The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-05-26

tho North. One Of these Is dispatch from
Harrisburg, Pa, which appeared In the New
York Herald, dated July g. 1868, in which is
announced the capture OF q man on the morn
ing OF the second INSTANT who declared him
self a member OF Longstreet's staff, and an
nounced that "he was on his way to Culpep-
per to ascertain what had become Of Beaure-
CARDS army" A Washington special tel
egram to the New York Tribune on the third
OF July, 1868:
The intercepted dispatches from Jeff. Davis
and his renegade adjutant general to Gen.
Lee are more important acquisition than the
brief paragraphs that profess to give the sub
stance OF their contents would Indicate They
reveal the plan OF Lees campaign, wherein
and wherefore 1t was not carried out, the
points to which the rebel government is send
ing reinforcement, and the precarious condi-
ton In which it considers Its capital to be.
The object OF the campaign was the capture Of
Washington which was to be effected in this
wise: Lee was to draw Hooker into Pennsyl-
van1a sufficiently far to uncover Washington,
which Beauregard, with 10000 men, to be con-
centrated at Culpepper Court house. was then
to attack and take. But, as further appears
from these dispatches. jeff. Davis felt unable
to spare Beauregards 10000 men, or any
number of men, to cooperate with Lee
of Mead's artillery on the night of the second
of July, the statement made by Dahlgren,
and the telegraphc reports published in the
New York papers, no other conclusion can be
arrived at than that Gen Meade had received
intercepted Information from Richmond that
a part Of the plan OF Gen. Lees invasion of
Pennsylvania was the concentration of an
army at Culpepper to cooperate with the
Army of Northern Virginia.
The following is the dispatch from Glen s.
Cooper, Adjutant General of the Confederate
States army, captured by Lieut.. Dah'gren,
and which quoted the fears of Gen. Meade
concerning the movement from Culpepper
against Washington
RICHMOND. June 90 1863.
Gen. r. E. Lee. Commanding Army Northern
Virginia. Winchester. Va:
Genera while with the President last night
/ received your letter of the twenty third in
slant. After reading II he was embarrassed to
plan Of assembling an army at Culpepper
Court House under Gen. Beauregard This ia
the first intimation he has had that such plan
was ever In CON emplation. and taking all
things into consideration. he cannot perceive
how 1t can by any possibility be carried into
effect
You will doubtless learn before this reaches
you that the enemy has again assembled
in force on the peninsula estimated between
10000 to 80 900 men. from 5000 to 1o.u0O of whom
are repol ted to be In the vicinity of the White
House. the remainder ut Yorktown. It Is i'm
possible to say whether this estimated number
not deemed altogether, reliable. But the esti-
mate. making due allowances for errors is
quite near enough to satisfy even the most In
oredulous that the enemy is In the vicinity in
sufficient force In cavalry artillery and infantry.
to do much harm. whether his purpose be TO
make q demonstration on Richmond. or to con-
A,xN h Az 4,
munication and devastating tho country. His
efforts in the last case may prove more sue
cessful than the first. If we may Judge by
what took place at Hanover only two days ago,
where about q 1000 or 1900 of his cavalry sudden
" appeared there and did some execution in
break ing the railroad TO some extent and In
bu ming a bridge. some buildings, public stores
etc. 1t is unfortunate that this raid took place
only about two days after Gen. Corses brigade
had left the5e for 1rd2jnsv It
to suppose that most Of the enemy's cavalry
would have been either destroyed or captured
Every effort is being made here to be prenared
for the enemy at all points. but We must look
chiefly to the protection Of the capital in doing
other poins. You, can easily estimate our
strength here. and | would suggest for your
whether in this state of things
you might not be able to spare q portion of
your force to protect your line of communica-
lion against attempted raids by the enemy
Very respectfully your ob't serv't,
Adj't and Inspector General.
The following is the letter from Gen. Lee
which brought forth the above response from
President Davis, through Gen. Cooper:
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA.
Twenty third Of June. 1863.
Gen. 8. Cooper. Adjutant and Inspector Gen
e1al. Richmond Va:
Geneal-Upon leaving Fredericksburg a
of Gen. Pettigrews brigade was sent
% relieve Gen. Corses brigade Mt Hanover
Junction to enable the latter to rejoin his d.
vision.
Gen. Corse was subsequently ordered to re-
main at the junction. and | have not beard
whether h., has yet been sent for ward or not.
II not. think the regiment will suffice for a
guard at that point. and wish Corse's brigade
Q be ordered to rejoin its division. under Gen.
Pickett, as soon as possible.
He will march by CulpepDer c. H.. and thence
through Chester Gap to Winchester. where he
will be instructed by what route to proceed. |
iesire that Cookies brigade may be sent for
ward by the same route. if 1t Is not needed Mt
IHink there ,rW be necess1tU Jor |
ieepinQ large number Of troops at that place. |
especially If the plan Of assembling an army at
Jhpepper'G e. II. "ndH' Gen. Beauega,d be
rdoDted.
Very respectfully, your ohedient servant.
r. f. LEE. General.
For the above documents we are indebted
o Col. Edward A. Palfrey, through whom we
nave received official copies from the Con-
ederate archives at Washington. The first
dispatch, captured by Dahgren, was pup
ished in one of the New York journals short !
y afterwards, but the letter of Gen. Lee has
lever been in print.