Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-08
FROM THE REBEL ARMY.
Statement of a Refusee.

From an Englishman named John Clay who
came into the FEDERAL lines ut Williamsport
Nd, on the evening Of October I'd, the CORES
pondent Of the Baltimore Aaericda obtains the
following particulars:
John IL. Floyd promised Clay pass into the
United states If he would superintend the erec-
tion of 4 dying establishment Being completed
lie requested the services o. Floyd in procuring
for him the required passport through the lines
OF the Confederate army, SO that he might be
enabled TO reach Philadelphia, his former home
which he had left one year ago last April Tkis
pass, which was furnished him, IL printed on
common brown paper, and passed the bearer to
winchester. This pass he received on Friday
morning, Sept. ~, and the next morning started
Tor StaunIon, on a train containing five hun
dred conscripts. lie was there told thai there
were eighteen hundred Confederate States SOL
dlers in the hospitals of the place. and az
Charlotte from two TO three thousand Staun-
ton was SO full Of soldiers that he could not pro-
cure any bed, and only slept in the hotel parlor
by paying dearly for its Accommodation On
Sunday another train of cars brought TO Staun-
ton five hundred more conscripts. Here he had
agam 10 get pass, and on Monday morning he
left. All along tho way he saw companies of
men passing IN the direction of The army as he
looked from the stage coach. According 10 his
own Judgment, he supposed that he saw about
l.5tO wagons on their way 10 Staunton, filled
with sick and wounded soldiers.
On Tuesday morning, about O'clock he
reached Winchester. This place he says, was
so full OF soldiers that ne found il impossible
10 procure either bed OIL. boarding The great
est destruction of property he has ever seen he
heheld here. He saw soldiers here upon the
sidewalk, without any regard for decency. pick
ing the vermin off their bodies. Such fiithiness
and general nakedness were past imagination
Ho here secured another pass allowing him 10
pass out of the city into the lines Of the army.
About ii O'Clock, on "Wednesday morning, he
left Winchester. AT this point OF his progress
he had TO abandon the idea OF ira veil ag By con-
veyance, and therefore was obliged TO walk
About one mile this side of Winchester as he
no Si,rhf
which reminded him much OF the appearance
of an English fair. Upon Il hill Were crowded
army wagons, horses, &c, toward which were
a he supposed, marching two or three ragi-
mcnts of infantry. A half mile beyond he
passed 4 piece OF land which he Judged 10 bc
from ten 10 twenty acres, covered with artil-
lery. Beyond this Gen. LongstrPet's division
lay ON The right Gen Hills, of Virginia: be-
hlnd Hill :, on the right, was Lees General
Lees headquarters Were between TWO lar:,.,
stone buildings. Passing turther on the road
Carolina. This was about ITO Il Of Nslrih
ker's Hill. On the i-ft, hr WAS told, Jackson's
army was cncamped. AT 4 stream OF water
near Bunker's Hill ne saw three or four regi-
ments OF cavalry.
IN the Immediate vicinity OF Bunker's Hill
there We're 10 encampnents-only a few
airy pickets and wagons. That night
"wednesday he slept in a barn. near Bunker's
Hill. The next morning he was informed by
a Lieutenant that Stuart's Cavalry had driven
the Federal soldiers of MartInsburg He
left Bunker's Hill AT eight o'clock OH Thursday
he experienced considerable difficulty in pass
ing by the wagons which We're upon the road
The train had a cavalry escort.
Within q short distance of Martin>bur he
met three regiments OF cavalry going into the
rown. These regiments he afterwards saw dis
mounted on The road leading TO shepherds
town. Here his papers Were demanded. but
he succeeded in effecting his passage through
their lines after showing them. He attributed
his escape beyond their lines 10 their not having
any person in command about Martinsburg,
and 10 the Thursday nights reconnaissance of
the Federal troops From this place to the
river he only met several cavalry, whom he
succeeded in passing.