Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-10-02

SaoalH nave cesn iocral quota or spies in
the departments, who furnished to the
Northern papers accurate reports Of tae of.
hcial happenings in Richmond That this
was the case is evidenced by the exctemen.
occasiopsG in Richmond en- August 7, 1861,
by tho receipt of e New York Herald con
id;nlng az account of the military forces of
the Ccniederacy, SO detailed and so accurate
that Congress proposed to order an investi-
cation on the srourd that mo one in SUI
bord!nste position, without assistance from
higher authority, could have prepared such
paper as that published in the Herald"
Always ready to nssst the Federal army
the 50 called Union men, of Richmond
were valuable auxiaries as spies and as Sc.
cret enemies tc the Confederate cause. The
hapeas corpus TGs never suspended BY
PRECEDENT Davis, but only by act Of Congress.
anG then cnly for i limited time and for
specific circumstances. On enc occasion q
department commander did susncna Tho
writ, but his conduct WAS dsapprovai and
he Was relieved.
| 1T is TACT net generally known that two
attempts were made during the war to as.
| &assinate Jefferson Davis, while riding cut
III be suburbs OF Richmond. The first time
! be was bred upon, at dusk, from sc.ne
bushes. The second time his would be as
sassir !ire2 from house, which was sur-
reunited, aad the cu'prit WAS captured
while hiding between the ceiling and floor
Of an upper story. He proved 10 be Il Ger
man spy in the pay Of the Federal govern
ment he WAS imprisoned, but by The ali
of The writ Of habess corpus he was soon
released. his counse! being paid in gold He
was Sgain arrested under the conscript law
and sent to Gen. Lees amy, where all
trace of him is lost. 1t is believed by Mr..
Davis and others that his attempted assassi-
nation WAS iue!ted by those in authority at
! Washington.
! MIR. Davis referred to The circumstances
+: attenGinS GeGarai Lees crossing the Poto.
+: taac during the Gettysburg campaign and
f! me march into Pennsylvania. He assumed
! ine responsibility for That movement of the
Confederate army. He says The enemy
! hat. long been concentrating his forces, and
IL was evident that il they continued their
steady progress tho Conteaeracy would be
overwhelmed. Our only hore was 10 drive
! him 10 the defense Of bis own capital, and
We being enabled in the meaotiua 10 rein
force oar shattered army. How we'll Gen.
lace carried out that dangerous experiment
| need not he told. Rlchmond was relieved,
Ito Con:c!eraCy was relieved and iima WI.
= u
inlGrGc ;hs army During Tie war, Nj.
Davis says. Geu Lee Was over conscious Of
iba Inequality OF the means at his control;
Dnt Il Tras never his to complain or TO utter
doubt 1T was always his TO 10. When in
;he last campaign he Yves heleagusraG AZ
Petersburg, and painfully aware Of the
straits II which h8 WAS reduced he eaid !:
WIZ .ay array la the mountains of Virginia
| could carry on this war twenty years long
s:.' His men exhausted and his sup
plies falling, he was unable to carry out his
plans. An untoGard event caused him to
anticipate the movement, aud the army of
Northern Virginia was overwhelmed )
Gen. Lee was charged with want of dash ~,
says Nv. Davis and 1 wish to put on record
the ftcS that never knew him to fslter to
attempt anything ever man could dare
| After speaking in tho most exalted terms
of Lee and jackson, and their mutual con.
tidcace ia each other, and their prompt CO.
operation, he said They supplemented
each otaer, and together, with any fair op-
noTtu1ity, they were absolutely inyincib!e. )
ne gave me soma interesting Incl
dents concerning the fight he witnessed at
! i'Azi2:'5 farm, one Of the sSnvan Days bat.
I!ee around Richmond. Early in the day
40 met Gen Lee near tho front. and at once
Gccos!eG him With Why, General, what are
y0a tInin&; here? You are il too dangerous
s position for tho commander Of the arry.:
| l @m trying, WAS the reply, TO find ont
snI@tn!ng about the movements and plans
Of these people. But you must excuse me.
-iar President, for asking what you arc do.
iaG acre, ana Tor suggesting that this is 40
rrc!:s: place FOR the cou manaer-in- chief OF
;.iI orr armies oh, | am here Oh the same
| hat
ana they were beginning to consult about
the situation when gallant little A. ?. Hip
dashed up and exclaimed, This is no plsce
FOR either Of you, and as commander of this
p&rt Of the field order you both to the rear
We will obey your order was the reply,
and they fell back short distance, but the
ire grew hotter. aud presently A. 2. Hill
gal!opcG up 10 them again aud exclaimed,
Do rot tell you TO &c Away from here?
Aud Gid you hot promise 10 obey my orders?
Why, Que shell fom that battery over Won
der may presently deprive the Confa!eracv
Of the President and the Army Of Northern
Virginia Of lis commander And viii,
other earnest words he inalIy persuaded
the nce:iient aad Gen Lee to move back
! Il "a mere secure place
''SpealiDg CT his resrousbi!itv for The
war, h:. Davis said I was bus one OF tho
vast body OF the South, and no moro "a.
spoaSibio than thousands Of others. The
"Gr would have taken place withcu,
me %a Inevitably Is it die with ne. Il
was one Of those things which was
sure 10 come il the progress Of eve;ls
ard il solving The great problems Of gov
a.nuent upon this contircut' He EXPRESS
ed The opinion that the abolition of slavery
would prove an ultimate good to the
| country that it was manifest advantage
20 lie white race, for it would lead to the
development OF the South, increase her in
| dustries dgiioup hergreut landed estates and
multiply hcs manufacturing and mechanical
| industries. From the advantages CT climate
alone he thought the future of the Scnth
| Iao:e promising than that Of any other Sec .
ton Of the country. He says ho accents
| the situation IL decided by the arnitraynent
oil the sword; that ne is very hopeful of the
country ; !h&i he does not believe there j.
any existing cause for sectional estrsngmen,
| or that there can bs Any hereafter. Tn Jis.
cusSing this topic he talked rather az .
spectator reviewing Thugs from s distance