The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-08-22
Interesting from Rebellion.
A PRIVATE LETTER FROM THE NIECE
OF JEFF. DAVIS.

WhittSu Ny MIS. hcicu NJ Aeaiy d uicCc
Of jeff. Davis. The following is the docu.
ment:
My DEAR MOTHER AND FANNIE: DR..
Gwin and his son and daughter miss Lucy
expect to leave tomorrow or next day for
Mississippi, and Miss Lucy has promised
me that il Vicksburg is not in the hands
of the enemy when they reach there, that
she will go out to see you, and let you know
how / am; but if she cannot get TO Vicks>
burg, she says she will arrange it 80 that
you can get this letter by private hands
She will spend the summer with her uncle
Gwin, in Marshall county, Mississippi.
Her mother is in Baltimore, and the YAM
KEGS will not let her come home.
1 heard from Mr.. Keary on Thursday; he
is quite well, but has had to bear many
hardships. The weather is very cold and
rainy, and they have had some awful march.
es to take. The Louisiana brigade is now
with Gen. Jackson in Elwell's division at
Swift Run Cap" in the mountains, be-
tween Staunton and Harrisonburg You
will find it on the map of Virginia. They
expect battle shortly with the Yankees
under General Banks. When think OF his
situation, and the dark gloom that now how
ers over Cur country, | am ready to sink
with dispair, and would give worlds if 1
could only be by my dear husbands side,
but it is impossible. There is probability
of Genaral Jackson's army falling back on
Richmond, and, in view of this, no lady is
allowed to 60 up on the railroad to Cor
louisville, for fear, if allowed to one, that
many others would wish to do it, which
would incommode the army.
His letter to me was written in sad
tone, which distressed me very much-he
said that all his recruits but ten were sick,
and had been sent back to the rear, where
he was afraid they would suffer for want OF
attention. They have been obliged (oficers
and men) to sleep on the ground with very
scant covering, and no tents since last Feb
ruary, when the army retreated from Ma.
nassas. Now they have fly for every
eight men, which affords some protection
from the rain and snow, but very little from
the cold weather. Mr.. Keary could not
write to me for ten days after be reached
there, because it was raining, and he had
no shelter to write under to keep his paper
dry. General johnson is falling back from
the Peninsula or Yorktown, and Uncle
JEFF. thinks that we had better 60 to a safer
place than Richmond.
We have not decided yet where we shall
90, but think to North Carolina, to some
iar-off country town, or, perhaps, to South
Carolina. will write to you from there
the very first opportunity. If johnson
falls as far bsck as Richmond, all our troops
from Gordonsville and "Swift Run Gap"
will also fall back to this place, and make
one desperate stand against Mcclellan. IT
you will look at the map, you will see that
the Yankees are approaching Richmond
from three different directiOns-from Fred
ericksburg, Harrisonburg, and Yorktown.
Oh God, defend this people with thy pow~
erful arm, is my constant prayer. Oh,
mother, Uncle JEFF. is miserable. He tries
to be cheerful and bear up against such a
continuation of troubles, but oh, fear he
cannot live long If be does not get some rest
and quiet.
Our reverses distressed him so much, and
he is so weak and feeble, that it makes my
heart ache to look at him. He knows that
be ought to send his vile and children away,
and Jet be cannot bear to part with them,
aud we ali dread to leave him, too Varina
and had hard cry about it today. There
was confirmation in the church today, and
We all hoped so much that he would 60 for
ward for confirmation, But he did not :;
yet | have hope that he will do so before the
Bishop leaves here.
Oh, what blow the fall of New Orleans
was! 1t liked to have set us all crazy here
Everybody looks depressed, and the cause of
the Confederacy seems dropping and sink
ing but if God is with US, who can be
against US? Our troops are not doing as
we'll az we expected. AT the battle of
Shiloh some of our men acted very cowardy
indeed, and one Colonel laid down behiod a
log, and would not get up even when threat
ened by his commanding officer with rifle
ball if be did not return to his duty. And
at Yorktown, in a skirmish of General
Cobb's Division, cur men gave back, and if
it had not been for a Georgia regiment, the
enemy would have taken some of our best
rife pits. The regiments that are most apt
to run are from North Carolina and Ten.
nessee. an thankful to say that the Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana troops behave glori.
ously whenever called on to fight.
Uncle JEFF. thinks you are safe at home,
as there will be no resistance at Vicksburg,
and the ankees will hardly occupy it; and
even if they did, the army would gain moth
ing by marching into the country, and a
few soldiers would be afraid to 60 so far
into the interior. Yet l feel anxious be-
cause l cannot hear from you. You might
possibly get some one in town to send me
letter by somebody coming on here. There
must be persons passing constantly. Direct
your letters to me, care of President Davis,
Richmond, Va, and then when leave they
will be forwarded to me.
If Miss Gwin does not leave to morrow,
l will try to get some other person who is
going home to take it. Her brother is at
Yorktown, and, as the Yankees may make
an attack as soon as they know we are re-
treating, and be does not wish to leave us
on the eve of battle-so they may be de
layed for several days. We think now that
we shall 60 to Raleigh Tomorrow, but have
not positively decided yet.
Your ever affectionate,
HELEN N. KEARY.
MAY 9.-Since writing the above Miss