The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-14
The Powder Works Destroyed.
LOSS OF THIRTY THOUSAND
POUNDS OF POWDER.
EtO.. Etc.. Iato.. Iato.. Etc.

who states that he lett the lcDcl caplNl on JuC Jlh
inst, having been acting as war correspondent
for one of the Richmond papers during the last
three years and is very well posted on the con-
diiion and number Of the Rebel army, and also
the sentiment Of the Southern people, in the
vicinity of Richmond especially. His statements,
therefore, possess an amount Of interest at the
present time. lie says that Lees whole army in
the lines about Richmond at present numbers
from seventy thousand to sevonty-iyo thousand
men of all branches Of the service.
The Rebels have got every male capable Of
bearing arms, between the ages Of sixteen and
sixty in the ranks; so that the forces around
Richmond and Petersburg is largely made up of
boys and old men. The lines of Lees army,
which includes the seventy or seventy-tve thou
sand men, extend from Coal Harbor to the Appo-
mattox and Weldon railroad, beyond the point
OF intersection by Grants troops. The whole
Rebel force in the field now amounts to one
hundred and sixty thousand men, certainly not
over one hundred and seventy five thousand.
This includes boys, Old men, guCrilas, aud all.
Originally, Eariy took with him to the valley
from twenty thousand TO twenty five thousand
men out Of these about fifteen thousand have
returned to Richmond and participated in the
battle with HanCOCk's Corps near Reams sta
ton. The forces of the enemy now in the valley
cannot possibly be over ten thousand or fifteen
thousand men. Ewel is said TO be in command
of whatis called the Department of Richmond,
in Lees army, the centre.
The loss of the Weldon railroad was a severe
blow to the enemy. IL was the chief line Of
supply to Richmond. The Dauyie road amounts
to nothing in comparison. Very few supplies
can reach Richmond over the Danyile road or
the IynChburg road. The rolling stock on the
| Dauville road amounts to nothing, and there is
nothing to be brought over the LynChburg road.
| In fact, Early's principal mission in the valley
| was TO procure supplies.
After the occupation OF the Weldon railroad by
! Grant an immediate reduction of rations took
| pace in Lees army. Before its occupancy the
| Rebel army was receiving half pound of bacon
| and pound and a quarter of meal per man
| daily. This allowance was ut once reduced 10
| quarter of pound Of bacon and three. quarters
| of n pound of meal. These are now the ratiOus
| of the Rebel army under Lee around Richmond
| and Petersburg. Early's men, who have returned
fIom the valley and fought in the battle of Reams'
station, now form the extreme right Of the Rebel
] army.
They are posted on the Weldon railroad so as
| to hold what they have Of it now lie considers
the Rebels were so badly cut up in the battles
| for the repossessiOn of the Weldon railroad that
| another attack by them is improbable, unless
they have nothing whatever to cat in Richmond.
The citizens of Richmond are in very
wreched condition for subsistence. A dinner at
the Spottswood House costs twenty dollars, and
consists of a few beans, Il little pork, and a few
tomatoes. The condition of the citizens generally
may be imagined from this circumstance, and
| fiOm the fact that some of the largest provision
dealers in Richmond refuse TO sell anything.
They allCge that they have only enough for the
| support of their own families. The city is very
quiet, and around its out.kirts il has a most mel
| uuChOly aspect, and reminds one OF o large, dull
burying ground. The suburbs are a perfect
Wilderness, without any inhabitants, aud little OF
the appearance OF former days. A bale of hay
in Richmond costs from four to five thousand
dollars. This may appear Incredible; but it is
the value Of hay in Richmond.
The horses Of the Rebel army are in n mOs
miserable condition. " There is nothing or
them" They have plenty of hard work and
little forage. About the destruction of the Rebe
feet in Mobile bay, the destruction of For
| Powell, and the capture of Forts Gaines auC
Morgan, the Rebels had little to say; nor die
they seem to feel that they had sustained mucl
loss. But there was n general feeling Of dcs
pondcncy over the fail OF Atlanta, and there were
rumors Of sunderland work" and "treachory'
| going the rounds.
The price Of -four in Richmond now is 5000 ol
500 a barrel. Bacon is Sl2 to Slj pound
and you cannot get them readily for even thes'
| prices.
About the Rebel ron-cads and Instructions II
the James river our informant gives very import
! ant information.
| From what he as a citizen, could learn, he Il
of the opinion that there are no distractions il
the river as far up as Drury's Bluff, and nonC
| above the bluffs There appears 70 be only one
line of distractions in the james river, aud tha
is opposite Drury Bluff, and consists of one line
OF ttrpedoes stretching obQuely from Fort ID ar
ling towards the bank on the northwest. This
| line only reaches near to where the channel ul0ug
the north bank runs, and by this route the Reble
have never had any distractions from Fortress
| Monroe to Richmond, nor have they now.
The Rebel squadron in the James consists o.
| two iron n-cads and one wooden gunbolJ. Tat
iron. Clads are built of wood, with three plates O
iIon Tor coating, each plate being laid lrans
yeIsely to the one underlying It, and having
thickness OF from three eighths 60 five. eighths o
4 an inch This is covered toy a coating of RAILROAD
! iron, on which sautng surface is everywhere
| presented so that the shots will glance off th,
sitCs Of the vessel, or any other part OF her cNtc
| Iiur surface,
There are two Of these iron-cads one Clrryin.
four heavy guns and the other two. There q
absolutely nothing but these, il the chauue
Hucudy described is taken 10y the Union iron
cHds, 10 hinder them from going up to the city
| OF hiCbmOnd
The ram iNemaJip on which the two-hundraU
FOUNDER at Plymouth, y. c took no effect, VA
built in the same manner as those rams ar Rich
| mOud
The clothing of the Rebel army Is all wom
OUT, and it was Il yer before SO badly OIL 10 tai
respect.
The strain upon the Rebel, is so great that ou
informant dcnes them either to hold ont muc
longer or contradict his statements.-Nr,r lOr
| Herald
rrTpvAT Tpspu uRlrONgVpA ATToN ny THE ANnru