The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-10-16


Extract from the Diary of an Eng
lish Omcer Present with the Com
federate Army.
This Is the title of an article that ap-
pears in the September number. of Black
GOODS Magazine, and is in many respects
interesting to the American reader. The
British officer says the Confederate troops
were not very good marchers, but moved
without struggling and were under strict
discipline. The brigades, he states, were
about $500 strong. There were four
brigades to division, three divisions to
corps, and three corps in the army. This
would make the infantry strength of Lees
army about 100000 men. The brigades
he mentions were those of McLaws' d.
vision, of Longstreet's corps. But as we
know that this corps was the strongest in
the army, we may conclude that McLaws'
brigades we're above the average. 1t would
be difficult to make a calculation, based
upon the figures given by the British Off
Ger, giving Lee less than 10000 infantry.
The rebel cavalry is not spoken of in high
terms. 1t was good for scouting, but
worth little in fight. The artillery was
very miscellaneous. The army was weak
in horses, which were poor and ill-fed.
The officer gives pitiable account of his
sors-backed and broken down nag, and
tells of the necessity he was under of
turning him over to General Lees staff,
whose horses were used up. He gives
some account of General Longstreet and
bis corps, who are just now particularly
interesting to us, having been transferred
10 the West and flung into battle against
Rosecrans at Chickamauga. We quote
from the narrative in Blackuood:
seen. Longstreet is an Alabamian-a
thiek-set man, forty-three years of age.
He is never very far from Gen.
Lee, who relies very much upon his iudg-
ment. BY the soldiers he is invariably
spoken of as the best fighter in the whole
army"
Longstreet said it would be fair to apply
the torch in Pennsylvania, ''yet that do
ing SO would demoralize the army and
ruin its now excellent discipline. Private
property is therefore to be rigidly pro-
tected"
Hoods division of Longstreet's corps
Gladly cut up in the battle of Chicka-
mauga,) is thus described:
''This division, well-known for its fight
ing qualities, is composed of Texans, Ala
bamians and Arkansians, and they GER
tainly are queer lot to look at They
carry less than any other troops; many
of them have only got an old piece of
carpet or rug as baggage; many have dis
earded their shoes in the mud all are
ragged and dirty, but full of good humor
and confidence in themselves, and in their
General, Hood.
81 was introduced to General Hood this
morning he is a tall, thin, wiry-looking
man, with grave face and light-colored
beard, thirty-three years old, and is &C
counted one of It'd best and most promis-
ing officers in the army. By his Texan
and Albanian troops he is adored.
His troops are accused of being wild set
and difficult to manage"
General Lee," the British officer says,
lis almSst, without exception, the hand
soonest man of his age ever saw" Lee
is further described as never carrying
arms, and as always looking smart and
clean, even ''during the three days fight
ing at Gettysburg, and in the retreat after
ward when every one else looked, or was,
extremely dirty"
"The relations between him and Long
street are quite touching-they are almost
always together. Longstreets corps COM
plains of this sometimes, as they say that
they seldom get chance of detached SER
vise, which falls to the lot of Ewell."
They have lately got more detached SER
vice than is perhaps quite agreeable to
them.
General Hill told the writer that in the
frst battle, near Gettysburg;
"The Yankees had fought with deter
mination unusual to them. He pointed out
railway cutting, in which they had made
good stand also, field, in the centre
of which he had seen man plant the
regimental oolors, round which the regi-
msnt had fought for some time, with much
sonstancy and when, at last, it was obliged
to retreat, the color retreated last
of all, turning around every now and then
to shake his fist at the advancing rebels.
General Hill said he felt quite sorry, when
he saw this gallant Yankee meethis doom. -
In the first days contest the rebels had
about 10000 men in the field. In the Sec
end days fight cd july, General Lee is
described as sitting most of the time "quite
alone on the stump of tree. What l es-
pscially remarked was that during the
whole time the firing continued, he only
sent one message, and only received one
report"
Of the preparations made for the third
and decisive days contest, the writer says:
"Pickett's division, which had just come
up, was to bear the brunt in Longstreet's
| attack. together with Hills. and Petit