The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-20

Results OF tho Battles Before Rich.
mond ms Described by General loo
Johnston I'm Confidential Letter to
General Beaurcgarl.


A correspondent OF the New York Time,
furnishes that paper with the two follow.
ing letters, which he says were both adj.
dressed to General Beauregard and cap.
tured In his baggage at the close OF the
war:
AMELIA SPRINGS. August 4, 1862.
My Dear General, i had the pleasure Ia
receive your letter OF the 18th ultlmo day
or two ago. II was an especial satisfaction
to have accounts OF your health so much
more favorable than those rumor has been
bringing us. hope TO hear OF you before
| long in the most important position the
war may make. The "one-horsc depart
ment" you speak Of would not be suffered
by the country. am not sure that you
are right in regarding the success OF
McC.'s strategic movement" as evidence
OF skill. 1t seems to me to be due rather
to our having lost two days Immediately
after the principal fight-that Of Friday
and many hours afterward, especially on
Tuesday. | was told that the action on that
day commenced about O'Clock y. NJ, but
one and one-half or two miles from the field
OF Mondays engagement. IL Is said, too,
that large portion OF our. army was idle on
each OF these days. The "battle OF NAL
yern Hill" Tuesday was but fifteen or
twenty miles from the middle Of McC.'s
position on the Chicbos rsiiny. The result
OF that action terminated our pursuit. IL
seems to me that the "partial results "
were due to want ~ the "bull-dog te-
nacity" you give us credit for. III the
enemy had been pressed vigorously on
Saturday and Sunday he must have been
ruined; could never have fixed himself Sc
curely on James river. He left his posi-
tion on the Chickahominy without our
knowledge, because the wide interval by
which he escaped was not observed by cav
airy, as il should have been.
But for my confidence in McC.'s want
OF enterprise / should on Thursday night.
after three fourths OF the troops had crossed
the Chickahominy. have apprehended that
ne would adopt the course you suggest for
him. Had he done so he might have been
in Richmond on Friday before midday
BY concentrating his troops on the south
side OF the river before daybreak on Friday
he would have been between our main body
and the city, with only one fourth OF oLr
force in his way. This fraction lie could
have beaten in two hours, and marched
must confess that the advantages we
have gained by what is termed the
seven-days' fighting are not very evi.
dent to me. am very glad to find that you
think with me that the true principle was
an attack OF one OF the enemy's fractions IN
superior force. That was my attempt on
the 31st OF May, which would have been q
full success but for the sloth OF a new di
I'll l., \ -, I'll
six hours, which did not leave US time to
complete the destruction OF keyes's corps
IL this new division had come up to time
we would have had two thirds OF our troops
against one third OF McC.'s. / wish you
could have seen some OF your old acquaint.
ances fight at Williamsburg. There has been
nothing during the war equal to the conduct
OF LOngstreets division on that occasion.
Writings. at Barhamsyille, two days later
behaved beautifully. / intended immedi
ately after these affairs to give you cir
cumstantial account OF them, not being
willing that you should derive your opin.
ion. as the best OF our countrymen must
do, from the Yankee papers. But being
always in the immediate presence Of the
enemy, could never command the few
hours necessary for il. hope TO do 1t still
before returning to duty, which may be
between the 18th and 10Th. | hope with
out reasOn) TO 60 back TO the Rappahan.
mock, leayIag Lee to command at Rich.
mond. Yours truly, J. L. JOHNSTON.
The following is interesting, though on
q different subject:
CAMP FREDERICKSBURG, 30 Dec, 'G2.
RICHMOND, Jan'y, 'G3.
Nv Dear General,-I was very glad Ia
receive your note OF the oath, which
reached me yesterday, and to hear OF the
successful progress you are making in the
defences OF Charleston. / have felt very
easy on that subject since you have been
there, and hope il the iron-cads OF the
enemy visit you they may never return.
see that a new one, under Captain Worden,
has lust left New York for Hampton
Roads. A second, from Philadelphia, i
soon TO follow, and still there is to
be third. The monitor and three Others
are now there. II looks as ii they may at
tempt the James river; but unless combined
with their army in n land attack | hardly
think they will venture. | unite with you
i'm rejoicing at the reverse General Burn.
side has experienced ut Fredericksburg
II has created great disappointment at the
North. Their expectations were so greal
and so confident that the reyulsion has been
proportionately depressing. Their army
is still between the Rappahannock and Po-
tomac, and there is no indication as yet OF
their future purpose. | am anxious for ii
TO be disclosed. / trust that General John
ston will be able to defeat them signally In
the West. 1t will relieve things amazingly
Believing that you will be able to repel any
attack upon you, and with my best wishes
for your success and happiness. and many
returns OF the New Year, / remain very
truly YOURS, X. l.. LEE.