The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-01-27
an ENGLISH CAVALRYMAN In
THE SOUTH.
A Campaign with the Rebel Army

Blackuood for December, just published
by Leonard Scott & Co., 3s Walker street,
New York, contains the first part of the
story of an English cavalry officers ex-
perience in the South in the year 1868.
He writes:
| have lately returned from America,
after spending nearly year in the Con-
federate States During that period
visited all the principal cities and armies
in the field, and was witness OF many in
teresting events, being present at Gettys-
burg, the bombardment Of Charleston, at
Chickamauga, DC.
GEN. LEES BROTHER.
went down to Drewry's Bluff with a
letter from Major Norris to Captain Lee, a
brother of the General, who is in COM
mapd there. "The Major" my taveling
companion, and friend of his, accompa-
MED me.
Captain Lee kindly showed us over the
Notifications, which are very formidable,
and would etfectually bar the passage up
the river against any number of iron-clads
or gunbeats.
Drewry's Bluff is the same place as
Fort Darling, where the Yankee gunboats
were repulsed last summer At that time
only three guns were there, and those not
particularly large ones, but now the place
is really very strong, and much more
heavily armed. ~ .E
After Captain Lee had shown us the
fort, We sat down in front of his house,
and had long conversation whilst we
were waiting for the steamer to return to
Richmond.
l thought Captain Lee spoke rather de-
spondently about the coming campaign.
He dwelt good deal upon the difficulties
Gen. Lee has to contend with-his want
of mechanical appliances, pontoons, &c.;
no organized corps of engineers; the dam
ger Of exposing Richmond if he gets too
far away. He gave US interesting details
of their extraordinary difficulties at the
commencement of the war, which they be-
gan without any material for carrying it
on except men, and without means of sup
plying their most urgent necessities.
But things have greatly improved since
Now they manufacture their own guns,
small arms, gunpowder, clothing, and al
most everything they want. The block
ade-runners easily supply the rest.
Before we left Drewry's Bluff we went
on board the Richmond, or Merrimac No.
2, as she used to be called. She is built
on the same principle as the Merrimac No.
l, and is very heavily armed. A banded
Broke gun was especially pointed out
to US as great beauty and triumph of
art
IN PENNSYLVANIA WITH LEES ARMY
l find that when people mean to speak
of native of Holland, they call him an
Amsterdam Dutchman; but when they
speak of one of the German race generally,
they leave out the Amster.
GEN. LEES HEADQUARTERS.
went out to the camp again, and was
presented to Gen. Lee, who invited me to
dinner. 1t was frugal meal and simply
served. The General has little of the glo-
riOus pomp and circumstance of war about
bis person. A Confederate flag marks the
whereabouts of his headquarters, which
are here in little enclosure of some
couple acres of timber. There are about
half dozen tents, and as many baggage
wagons and ambulances. The horses and
mules from these, besides those of small
escort, are tied up to the trees, or grazing
about the place. The General has pri-
vate carriage, or ambulance, as it is called,
of his own, but he never uses it. 1t for
merly belonged to the federal Gen. Pope.
l remained sometime at headquarters, and
had good deal of conversation with the
officers of Gen. Lees staff Major Mar
shall mentioned to me, as one of the great
est misfortunes which has happened to
them during the war, (greater, he thought,
than the fall of New OrleansO the acci
dental loss last year, through carelessness
by General of division, of very i'm
portant order of Gen. Lees. Mcclellan,
who had been slowly and carefully feeling
bis way, totally ignorant of Gen. Lees
plans and the whereabouts of his main
force, is said to have exclaimed, on finding
this order, swell, if l don't destroy Lee
this time, you may call me what you like. |"
Singularly enough, the same General lost
an equally important order before the
seven days lighting around Richmond,
and it was found en- q prisoner who was
captured at Gainess Mill. Unaware, per-
haps, of its importance, be had not sent it
on to headquarters, or it would have done
incalculable mischief.
GETTYSBURG INCIDENTS.
As we passed Barksdales Mississippi
brigade the general came up eagerly to
Longstreet: 81 wish you would let me 90
in, General; would take that battery In
five minutes" .--......
"Wait little" said Longstreet, eve
arc all going in presently"
The men were as eager as their leader.
and those in the front line began to pull
down the fence behind which they were
crouohing.
"Dont do that, or you'll draw the enc
my's fire." says Longstreet who sees and
observes everything.
We passed on, and very soon afterwards
the General called for his horse, mounted,
dashed to the front of the line, gave the
word, and led them on himself
We returned to the camp after the bat.
tie. and spent the evening rather gioomily