The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-01-29
SUFFOLK.
Comrade Thinks Gen. yicle Did Not Get His
Intmation Of the Rebel Attempt ON that City
in the Manner Stated by Carleton

in the Manner Stated by Carleton
To THE EDITOR: wish to make some re-
marks In connection with the siege of Suffolk.
Va, as related by Carleton" in your issue of
Jan. Sth inst, and also about those letters said
to have been captured by Gen. Fiele's scouts,
giving information that Longstreet was march
ing against Suffolk. and caused Gen. Viele to
countermand an order previously given to Gen.
Peck to send 1900 troops to the relief of Gen.
Foster at New Berne. My regiment, 177th Pa,
lay in Camp Mansfield Deep Creek, Va, about
10 miles from Suffolk, and about eight miles
from Norfolk, guarding the Dismal Swamp
Canal and the road from South Mills leading
into Suffolk, about one mile south of the rail
road from Norfolk to Suffolk, over which Suf
folk must get all her supplies, except what
little went up the Nansemond River by the
gunboats. This was faYorite route for rebel
spies to take passing between Norfolk and
Richmond. Va.
Now, to begin: Ny first reason why do not
believe Gen. Viele's scouts captured those let
tiers giving information of the threatened at
tack OH Suffolk. On the 4th day of April, 1868,
our regiment captured a rebel spy ON her way
from Norfolk to Richmond, going up the canal
in small boat, with one man to row the boat
for her. In the boat was four large trunks full
of contraband goods; not the least objection
able among the cargo wasgunpowder and gun
caps in considerable quantities. This young
lady was not inclined to be sociable; on the
contrary, almost entirely disdained to speak
when addressed civilly, even by a lady. She
(the spy gave her name as Miss i. Mcconnell
She was searched by lady now living near
me. On her person was found eight letters
giving valuable information to the enemy
Lieut. Col Hugh J. Brady was in command of
our regiment at this time, and immediately
Signaled to Gen. Viele at Norfolk what we
had captured, and asked what he should do
with the lady spy and her goods. Now
hereby hangs tale, and would like to know
how many thousand dollars was the price paid
for the ransom OF that girl Well, about "a
hours after she was captured, an Orderly from
Gen. Viele rode to Col. Brady's headquarters,
handed in letter and rode off, this letter in
formed Col. Brady, not directly but indirectly,
that neither the lady spy nor her goods was
wanted at headquarters; in fact, the letter was
so worded that it was hard to tell what was
meant,-hence she was let go on to Rich
mond" with all she had, except the eight
letters.
Now, bear in mind, the attack against Suffolk
was already fixed fact with Gen. L. +. Lee, as he
had sent Hood Off to New Berne, in North Caro-
lima, and made our folks believe that was the
objective point and Gen. Fiele, at Norfolk, was
ordered to send 5000 troops to re-entorce Gen.
Foster at New Berne, and Gen. Viele had Or
dered Gen. Peck, commanding Suffolk, to send
5000 Of his best troops for that purpose.
My second reason: Ny diary says On the
night of April 8, 1868, our pickets captured two
spies, with mail of 400 letters and IL papers,
direct from Richmond, bound for Norfolk; and
to Norfolk they went, but not to those who
they were intended for. ] was at Col. Brady's
tent when the two men with the mailbag came
in under escort of our pickets An Orderly
was at once dispatched about 7:30 a. M to carry
the mail to Gen. Viele in Norfolk. The two
spies were sent in under sufficient escort
Many of these letters were written on wall
paper.
On the afternoon of April 10 Gen. Viele
countermanded his order given Gen. Peck to
send 5000 troops to the>selief Of New Berne,
saying, Hold your troops, Suffolk is threat
ened :" and we always understood, and be-
lievcd Gen. Viee got his information from
this mail, and not from his scouts, as earle
ton " says.
In regard to the attack, Carleton says
Gen. Hood, coming By the South Quay road,
captured some of our cava.-y pickets but some
escaped and gave the alarm but that Gen.
Hood did not arrive at Suffolk till noon,
April Is.
My diary says, April IL: Our pickets (at
Suffolk were attacked that night; driven in
or captured; the signal officer was shot on the
tower; some prisoners taken on both sides;
rebel prisoners say they have 10000 or 10000
troops Also, the drawbridge over the Nan5e
mond River was blown up on the hight of
April IL to keep the rebs cut of the city, and
it was the same night that Col. Corcoran shot
and killed Col. Hawk ins, of the Hawkins Zou-
ayes while standing on pickett, when Corcoran
was going to the outposts with information Of
the attack on Suffolk.
My diary says, April ~: Gen. Reyes, COM
manding at Suffolk, ordered all women and
children out of the city; but this order was
soon countermanded, and they were held in
the city to keep the rebs from Smelling the city.
1t was on the night of April 10, 1863 that a
train going with supplies for Suffolk ran into
the Elizabeth drawbridge and broke the center
bearing; to replace which enc had to be brought
from Pittsburg, Pa.-A.2 c. PARLIMAN, LIST
Serg't, Co. III, 177th Pa, Susquehanna, Pa.