Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-07-07
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The Drought.


Out on from our Southern exchanges we are unable
to tel the extent of the present drought which has
lasted almost without ntsrussion, from the l2h Of
MAY. The Georgia papers, received by Express, make
no suuson 10 want OF raiu but, on the contrary,
press fear lsst expected raes should interfere it'll
military operations From North and South Csrolna'
we have little or no Information in regard to the wealth
er or the crops.
In Virginia, especially In the vicinity Of Richmond,
the drought has been well nigh fAisl TO gardens and
nov threatens seriously the orcp Of cora The qRntiy
Of vegetables brought to market 6minshes ds =, tina
quality dessriorates each seocesve morning, Wla me
prices demanded for the scanty and Inferior c" tsn"
OF the sA have becomo alarming even to hous keep
era Of ample reans. The promise Of rain b. been
broken SO frequently during he sttWO weeks tn: She
most ancient and WeAther-WEe confess themselves At
fault and no man pretends fore.e when II will rain.
The moon itself has made good tee chlrSs tlneon-
sianey preferred By Romeo, add proved tckls and
hless. The old saw, "a signs fail in dry weather"
il true to the very letter.
Il is evident that We shall be compelled to content
ourselves with very limited supply Of sumner Vegs-
tables In the absence Of fresh meats this is no trADg
deprivation; but ws can bear it well enough 80 long ~
- WIZ
beans peas kc. ShOUli these be cut short cur con-
dition would be dep!OrSbls indeed. Bat We viii not
indulge unpleasant. fOrebodings.
Could our friends in the country zee the Parehsd hills
around Richmond, the wi,hered vines ia our gardens
the Fpky blades OF corn and the almost empty stalls Of
our meat and vegetable markets, they would need no
repetition Of these appeals TO their generosity which
have long since become SAls Doubtless, they are now
feeling the pLch Of the war, to which We IN Richmond
have become accustomed Their 6IS duty i to relieve
the wants Of their neisbbOr Who have been PandsFed
nv the raiders their next is TO ssnd to the Capital Of
the Couedsracy where many thousands Of sick and
wounded. impoverished refugees and literally poor pso-
ue are congrsgated every kind Of provisions which can
possby b spared aud send st This asked for
charity's sake, but rot a charity. The Government
nav, literally for the food furnished the sick and
wounded: the citizens murmur but $50 long IS dollar
remains) pay any price that is asked and the wealthy
and the generous pay for Tire poor. Unfortunately
money il 10 longer an nduesmsnt TO country people 10
send forward supplies II neither love nor money will
II ,encs them what is to become OF towns peopleS
The drought my prove blessing in disguise. Its
sec. upon Grants army has been damaging in the e1-
r,me The troops on the le of his lines have suffered
terribV lOr NAter toat nc Oeei OlSNN "
thu sttemp. at investment in tia. direction. HIS bat
teriss which commanded the Weldon road have been
deserted, and The guns renewed. There Is a treuen'
dous and unexo planned sir in bis camps, aud g'sat
volumes Of smoke have aceldsd from within hS lines
Soma conjecture thu. be ir turning his stores preparA-
tory 10 departure for Washington, while others con-
tend that he is believer in Espys theory OF storms,
and is building big fires in order to bring great rain
A few DAYS will exIlain tho mystery. AeAnWbie, Ne
know that deserter fom bis army, caughta day or
tuoaso was brought into Petersburg in almost dying
condition from thirst he had eighteen canteens swung
around his nsc and had been twelve hours in search Of
water for himself and his comrades. His Fret prayer
vas for water, and when horsobucketiu was brought
him i. Is said he drank the very bottom. He de-
scrbed Grants men as frantic from excessive thirst,
and bis own app arance sabsaAiltsd she assertion. II
ia little singular that Grant before Petersburg should
encounter and be partly vanquished by any enemy
which he overcome without much difficulty at V!css-
burg Much as VIC may suffer hereafter from its eonss-
quencss, the drought 50 far, has proved al excellent
Confederate ally.