The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-11-04
A YANKEE LETTER.

n lTlcnu IN the aIHly SenuS us tue ioIlohlHs
letter for publication. 1t found on the battle
field of Seven Pines" The writer seems to be
an intelligent man, and frankly acknowledges that
the Confederates have out-generalled the Yankee
officers, though he expresses the opinion that the
South will be subjugated. We suppose by this
time be has found out his mistake on that point
ALBANY, May 10, 1862
| M Dear Friend: With all possible haste and
without knowing what is to fill this sheet, sit
down to write to you. The valuable information
YOU give me concerning the movements of the
opposing armies in Virginia and the sound theories
| you advance as to the plans of the Generals on
| either side, arc inducements for me to write, no
matter whether or not | have anything to say, in
order to hear from you in reply. Great progress
| does not seem to have been made by our forces
towards Richmond since the fall Of Yorktown, and
it is doubtful to me whether it would have been
good policy on the part of the rebels to have held
that place under any circumstances. We claim
that they are utterly demoralized, and that their
retreat is disgracetul rout, while the telegraph
inadvertently informs the public that they have
line of skirmshers thrown out to protect the re-
treat and drive in stragglers The determined
stand made at Williamsburg not the struggle
of destroyed army and by examining carefully
our reports We find that We're thrown into great
wounded, and a considerable number Of prisoners |
1t occurs to me that if either side could claim |
victory, our enemies had most ght to that claim
for having achieved their object they gave 10 |
ground until nj ght ended the battle when they |
moved on to permanent line Of defence. Nor is |
it certain that they left all their wounded and |
prisoners behind, for find in the reports of casu-
alt many names under the head Of ''missing"
and some prominent officers are among those
Tiout- Nnl ct Of This oft bniprr ono
1t is two weeks ago yesterday since the evacua-
tion of Norfolk, and since Mcclellan announced
that he would ''push the enemy 30 the WALL He
is now, according to days report, within fifteen
miles of that place Richmond the "fying, hope
less, disgraced and demoralized" johnson en-
camped in his front, his pckets thrown out, and
evidently making preparations to meet him upon
equal ground. Mcclellan has made forty-ive
miles in those two weeks average of about
three miles day with lis "splendidly appointed
army equal to any in the world" driving the
fugtives to the wall.
It strikes me that the Rebel Chiefs must be
immeasurably superior to ours or that by some
miraculous means they ascertain exactly the plans
of our Generals before they can be put iii execu-
ton, and time enough to check mate them De-
serters to be sure are coming in every day. and
contrabands come laden with information to our
camps, but seemingly we get nothing reliable of
Rebel plans and movements. 1t can't be that
any of our are desertiDg to the other side
such thing is too improbable for belief, and the
inhabitants of the invaded country can gain no
information Of our operations. [ cannot believe
that spies carrying Oil their schemes Systematically
and necessarily could escape the notice of our
officers in whose confidence they must necessarily
be- The only inference then left is that the
Rebel Generals are superior to ours.
Franklin's Division, you are aware was sent up
the York River to intercept the routed rebels at
West Point and by driving them back on Nc
Clellan accomplish their destruction or compel
their surrender. The result showed that their
army was not necessitated to pass that point in
their retreat; and further that even if they were
Franklin would be serious obstacle in their
way. Lee met Franklin at West Point, where he
arrived previous to Franklin and Of course with
the intention of fighting him, and own papers
acknowledge. that were it not for the indomitable
gun boats we would have suffered disastrous
defeat. AS it they said loss was small
and the victory ours. But few days since |
noticed small paragraph in an obscure place to
the effect that the battle of West Point was more
serious than at first supposed and that lost 500
prisoners, as the enemy attacked before We had
time to form after landing. Lee said to
have had SO, 900 men, ten thousand more than
our forces, but it is doubtful that be had so
many. Thus you see that the enemy were In
possession of our plan to intercept them, and in
order to checkmate US, attacked with great V igor
at Williamsburg, and then detached large force
to precipitate itself upon the unsuspeeting Frank
lin, who undoubtedly would have been driven into
the river and signally vanquished but for the
sassy ironsdes
Mcdowell and Banks have not yet joined Nc
Clellan, and seems to be kept in check by who or
what nobody knows. The feet of gunboats on
the James River have been repulsed their way
to Richmond, and the river is blocked up with
sunken vessels, so that Richmond is far off yet,
and the war won't be ended this season. I speak
this way simply to give you my plain opinion OF
how things conducted and to show you in what
| hold the skill, vaor and endurance OF
the Southerpers. However, think there cal be
but one termination to the war, and that is IN the
subsection of the traitors, no matter how distant
the end may be.
.. Your friend, kEARNEY.
r ~ A.