The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-07
DAVIS INTERCEPTED DIS.
PATCHES TO GEN. LEE.
His Anxiety to Protect His Com
munications.
Rebel Hopes of Getting the Advan-
tage of Us by the Loss OF
Our Veterans.
Davis Waiting for Hooker to I'm
cover Washington.
He Thought he Could Then Rush in
and Take 1t.

Special Dispatch to the N. Y. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, ID. @, July %, 1868.
The following is the dispatch which has
been referred to as captured during Lees
invasion:
NEAR GETTYSBURG, Pa, July 8, 1868.
M9l. Gen. II. w. HaAeck, General-im- Chief:
The following dispatches have been inter-
copied by our scouts.
DAN'L BUTrERFIELD,
Major General and Chief of Staff.
LETTER FROM THE REBEL ADJUTANT .GEN'L.
ADJUrANr GENERALS OFFICE,
RICHMOND. June 49, 1868.
GENERAL: While with the President last
evening, received your letter of the 23d inst.
After reading it to the President, he was en-
barrassed to understand that part of it which
refers to the plan of assembling an army at Cul-
pepper Court House, under Gen. Beauregard
This is the first ntimation that he has had that
such plan was ever in contemplation and
taking all things into consideration he cannot
see how it can by any possibility be carried into
elect.
You will doubtless learn before this reaches
you that the enemy has again assembled in
force on the Penins ula, estimate between 20
00O and 80, 600 men, from 5000 to 5000 of
whom are reported to be in the vicinity of
White House, and the remainder at Yorktown
1t is impossible to say whether the estimated
| number is correct, as the several accounts vary
and are not deemed altogether trustworthy; but
the estimate, making due allowance for errors,
is quite near enough to satisfy the most incred-
ulOus that he is in this vicinity in sufficient
force in cavalry artillery and infantry to do much
harm, whether his purpose be to make DEM
OnstratiLn on Richmond. or to cOntne himself
to raids in breaking your communication and
devastating the country. His efforts in
| FIJI fho,,
in the first, if we may judge by what took place
at Hanover only Two days ago, when about
l, 200 or 1 200 of the cavalry suddenly appeared
there and did some execution in breaking the
railroad and burning bridge, some buildings,
public stores, Sc 1t is important that this
raid took place only about two days after Gen
eral COrses brigade had left there for GOrdOns-
vile. Had it renamed at Hanover Junction
it is reasonable to suppose that most of the
enemys cavalry would have been either de-
strOyed or captured, and the property saved
from injury. Every effort is being made here
to be prepared for the enemy at all points, but
we must look chiefly to the protection of the
Capital. In doing this, we may be obliged to
hazard some other points. You can easily es
innate our strength, and l suggest for your
consideration whether in this state of things
you might not he able to spare portion of
your force to protect your line of communica-
ton against tempted raids of the enemy.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
8 COOPER, Adjutant General
Gen. r. E. LEE, Commanding Army North
ern Virginia, Winchester, Va.
LETTER IRON JEFF. DAVIS.
RICHMOND, June 20, 1863
GENERAL Yours of the 23d was received
this evening, and hasten TO reply to the point
presented in relation to the forces on the coast
OF South OF Carolina and Georgia. The hopes
INDUCED as to our operations at time which
would intervene between the discharge of the
enemys trained troops and the substitution for
them by others have been disappointed by the
very error against which it was sought by
warning to guard. Grant reached the river got
reintOrcements, made intrenchments, and Gen,
Johnston continues to call for reinforcements,
though his first requisition was more than
filed by withdrawing troops from Generals
Beauregard and Bragg. Gen. Bragg is threat
ened with attack, has fallen back to his en-.
trenched position at Tullahoma, and called on
Buckner for aid.
General Beauregard says that no troops have
been withdrawn by the enemy from his front
since those returned to Newbern, and that his
whole force Is necessary to cover his line.
This being in answer to proposition to fol-
low movement of the enemy, said to be to
the West, with all his dispOsable force, point
ing him, at the same time to the vital impor-
lance of holding the Mississippi, and commu-
nicating the fear that Vicksburg would fall un-
less Johnston was strongly and promptly re-
inforced. ID. H. Hill has q small force, part of
which has been brought here. Clingman's
brigade Is near Wilmington, Colquith's at
Weldon, and 9. Cooks, RansOm's and Jenk-
ms have been brought here; the two last tenn
pOrarlly from the defense of Petersburg and
the country Whereabouts.
Wises Brigade is, as you left it, engaged in
the defence of Richmond and serving IN the
country east of the city. The enemy have
been reported in large force at the White
House, with indications of an advance on Rich
mond. We are organizing companies for home
duties and the spirit of resistance is increasing.
COrse's Brigade, in accordance with your or
ders has been left at Hanover junction. All,
the artillery, l am informed, was taken away,
and the single regiment OF infantry, which con-
sttuted the guard for the bridges, proved un-
equal to the duty, as you have no doubt learn
ed. Reinforcements were ordered to 90 up,
but some delay occurred, and they arrived too
late TO save the bridge or the brave guard
which had unsuccessiully defended it. The
Yankees, reported to be three regiments of
cavalry, returned from the Central Road in the
direction of Hanover Gold town. and nothing
has been heard of them since.
1t was stated that Gen. H. +. Lee was cap
tured at the house of Mr.. Wickham, but trust
it will prove to be one of the many startling
rumOrs which the newsmOngers invent. The
advance of your army increases our want for
cavalry on the north and east of the city, but,
except one regiment from North Carolina,
do not know OF any which we can expect soon
to be available to us In yours of the both you
say: . If any of the brigades that have left
behind for the protection of Richmond, can, in
your opinion, be spared, should like them to
be sent to me"
1t has been an effort with me to answer the
clamor to have troops stopped or recalled 10
protect the city or the railroad communicating
with your army. Corse's Brigade has gone and
Wises is the only other LETT by you. Cooks
was in North Carolina and Davis Brigade was
sent to complete Heth's Division in place of
Cooks, and RansOm's and Jenkins constitute
the defences of the south side as far as Weldon
and are relied on for service elsewhere from
| Wilmington to Richmond.
Gen. Ely is positive that the enemy intend to
attack here, and his scouts bring intelligence
| which, if l believe it, would render no more
anxiety from the city than at any former time.
| do not believe that the Yankees have such
force as is stated, but they have enough to rem
der it necessary to keep some troops within
reach, and some at Petersburg, at least until
Suffolk is truly evacuated. Do not understand
me as balancing accounts in the matter of brig