Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-05-12

| though there have beer many Sklrmlshes. 1ney
i met with one serious misfortune, by extreme
carelessness, in the capture by the Iankees ol
Stebbins' battery Of light artillery, OF I'VE
pieces, which, at the time of It's capture, was
| in an exposed position WITHOUT, proper support
The writer continues, that all the rebsl wagons
excepting those used tor ordnance, medlcai and !
the R]ackVater 50 that if the Yankees capture
their entire army as some of their papers say
thew wilN they (the Yankees Will not get their
wagons and baggage ,r
PREPARATIONS FOR THEIR RETREAT. de
saws they will not be much annoyed in their re-
trograde movement, for Gen. Longstreet, who
has command, has the reputation OF making
good retreat, as well as good advance. lie
speaks of having very disagreeable weather,
and the troops having nc tents l Will give the
other part of his letter in the writer s own
words, viz:
1--WE have been SO often disappointed IN re-
gard to the prospect Of peace and the conse-
ouent tern nation of the war, that we do not
now so much as discuss its probability. we
have all concluded that nothing butstrong arms
and willing hearts will purchase our freedom,
&C., while we look forward to no partlcuia:r1, pc
Rod for the termination of the war stlll we
have an implicit confidence in our ability to
protect our interests. We now have much to
encourage; everything seems favorable. This
time last year spirit of despondency prevailed
in the minds of some Of the more t1Inld on
account Of the succession Of disasters which
had befallen us, such as the fall OF Donelson,
New Orleans Norfolk, the loss Of the iron clad
Virginia, the evacuation of Yorktown, &C.;
but now we have everything to encourage us
hundreds g. of brilliant victories have crown
ed our arms in different sections OF our coun-
try; our armies now are larger than they ever
have been and in fighting quality cannot be
surpassed; every prospect Indicates large gram
crops and should they fail entirely, recent de-
yelopments have proven that there IS yet, IN
sections of the country not overrun by the ar
mics, an adequate supply OF provisions to sub
sist the army for another year. Large crops
have been planted everywhere, and It good
harvest is the result, we will have an abundance
without having to transport it any great dis.
tance. 1t was the spirit OF speculation and
limited transportation which several months
ago created such great alarm; but that tear has
subsided, and confidence has again been re-
stored, and now no one can befound who enter
tains the slightest doubt of our ability to sup
ply our troops with provisions. If we should
be so unfortunate as to come short OF these ex-
pectations, we should give the Yankees little
more trouble than we do now. | rather expect
in that event the farming interests Of Pennsyl,,
vania would probably suffer, to say.nothlng OF
the Unionists cf Maryland 5s'
''The war tax, which passed Congress about
month ago, has had a good effect in bringing
down the prices of provisions. Every .produ-
Ger is taxed certain per cent. OF his crop,
whether of grain, cotton or tobacco; so the
patriotic portion of our citizens termed specu-
lators will not have such chance to swindle
the government.
"We frequently read the Northern papers,
and keep we'll posted as to the political move
ments Of the Lincoln government we know
that great exertions are being made to increase