The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-07-18
Reports from Richmond.

latterly an assistant surgeon IN the rebel ar
my. His information is valuable.
He states that the entire white male popu
lation of the South, between the ages of fif-
teen and forty, have been forced into the ar
my. The conscription there is a reality
Numbers who are in arms are doing duty un-
willingly, and would gladly get away from
the tyranny of the Davis: ::autocracy.
DR. Oliver has been in Richmond for the
last two months. The rebel force in Virginia
J is estimated at fully two hundred and fifty
thousand. They admit loss of twenty-five
thousand in the recent battles. They are
subsisting on what is termed half rations, by
which is meant only the substantials, without
any of the small stores. They have an abun-
dance of bacon, rice and corn, but no salt or
Coffee nor other small stores that 90 to make
up soldiers rations. Since the occupation
of the Mississippi by the Federal forces, cut
ting off communication with Texas, their sup
plies of beef are brought from Florida, where
there is an abundance of wild cattle. The
stock of whisky is pretty well exhausted.
( DIR Oliver says the greatest depression he
observed was produced by the intelligence
that President Lincoln had called out three
hundred thousand additional troops. The
opinion prevailed that if these troops could
be promptly furnished the rebel game would
be ended. They have exhausted their re-
sources for soldiers, and would be unable to
contend against fresh army of that size
Their only hope is that this call will not be
promptly responded to by volunteers but
that there will be sufficient delay to afford an
opportunity for foreign Intervention before
they are forced to give up.
DIR Oliver says the rebel plan of fighting is
not with reserves, but by retreats in the field,
and that in every battle regiments are rcgu-
larly relieved by fresh troops, after having
fought for a little while. In this way it was
hoped to wear out and tire down the troops
under Mcclellan. Ii is seldom that II e same
regiments have been allowed to engage twice
in the same battle. The rebels have concen-
trated nearly all their available troops at
Richmond except so much OF Beauregard's 5
army as stopped at Charleston, and about
$4,000 of the same army left in Mississippi.
The rebels are terribly afraid of the gunboats.
They reckon one gunboat equal to whole
division on land.
They admit that the recent movement of
General Mcclellan was 4 mastery stroke of
policy, and that his present position is inf
nitey stronger than the one he abandoned.
No further attack will be made upon him
where he is.
The rebels are sending their wounded and
prisoners to the interior. There is no room
for them in Richmond. and medical stores are
exceedingly scarce. DIR Oliver was obliged
to dress wounds and amputations with cold
water and bandages.
The reported death of Stonewal Jackson is
untrue DR. Oliver saw him alive and well
in Richmond on Tuesday night. jeff Davis
went to Raleigh te see his family.
The latest despatch states that there were
conflicting reports about the battles, and i,
? was Impossible to get official information
The precise situation of the Yankee army is
not known.
sUFFERINGS OF THE SOLDIERS.
Still the enemy pressed us, and through al
the night the jaded army, with its baggage
had to be urged on. A vast herd of cattle
: passed me early Monday morning, and. JUS
h after it, drove of a thousand rebel prison
O ers. | started early, and again witnessed
-, Sundays fearful scenes. Wounded and sick
lmped along many one lying down to sleeI
t his last sleep under the grateful shade of th
a roadside woods. The same confusion o
y wagons, and soldiers, and cannon, and tn
) paraphernalia of war, blocked the passage
and, in addition to the rebels laundering be
e hind US, and the long, weary, dusty way be
/. fore, hunger and thirst began to stare US i
~ the face. Thousands had thrown away thei
haversacks, containing all their food, and no
bite could they procure. Not stream 0
n a spring could be found anywhere to quenc
the thirst of the poor soldiers. They Jay o
the ground drinking from bitches filled wit
to mud and filth Wells dug with their hand
70 sometimes furnished scant supply. But
-, was not one tenth enough for the army
VI Horses died from thirst, and were left lyin
e. where they fell. Everywhere could be hear
10 the cry for water, water, though above
- sounded loudly the voices of the officers, VII
urged every one forward. Monday was f;
more terrible than Sunday. Hunger an
o, thirst came to the aid of secession, in the il
re fiction of deep and painful wounds upon Il
". Union army.
- At one o'clock on Monday came in sig
~ of the James river, away off in the dis,anc
its muddy current swiftly coursing betwe.
. its low banks. How many hailed with q
% light that glorious river which betokened Il
-. end of our weary, terrible journey! The hilltc
q" was lined with gazers who feasted their ey
. with the sight of the glorious stream. L
. halt we made, however, was very short or
and after dusty march of four miles '
reached Turkey Landing, on the river. He
;s | witnessed the most frantic glee on the pa
80 of the troops. Soldiers would rush down t
MS hill side and plunge into the stream in p'
=" feet frenzy of delight. Many whose thil
SIX had been most excruciating for hours befo
Or standing neck deep in the water, drank
~ their hearts content. The horses, too, We
u" relieved-their wants were cared for, and t
ne. hungry soldiers were the only ones left W
en-. were still in worse misery than the army g
ur. orally.
.o, SCENES AMONG THE WOUNDED IN TIE La
BATTLES.
One mortaliy wounded soldier asks. "D
a'i- tor, wnat do you think of my case-is it ds
md gerous ?" With feeling which brings te;
ard to the eyes of men of the stoutest hearts,
Il Doctor replies, both for the surgeon and
, spiritual adviser, that there is little or
eu' hope, and the soldier closes his eyes for f
he moments in despair, then rising, he ioc
earnestly for a sympathizing friend and ca
estly makes the same inquiry.
81 Mai Barnum of the Twelfth New York v
''' mortally wounded, and while lying BREATH
10 his last friend asked him if he had any m
BOD sage, to which he replied, Tell my wife t
He in my last thoughts were blended my "