Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-09-08
[From the Richmond Whig.]
LETTER FROM MIR. RIYES,

LETTER FROM MIR. RIvES.
We are permitted to make public the follow.
ing letter from Mr.. Rives to a we'll known gen.
tIeman of Lynchburg. 1t is. as encouraging in
its opinions and its historical citations, as it is
elegant in style and noble and patriotic in sen
timent. Its appearance, too, is fortunately
timed, and it cannot be without the happiest eff
feet on the public mind. 1t would be we'll if a
copy OF it should fall under the eye of every cit
zen of the Confederate States, and we are sure
that our cotemporaries Of the Presss will gladly
aid in giving it the widest circulation:
Ny DEAR SIR IL learn from you with great
regret, that some of our feloW-citizens are good
deal discouraged by recent events in our militia
ry operations, while you yourself, 1 am glad to
see, retain your accustomed erectness and buoy
ancy of spirit. Are we not, In some degree. the
spoiled children OF that marvellous good fortune,
which, by the gracious providence of God, has,
for the most part, attended US since the COM
mencement of this gigantic conflict? And have
not our very successes, long continued as they
nave been, unStrung our minds for the discipline
OF those occasional reverses, which none can
hope to escape amid the inexOrable vicissitudes
of war?
When we recollect, not merely the disparity
of numbers and material wealth between us and
our adversaries but that they were in possession
Of the whole army and navy of the United States,
the creation of the joint efforts and contributions
of the entire U UniOn for a period of seventy odd
years. that all those branches of manufacturing
industry, most essential to the operations of war;
had been long established and in full activity
with them; and that at the same time they had
the advantage of an open and unrestricted inter
course with the rest OF the world to supply any
deficiency which might exist in their resources !;
HI Ia of he of
not ship or soldier, were without the muni-
tions Of war, or any existing establishment for
furnishing them, even to percussion CAPS and
cut off from all foreign supplies by the blockade
Of our whole cOast-the extent and magnitude of
what We have accomplished ought to be matter
Ut grateful astonisnment to ourselves, as it is of
special wonder to the other nations of the earth
With all these odds against us, what long and
dazzling roll of victories have we furnished for
the pen of the future historian of the war
Virginia, embracing the seat of Government
of the COnfederacy, has been the selected object
against which the most formidable and imposing
enterprises of the enemy have been directed -
How sslame and impotent'' the conclusion of all
these Wanted expeditions, SO often and so POM
pously gotten up for the capture of Richmond
and the subj agation Of Virginia, let Bethel, Ma
nassas, Leesburg, in the first year of the war
the plains ofWilliams5urg, the bloody panorama
of battle fields around the beIeaguered Capital,
the blaze of successive victories with which Jack
son lighted up the Valley of the Shenandoah
from Hatper's Ferry to Port Republic, Cedar
Mountain, Manassas again, the closing and over
whelmlng discontinue at Fredericksburg in the
second year of the war, and the grand rout, after
four days continuous conflict, OF fChancellorsviile
and Marye's Heights, IN the present year, follow
ed by the enemy's third expulsion from the VAL
ley-let these memorable fields, with their truth
full voices, tell
During this period, too, the army of N Northern
Virginia, under its illustrious leader made two
O0ld and successful lncurSiOns into the enemy's
territory levied contributions npon it; gave
battle to his concentrated leglons on his own
soil, crppling and indlcting heavy losses upon
him 4; and then returned at leisure to resume its
attitude OF calm defiance and proud invincibility
at home. Snch is a general outline Of the histo-
ry Of the waf on the Atlantic side of the Confed
eracy. Outskirts, and fragmentary portions of
territory have, IN some instances, been tempora-
rily and reluctantly abandoned to the enemy. as
not justifying the attempt to defend them at tie
risk of the central and more important portions ;
but in no case has the heart or grand interior OF
the territory been yet penetrated.
In the Valley of the Mississippi the course OF
events has been more chequered by alternate
good and bad fortune. Springfield, Colum bus
Shiloh, and even Murfreesboro', we're noble sue.
cesses for US. Fort Donelson, Corinth, New Or
leans, recall the remembrance Of sad disasters
and to these has been recently added the loss o
Vicksburg and Port Hudson. I have no dispo.
sitien to extenuate the gravity of any of these
disasters. But looking at them in their very
worst aspect, there is nothing in any all Of
them to give rise to feeling of despOndency.-
The enemy is as far as ever from the great obiec
he had in yleW-the free and unmolested navlga
ton Of the Mississippi for commercial purposes
Its banks are still accessible for hundreds O
miles, within our territory, to our sharpshooter
m hat and mil
vent the use of the river by trading vessels, anc
efectuaiy interdict 1t to al practical commerce
The inhabitants OF the country are more rouseo
than ever by the outrages of the enemy; anC
redoubied Efforts will be made to render his 10
cal successes bootless to him, We have tive
powerful and noble armies under Johnston ant
Bragg on the eastern side of the river, which ar
strengthened daily both by the Confederate con
scrlptlon and by the Jealous co-operation of the
adjacent State Governments while on the west
ern side of the river are the enterprising and in
domitabie commands Of Price, of Kirby Smith
of Taylor, and OF Magruder, to strike whereve
the enen y may present himself.
When this situation is compared with the man,
unavoidable reverses and endless difficultie
which our brave ancestors had to encounter ant
so glOriously surnouarad, in their struggle 70
independence, who does not feal his spirit re
Duked at the slightest thought of ofdscouragenen
under our present circumstances ? Recollect tn
CONDITION OF washington IN the second year 0
the war OF the Revolution, when,. after success
! i've aud serious disasters on Long Island, at New
York, at White Pains, and the loss of For
Washington, on the Hudson, with its garrison
he was compelled TO retreat through the Jerseys
4spushed," to use his own expressive language
ssfrom place to place, till we We're Obliged &
cross the Delaware with less than three thousan
men tit for duty and the reluctant confesslo
was extorted from his firm and manly breast tia
| unless s'a'new army can be speedily recruited th
game is pretty nearly up''-eyen in this extrem
ity there no despondency, no discours ge
| ment. The pressure and magnitude of tho oar
| gers only supplied new energies of action, an
| stimulated to redoubled exertion, and in fe