The New York herald., 1862-08-08

HOPELESS CONDITION OF THE REBELLIoN-INTER-
EsTING AND IMPORTANT CONFIDENTIAL LETTER
OF A NIECE OF JEFF. DAVIS.
(From the Cincinnati Times
The following letter, from niece Of Je Davis abounds
with interest 1t is candid confession Of the condition
OF affairs at Richmond last May when the letter
written. Coming from living in the family Of the
bogus President and closely related to him. demands
confidence and attention.
II is private letter. and the writer never imagined it
would fall into Yankee hands We indebted to pa
rioc lady patron for it, and publish il just it
itten family matters and all. suncle cnn is repre-
sented nearly out the verge Of the grave
much that he repcn,ed and baptized; and
the best account in the world is given Of the Southern
chvary The letter will be found very interesting
RICHMOND, May T. 1852.
MY DEAR MOTHER FAsyIE-Dr. Gwin and his son and
daughter Miss Lucy expect To leave tomorrow
DAY for Mississippi and Miss lucy has promised that
ycksburg is not in the hands Of the enemy when they
reach there, that she will out TO you and you
know how am; but ii she cannot get to vicksburg she
she will arrange IL that you get this letter
private hands She has been Uncle Jcs now nearly
three weeks and perfectly charmed with her. She
Of the most sincere honest hearted and pous girls
have ever met with, and then she Is so intelligent and
has such excellent sense am grieved to par, with her
and shall feel though am lost. she will spend the
summer with her Uncle Gwin. in Marshall county, Mss
her come homo.
heard from Mr. Heary Thursday he Is quite WELL
ana sss a
marches 70 make. The Louisiana brigade IL with
General jackson. Ewes division at swift Run Gap in
the mountains, between Staunton and Harrsonbdrg.
You will find on the map Virginia They srrs<s bat
Dc shortly ,ci1 de Ydnkees under General Banks when
think OF bis situation, and the dark gloom that now
hovcrs over oar country am ready 70 sink with despair
and would give worlds II could only be by my dear
husbands sidesbut it 10 impossible 1hsre proaa
titiy Of General Jaeksoas array fatina bac Rica
nt0nd, rnd, reic of this lady dtoWed 90
ne railroad 70 0ordoasv!s tor fear, apoosd 20 o',
that many oilers ,ootd sh 70 do IL, which oouid
mode the army. His letter 70 me written in a
sad tone which distressed very much-hc said that
all his recruits but ten Sick and had been back
20 the rear, where ne afraid they would suffer
want Of attention They hare been obliged Cfcas and
no ts SINCE lat Fe6ruory vaea ne crBy yeredtet from
NaRcSsds. Now thoy have u ny for every eight men,
which affords some protection from tho rain aud
but very little from the cold weather. NJ keary could
not write for ten days after he reached thce be-
raining and he had shelter to write under
know that he Bad to bear ali this and in comfortable
house, with good fire. and every comfort. II could
only share his hardshps would take II al lightly bst
the separation Is heart rending aud either tomorrow
next day the distance between him and myself will be
widsned. General Johnston Is failing back from the
mat We had better 80 TO 2 saier place than
Richmond We have not decided yes where
we shsi GO but think ,avt North norssas oroln
south Carolina win write you from there the very
first opportunity II Jeantn falls as far back a. R,cs.
n,ond all troops from oronsriie and SUIT Run Gap
gu also Tau back 20 mis- p,aces and wake one deYUas
yond aes,ns Mcclellan II you will look the map, you
three different drectons-Fron ISedepelsburg Harri
sonburg and Yorktown. Oh, Godl defend this people
with Tny powerful arm, smy constant prayer on me-
% bear up ogdina g4c continuation 81 troubles but oh,
ear he cannot hc long, he docs not se some ret cid
9d. Our dS,sss him much and he Is wcdk
and feeble, makes my hart ache 10 look al hins. he
that he ought 10 send his wife aud children away
dread 10 leave him, TOO. varna and had hard cry
about to-day. There confirmation In the church
to-day, and all hoped much that he would 80 for
ward ror confirmation. But be did not yet have hope
that he will do so before the Bishop leaves here
Oh ,-hat tlow the fdA cf Nao Orleans xas. irecd
10 hare a us aN crazy here Esody LOOKED depressed
tts
ing but If God Is with US, who be against usY Our
troops are MT doing as 'osi rs rs erped Al ne battle Qf
Shioh many " acted rery coucardiy indeed, and
colonel laid down behind log, and would set up
when threatened by his commanding officer with a
rife ball II did return 70 his duty And at York
town. skirmish Of Cen csbbs division our gave
back ,ondu had net ben fora Cerytlr gime heyt-oid
sc o % G ,, y @ ~ V az, Js1 from xxx cars aag ]
thankful 70 say that the Mississippi and Lou
islana troops behave goriousy Whenever cali
Keary, oftsn feel hst would give worlds to be with
you and Fannio aud yet afraid 10 20 to Mississippi
for fear Of being cut OIL from Nj Keary entirely and
you home since parted. am getting almost crazy
write to you every opportunity. Uncle Jen: received
patch from Uncle stamps to-day, saying that Cousin
Isaacs little child, Ssllc had died ycksburg and was
| buried at woodvaie, yesterday Cousin Moe left here
two ago for bome with her three little girls Salle
was beautiful child. and In perfect health Poor Cousin
Molel Cousin Isaac is at Yorktown. Joe Mitchell rs
here sick at hotel Cousin Joe aud went to see him
his evening, but could not fnd him., We to the
wrong hotel hear, since have returned, that be Is
| better. will 60 again tomorrow.
| received letter from Aunt Eliza few days since.
She thought at home, and wanted me TO take Mary
Van Benthuyson, If the city attacked as suppose
she did NOT consider the Hurrcan safe. Uncle Je ti'
you are sqfe al home there v BE- rsiSte1cs a; Fcs-
6ary, and he Tantes cla hardly occupy y, and,
nsy did, u army goi gata Rthing Dy ndlekiHg into "
country and 70 soiiers wond be AFRAID 70 30 ia,
/ ii,so ne interior Yet feel anxious because cannot
hear from you You nsght possibly 60. some one In t0wT
send letter by bosy soning on here. Tnere
be persons passing constantly Direct your letters
10 me- OF President Davis, Richmond, Va aud theI
i when leave here they will be forwarded TO me.
II Hiss Gwn does not leave tomorrow will try 10 GO
somo other person who IS going homo 10 take IL. He
brother Is at yorktown and as the Yankees may MAKE
an attack they know relrcstng, and h
does wish 10 leave the Of battle they may
bs delayed for several days. We think now that ",
shall go 10 Raleigh tomorrow, but have not positively
| decided yet.
Give my love 10 Aunt Ehen, end cousin, and all he
f,miy also all at Uncle Browne and accept for your
selves the devotion from your aectionat
/ HELEN NJ KEARY.
| MAY 9-since writing the above Miss Lucy Gwin ha
decided not 40 to Mississippi with her father 80 sha
seud this by soma other opportunity We all leave her