The New York herald., 1862-08-08
Jen. Davis Ina EesPair-intsresting aIid
Important Disclosures.

Jeis. Davis which we publish to-day. 1t Is
from niece Of the rebel President, and the
wife Of an officer Of Ire army Of Stonewall
Jackson, in Nay last. 1t is the earnest, sincere
and comprehensive letter of an INTEL gent,
pious and clear headed but unhappy woman;
and the view which it gives rs behind the
scenes at Richmond is worth all the reports of
all the refugees from that quarter since the
rebel evacuation of Manassas
This letter was written on the 7th and 9th
of May last. Passing over its information con-
cerning DR.. Gwin, late Senator from California
and his family, the first statement of the writer
ON military affairs which attracts our attention
is that General Jackson and his army ''expect
battle shortly with the Yankees under
General Banks" This shows that Mrs
Keary was well posted with regard to Jack
sons movements; for it was a fortnight
later than the date of the letter in question
that jackson dashed down upon General
Banks at Strasburg, by way of the Front Royal
valley, and pushed him and his army and bag
gage train, sixty-fve miles in two days, out of
Virginia, and across the Potomac river into
Md ioHu. VIC diC uCAt ooiu tAot buCIC 10
probability Of General Jackson's army falling
back on Richmond; and, in view of this, no lady
is allowed to 60 up to Gordonsville, for fear of
incommoding the army" Here we see that
Jackson return to Richmond, after driving Ge-
neral Banks out of the Shenandoah valley, was
arranged at the rebel capital long ago, as an
important part Of General Lees programme for
the diversion Of large portion of our forces to
protect Washington, and the concentration of
his own to destroy, if possible, the army of
General Mcclellan in front of Richmond.
We are next informed that General Jackson's
forces "have been obliged Officers and men)
to sleep on the ground, with very scant cover
ing and no tents, since last February,
when the army retreated from Manas-
sas." Here the secret of those numer-
Gus rebel cantonments of log cabins at Manas-
sas is explained. The rebels did not build
them because they knew General Mcclellan
would remain in camp all winter; but they were
built to supply their deficiencies in tents.
Next, says this well informed lady, "If John
ston falls as far back as Richmond, all our
troops from Gordonsv;lle and Swift Run Gap
will also fell back to this place, and make one
desperate stand against Mcclellan" Thus it is
apparent that the plans Of the rebels IN regard
to Mcclellan were all matured before be ap-
preached the gloomy swamps Of the Chicka-
hominy.
In the next place, after deploring the loss Of
New Orleans heavy blow, we have a very
important and suggestive confession of the
misery of JEFF. Davis. His devoted niece, as
from the very depths of despair, cries
out-"Oh! mother. uncle JEFF. is miserable.
He tries to be cheerful, .nd to bear up against
such q cotinuation ol troubles but, oh ! fear
he cannot 1--we long If he does not get some
rest and quiet. Uur reverses distress him so
much, and he is so weak and feeble, it makes my
heart ache to look at him." How different this
from the face which Uncle JEFF has presented
all along to the world, and especially to Eng
land and France, in his official proclamations,
n essages aad reports Of his victories in the
field.
But the most remarkable and important
statement of this interesting letter is this that
"three gunboats are now in the James river on
their way to this city," and that II am afraid
that Richmond will fall into the hands Of tho
enemy, as there is no way to keep back the
gunboats James river is so high that all the
ii the river have been washed away, so there
i - help for the city, This was
on the 9th of May last Then there was that tide
in the James river (which, taken at the flood,
leads on to fortune On the l1th that IRON
clad rebel bugbear Of Norfolk, the Merrimac,
having been blown up by her commander TO
escape capture, the James river was opened;
and ON the 10th those three gunboats referred
to-the Monitor, Galena and Naugatuck-we
repulsed from Fort Darling. AT that point
there were obstructions in the channel which
had not been washed away. Two or three
regiments Of land troops were needed to carry
the fort, and then those Instructions would
have been removed, and the coast would have
been clear to Richmond. Two or three regi-
ments at Fort Darling on the 10th of May would
have saved US, no doubt, all the losses of the
many subsequent bloody battles on the Chicka-
hominy. Why were those regiments not taken
up with the guLboatss We cannot answer.
Perhaps Admiral Goldsborough can. We can
cnly regret that the golden opportunity was
lost for taking Richmond by our naval forces, as
New Orleans was taken by Com. Farragut We
believe, however, that the presence Of General
McClellan's army within reach Of the CO.
operating broadsides Of our gunboats will soon
enable us to clear the way to Richmond by
land and water.
Finally, it appears that, with his prospects in
this world blasted and destroyed our rebel Pre-
sident Of our rebelious Confederate States has
thought it wise to prepare for the world to
come. "Unc,e JEFF was confirmed last Tues
day in st. Paul's (EpiscopaD church, by Bishop
Johns;" but his confirmation, we apprehend
will not avail him should be be cut on while
stil engaged in the unholy work OF this rebel