Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20
RecoIlections of q virginiau.

To the Editor Of the London Spectator:
Sir.-I desire TO express my pleasure on
reading n very kind notice In tho Specta'
tor of August 18th Of q book written ny
me about year ago. 1t Is called "Recoi-
lections OF Virginian." In the conclu-
sion OF his notice the clever ana kindiy
critic, with a pleasant sarcasm, nouees
what he calls The Generals little
bounce" and calls for my authority for
saving wounded Arabs were killed. and
the Ahb-bhu-Ciea wells were illed UP after
that battle with the Soudanese. AS he
challenges the statement, IRE" my au-
thority, l can only cite from memory
a. letter. published. believe. In the
ST. James Gazette soon after that bat
tie. from a gallant young officer' OK
an English regiment, who writes TO this
effect: After the battle l found q
splendid spear. and stabbed more than a
dozen wounded Arabs with It,.
The editor said he published 10
for the qualification OF the nienns
OF the young gentleman. Your kindly
critic then desires to know why
we did not win in the war between the
States? The plain answer Is because
we were outnumbered in troops on every
battle-feld-and overcome by the vast
resources for war, which our exhausted
country could not meet. When In May.
1866, after the end OF all things for our
unhappy people, l arrived In Richmond
a prisoner OF war. destitute OF every
thing save memories OF four years OF
constant struggle l called upon 0ene-
rail- Lee and gave him my report OF tho
last battle Of the war between the States.
In which I had the honor TO command
the Confederate army at Mobile. Gene
raj Lee, after reading II told me that
or Aprii % his whole force amounted TO
81 600 men OF all arms. and that Gene
raj Grant told him at Appomattox that
on that day he held under his command
a total force Of 20o00 men. That du-
ring the seven days of incessant fighting
and marching without sufficient food. his
Lees whole fighting force was reduced
by April 9Th to $50 electives!
To illustrate stu further our disparity
by my humber experience. General CANDY
attacked US at Mobile with three corps
Of infantry (say, $500 mem. large
park or artillery, and Farraguts ffeet
Farragut was ABSENT. our whole fight
Ing force about Mobile-and In tho city
numbered about SEQ electives OF all
arms. We fought in skirmlshes and FIELD
works twelve miles from the city, and for
twenty days 400 Conlederates held Can
bys whole army there, INJECTING heavy
Losses upon It.: and with our besr-keg
kOfptQDtS We Sam
aud transports OK ne Federal feetl On
April 18th $500 Infantry and three Held
batteries marched cat OF Mobile with
c0lors nyins, and sent a nas Of truce
out - the fleet 10 inform tie enemy that
there were only non-coTnbatants 10 hold
ii. These are now sorrowful but proud
memories. IN consideration o, which 1
hope your critic. who Is evidently coed
sort OF fellow. may excuse my = Ne
bounce, whatever that may be. / ~
know Il us a pleasant beverage o. de-
nestle correction IN Virginia. But LEI
him reflect upla -, objectionable re-
cords " the Wa tr ven the states.
and he VIII unts 'by we failed.
The published .af. records sRow
that all OF Inc C9ac-.g. - enrolled IN
our armies numbered es,n men. that
all Of the FedsTa,s Numbered 2.6eo.eN
men; that We, always cunumbesed on the
battlefield. won many srras victories.
but were finally exhausted IN WANING
them, and he may understand Why We
failed | am. s0P. etc,
pABNA.N IA, MALkf.
Late Major-Geneial CoGfe1erale Army.
eve doubt our oorrespendents mesaory
in regard 20 the letter ia the 81. JaIasa
Gazette.-E1 Spsclatory