Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-18

| period since the Provisional Government
was Instituted. then about seven months,
| what could have been more Idle than 10
| have asked for seasoned soldiers equai IN
| number 10 the largest and oldest army we
| had unless 1t would have been the large
| additional transportation and munitions
OF war which, IL Is stated, was required
| IL the reinforcements proposed should be
furnished? To a congratulated govern
ment. with standing army" and arse
nails supplied with tho munitions OF war,
such a requisition might have been pro-
perly offered. but under the wel-known
condition Of Che Confedsracy. It could not
have been seriously made or respectfully
received. Having noticed the improba-
oilitles and inconsistencies Of the paper
referred 10. the circumstances under
which II was prepared, | submit 10 hon
orable men the fact OF the Concealment
from mo in which IL was kept, and leave
them TO judge Of the motive for that ex-
parte statement, and the chances for such
co-intellisence as needs must exist be-
tween the executive of a government and
tho commanders OF its armies. to insure
attainable success. The position at Fair
FAX courthouse, though it would answer
very well as point from which to ad-
vance, was quite unfayorable for defence,
seemed to be thai to which the generals
had previously arrived.
1t, therefore, only remained to consider
what change OF position should be made
IN the event or the enemy threatening
soon 10 advance. But in the mean time
l hoped that something could DO done by
attachments from the army to effect OBJ
jects less difficult than an advance
against his main force and particularly
Indicated the lower part Of Lary.and,
where small force was said 10 ov savdg-
ing the country and expressing our
friends. This, L thought. might be FEAST
be by the establishment OF battery near
Aqua creek, where the channel of the
Potomac was said to be so narrow that
our guns could prevent the use of the
river By the enemys boats; and. by en-
ployins steamboat lying there. troops
enough could be sent over some night 10
defeat that force and return before any
large body could be concentrated against
them. The effect OF the battery and OF
the expedition, 1t was hoped, would be
important in relieving our friends and
securing recruits from those who wished
to join US. Previously, General john
stons attention had been called TO pos4
sibilities in the Valley Of the Shenan-
doah and that these and other like thlngs
were not done was surely due TO other
causes than THE policy Of the admins
tration." as will appear by the letter
hereto annexed:
Richmond, Va, August /, 1851.
General J. h. Johnston:
General Lee has gone to Western Vir-
ginia, and hope may be able to strike
a decisive blow in that quarter, or fall
ing in that, will be able TO organize and
most our trOODS n a n plaoLr "a apar,,v
after which he will return TO this place.
The movement Of Banks will require your
attention. Ii may be a ruse, but II a
real movement when your army has the
requisite strength and mobility, you will
probably ind an opportunity By a rapid
movement through the passes TO strike
him in rear or flank, and thus add an
other TO your many claims to your cous-
trv's gratitude. - We must be
prompt to avail ourseves OF the weakness
resulting from the exchange OF new and
less reliable forces Of the enemy for those
heretofore in service; az well as of the
moral effect produced by the late defeat.
l am, as ever. your friend,
JEFFERSON DAVIS.
From the correspondence which oc-
CURED after the conference at Fairfax
Courthouse. l select a reply made 10
advocacy OF the views he had then ex-
pressed about large endorsements TO
the Army Of the Potomac for an adj
vance into Maryland. Nothing is moro
common than that p general, realizing
the wants Of the army with which he is
serving. and the ends that might DO
achieved II those wants were supplied,
should overlook the necessities Of othersI
accept rumors of large forces which do
not exist, and assume the absence Of
danger elsewhere than I'm his own front.
Richmond, Va. October TO- 1851.
MajOrGeneral G. w. Smith, Army Of |
tho Potomac remarks about the |
moral effect Of depressing the hope % |
the volunteers for an advance are I'm |
accordance with the painful impression /
made on me when. in our council, Il |
was revealed to re that the Army q |
the Potomac had been reduced 10 about 1
ore-half tie legalzed strength and tina, |
the arms 10 restore the numbers wero |
not in depot AS / there suggested |
though you may not be able 10 advance |
into Maryland and expei the enemy. # |
may be possible TO keep up the spirits |
of your troops by expeditions, such as |
that particularly spoken of against Sick |
less Brigade on the Lower Potomac. or |
bdlhn duONtt ~ utoAlpg iiS the cdnai |
and making other rapid movements |
wherever opportunity presents. to beat |
detachments or TO destroy lines of COM
muncatiOn.
Very truly your friend.
JEFFERSON DAVIS
The joyous exultation OF the people |
over the victory Of Manassas, on the |
Dist Of July. 1861. was followed by muir
murs OF dissatisfaction at what was
victory, and partisan zeal invented tho
excuse that tha generals were prevent
ed from pursuing the routed enemy and |
triumphlntly entering his capital By |
the untimely interferepce OF the Presi-
dent. when this baseless fiction had been |
so utterly exploded that those who were
should have been ashamed
Of IL; in due time another complain
arose that patriotic citizens continued 10
be sent forward to reinforce the vcto-
riOus army and 10 spend their time iu |
camps Of inactivity; and this begot as
fallacious a story as the frst--viz. that
the inaction was due TO the policy 81
the administration. The two letters in
serted above. one written before and tia
other after the conference at Fairfax
Courthouse show what was the fact, AM
VINO could best have corrected the fal-
lacy Again thanking you for your kind
attention, 1 am, respectfully and truly
yours. JEFFERSON DAVIS.
RoCKBRiDGE's ROLL OF HONOR.