Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-06-04
CONVERSATIONS WITH REBEL Off.
CEHS.p r-- :
The Errsrs Of the n ebei Generals-Ffsnk
Admissions Ceneerning the War.

The Errsrs of the ebei Generals-Frank
Admissions Ceneerning the War.
ICorrespondeuce or the New Ysrk Evening Post ]
HEAtQuaRTERs 44ry NY. Nv, New Bridge,
Va, Tin the vicinity OF Richmond,) y Nav % #
purpose to place before the readers Of the Evening
Post some further details OF the conversation
which took place between the ofacen who were
taken prisoners Of war by our forces In the pur.
ru.t Of the enemy from Yorktown and the writer
Of this scommunication-parto OF which converse.
tlon appeared In your columns Of the 18th inst
HOPES AND ERRORS OF THs RksRLs. 80 :
QEsstiOs hopes did your people en-.
terrain that induced them to hazard such daring
aad high-handed rebeilion?'' -- 1888
- AAIsosr--nWe supposed that the conservative
parties Of the North, both whlg aud democratic,
would sustain us We were induced to believe
this from the speeches and votes of your promi-
nent northern conservative statemen - The
speech Of Ex-Preaident Fillmore, delivered at
AIbany, was referred 20 an an example, and parts
Of IL carefully and accurately quoted.l tfhe
writer here remarked, "that perhaps the south
would have been supported by small party at
the North IL the attack had not been made upon
INST blow" To which remark 1t was replied
1--WE had TO strike the first blow to commence
the revolution .-i
Q-"what military errors do Won think your
Generais have committed In conducting this
war ="
A-"First: The past policy of our leaders has
been TO hold all Of our seaport and river towns,
however small or Of little importance. For this
Va
Secondly Instead Of placing our army on the
southern boundary Of Kentucky, we should have
1t once marched 1t To the northern. We should at
the outset have held by force every slave State
We established line Cf battle too far South by
several degrees OF latitude. We counted too
much on tue conservative spirit Of The North; too
much on the commercial importance Of cotton !;
and too much on foreign assistance. But against
all Of these errors We yetexpsctt to achieve our In
dependence - = -..rE ..-..
MILITARY REsoGacRs OF THE SOUTH.
O." hat was the condition OF the South as
10 arms and ammunition at the commencement OF
the war"
A." Nearly sll Of our arms feli into our hands
by the seizure Of the United States forts and arse
nails az well ss our ammunition. We had some
arms and imported some But we were nearly
destitute Of percussion caps. For the first two
months after the commencement OF the war the
State OF Virginia had not 600 600 Of percussion
caps ali told. For the first few weeks the largest
part Of our percussion caps came from Baltimore,
and were brought within our lines by ladies who
concealed them In their skirts and underclOthins
But ss toe war has progressed, necessity has
obliged us 70 manufacture our own arms and am
munition. We have now large manufactures for
the purpose Of making small arms, powder, balls
and caps, and Of casting artillery, In great part
Of the larger cities at the South. ---..
GENERAL MCCLELLAN.
Q Q-HWhat do your onhcers think OF the mill
tarV ability Of General McClellan?n
4.-EEIt Is universally conceded by our officers
thlf he has no equal In either army. They have
long and vell known his military ability They
knew Il when he was In the old United stats
army with them. and they fear him more 10 day
than all Yoss other generals. He has frem the
COMMENCEMENT done just what he hoped he
would not do, and avoided to do just what We
desired him 20 do. One Of our most encou aging
hopes was, st one time the probability that he
officers In the old regular service consider GEN.
eral Scott 70 be the greatest military genius OF the
age, but that his great age would h4ve prevented
him from Iuceesfuliy carrying on the war. They
m a pr In BE-
Mexican war, and they greatly admire his military
ability, but they consider General Mcclellan
quite equal to General Scott in his best days
generals retire from the aeld IL you can induce
your politicians TO lay General McClsllan on the
shelf" -
rHE REsEt EoRcrs AND rErIs RETREATS
q, w hlcn OF your Generah possess the great
! -''Censrals Johnsioa and Beauregard John
t;on eIesli In stTaiegyj Beauregard In tactics.
Johnston 10 great In design, Bea4regaEd in exc
q" Were any wooden guns mounted in your
works az Csntrevillefn -,
A" Yes, sir. We mounted large number
OF Quakef guns az Centreyfiie at the u@e we
Q.-''At what time did you commence TO re-.
treat from Centreyiile and Manassasyo
1--we commenced 70 evseuate those places
by one os two regiments at time aud concen
irsted In the vieiaity Of Richmond. We were
nearly TWO months IN evecuating these places /"
e." At what time did your forces Commences
the evacuation Of YorktownY'' =
A-"Friday night the evacuation commenced
Friday aud Saturday we kept up a more vigorous
artillery FIRE than usual, 70 deceive you 90 thatve
raighf more secutely retreat. rear guard was
ssnt rp 70 Willisnsburg on Friday, Of eve thou :
sand troops, 80 80 TO be freah to cover tie retreat
OF Sunday. Five thousand other troops, formed
The rear guard from Torktowa 70 WilIiamsburg
Your forces pressed 30 rapidly SUNDAY mornIng
upon the rear guard near williamsbufp, that n
10 probable that Johnston was obliged To- ca an1e
his designs, and halt large part Of his column
statIoned near West Point TO snticipate a sun.
posed design Of Gen. McClellan TO take Gloucss
Ter from the rear, end crossing the York river, to
cut OF our retreat ~ 8. 80 =