Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1879-09-18

figures have, as / have shown you, not
quite 46, 900 men. My men are starved,
exhausted, sick. His men arc in tho Scst
condition possible. But beyond this there
is Hancock, at Winchester, with force of
probably not less than $4,000 men. To
oppose this foroo have not solitary
vidette. Sheridan, with his terrible cavalry
has marched almost unmolested and uuop-
posed along tho James, cutting the railroads
and canal. Thomas is approaching from
Knoxville with force estimate at sc, 900.
and to oppose him l have few brigades of
badly disciplined cavalry, amounting to
probably 5000 in all. Gen. Sherman is 10
North Carolina, and, with Schofeld's forces
will havo 65,O0O men. AS to what I have
to oppose this force, submit the following
telegram from Gen. Johnston. The telc-
gram reads: Gen. Bcaurcgard tclegraphed
you fow days ago that, with Gov. Vancc's
Homo Guards, wo could carry 10000 men
into baltic. find, upon CLOSE Inspection,
that we cannot muster over $4,000 mon !"
(rhis, Gen. Gordon said, was as nearly as
hecould recollect Gcu Johuston's telegram. J
$50 there is tho situation. | have hero
say 10000 men able for duty, though mono
OF my poor fellows arc in good condition.
Ihey are opposed directly by an army Of
l6O,O0 strong and confident men, and
conyerging on my little force four separate
armies numbering in tie aggregate l30, 900
more men, This force, added to General
Grants, makes over quarter of million
10 prevent those from uniting for my do
struction thcre arc hardly 10000 men
available. My men arc growing weaker
Gay by day Their sulferings are terrible
and exhauBting, my horses arc broken down
and impotent. am apprchensivc that
Gen. Grant may press around my flank aud
cut our sole remaining line of supplies.
Now, General, he said, looking me straight
in the face, what is to be done?" With
this he laid his paper down and leaned back
in his chair.
WHAT is TO BE DONE?
replied: "Since you have done me the
honor to ask my opinion, will give it.
che situation, as you portray it, is infinitely
worse thu" had dreamed it was. l cannot
doubt that your Information is correct i
am confident of the opinion, therefore, that
only two things should be done, and at
once Wo must either treat with the
United States Government for tho best
terms possible, or we should concentrate all
our strength at one point of Grants line
selecting some point on tho right flank of
the pponattox-assault him, break
through his lines, destroy his pontoons, and
then turn full upon the flank of bis left
wing, sweep down upon it, and destroy it
if possible and then join Gen. Johnston iu
North Carolina by forced marches, and
combining our army with his, fall upon
Sherman
"And what thcn?"
eff We beat him or succeed in making a
considerable battle, then treat at ouce for
terms. l am forced to tho conclusion from
; what you say, sir, that VIC have no time for
delay"
$50 that is your opinion, is it?" he asked
: in tone that sent the blood to my face.
, ought to have remembered that it was Il
way Con. Lee had of testing the sincerity
, of a mans opinion by appearing to dlscredi,
, it.
"Itis, sir" replied; "but l should no,
, have ventured it had it uot been asked; and
since you seem to differ from the opinion |
i. hold, may ask you what your opinion is7'
, At once his manner changed, and leaning
!. forward, he said blandly:
II entirely agree with you, General
/, "Do President Davis and the Congress
q know these facts? Have you expressed an
: opinion as to the propriety of making terms
| to President Davis and the Congress?"
, Gen. Leo replied to this questions
: "Gen Gordon, an soldier. It is my
: duty to obey orders"
0 eyes," l replied, "but if you read the
papers, Gen. Lee, you can't shut your eyes
to the fact that the hopes Of the Southerl
G people aro centred in and on your army
n and if VIC wait until wo arc beaten anC
o scattercd into the mountains before We make
an effort at terms the people will not bt
o satisfied. Beside, VIC will simply invite
the enemy to hunt us down all over tht
country, devastating it wherever they co.
Gen. Lee said nothing to this for soms
n time, but paced the floor in silence, while
n sat gloomy enough as you may know at tn,
y fearful prospect. Ho had doubtless though
!. of all | said long before and had decided
y probably on his course before he sent fo
!. me. don't wish you to understand that
!. am vain enough to believe for momon
= that anything said induced him to go t,
q Richmond the next day. As said before
he had doubtless decided upon that already
T aud only fcigncd difference of opinion o
q hesitation in order to see with what pcrti-
O nacity held my own. He did 60 to Rich
o mond, and on his return sent for mo again
f and in reply to my question as to what hae
a occurred, ho replied:
0 A TIduT DETERMINED ON.
It "Sir, it is enough to turn mans hal
J. gray to spend onenight 10 that Congress
n The mombors are patriotic and earnest, bu
. they will neither take tho responsibility o
t acting nor will they olothe mo with authorit,