that General Lee's entire army has been fed with
almost equal regularity. The ration is vb. of bacon,
or /lb. of fresh beef, 11b. of flour or meal, a sufficient quan-
tity of beans, peas, or rice, and a modicum of salt. This
is the regular ration which comes to every man under
all circumstances as surely as the sun rises. Occasionally
in a fight or in a hard march, after labour in the trenches,
the meat is increased, and coffee and sugar or other luxuries
given to us. This sort of fare is not very palatable, but
men keep healthy and often fatten on it. The army is not
suffering either for clothing. My company is a fair indica-
tion of all others. I inspect closely every Sunday morning.
The men turn out in their best clothes, and are required
to present a neat appearance. I find that a few shoes, caps,
and trousers are all that aro required for comfort. I darn
say the friends of the South are greatly discouraged in
Baltimore. It is a fact that we have suffered great re-
verses. The enemy are crowding us. But the country
has already recovered its heart, and the people have con-
cluded to give up literally everything, if it be necessary—
houses, lands, cities. Their courage rises with the demand
for it ; and the world will, perhaps, see this summer what
sacrifices a nation can make for its existence. The soldiers
aro acquiring an excellent tone, and you can look out for
some terribly hard fighting this spring. I am in good
spirits. My line of duty is plain enough. It is simply to
keep my guns manned efficiently, and to follow General
Lee with them as long and whenever he orders me. As I
read history its teachings are that all military operations
consist of alternate reverses and successes, and that when
a cause begins to be desperate is the very time when the
tide turns and begins -to set in the other direction."—
Galignani.

GOVERNMENT EMIGRATION.—The Peeress, 777
tons, belonging to Messrs. Lothians and M'Leod,
London, sailed from Plymouth on the Bth inst. for Ade-
laide, South Australia, having on board 335 Government
emigrants, consisting of 139 married people, 91 single men,
46 single 24 boys and 20 girls between one and 12
years of
women,fage,and 15 infants, in all equal to 298 statute
adults, under the care of Mr. Arthur D. White, M.D., sur-
geon superintendent, assisted by Mrs. Grace Treginnig,
matron, and Mr. Richmond Baker, schoolmaster.