Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1914-12-08
War News Fifty Years Ago
tFrom the Richmond Dispatch. Dec. 8. 1so4.)

Few rumors were heard yesterday. and theroS
were no official dispatches upon which we can
Department had nothing to give out, that Is,
not to the newspaper men. Tho department
either on the Richmond Petersburg lines
The War Department Is getting more and moro
seeretive as the days go by.
Contrary to expectation. all of the armies on
both sides OF the limo continued quiet all OF
yesterday. The Federals showed no disposition
whatever to advance on our lines. and the Con.
enough alone and await the attack OF the enemy.
They are or think they are. prepared for It.
There was something curious yesterday about
the se-mouthed refusal OF the officers on the
picket lines, both on tho Richmond and Peters
burg front. to exchange papers The Federal
not to swap papers with our boys and that
seemed to end It, But. at the same time. many
presumption is that the Federals arc up to
some game that they want TO keep THE rebs'
in ignorance or that is, the high of1icia1s do:
but the soldiers Will swap papers anyhow, and
from some OF these get interesting
information from the other side.
From Northern exchanges we learn that the
impression prevails In Washington that Cen
eral Lee has sent many OF HIS cut OF
sherman. and that. in order to accomplish this
end, 1t has been decided to evacuatc Petersburg.
General Lee has no idea OF abandoning Peters
burg. and he has sent no men to Georgia.
The remains of Brigadier-General Archibald
Cemetery. subject to removal at some future
day to his native soil in Alabama A Drawer
soiuler never lived; a better general never died
for his country.
According to the Macon Confederate, a copy
OF which has just reached rs, that good Georgia
city Is safe from the rarases Sherman.
Everything, including the business and the
educational institutions. has resumed tho
normal
Down In Georgia. General Dick Taylor has
been put in command, and I'm and around Macon
he has erected breastworks. put up sixty -four
siege guns mounted other cannon all OF the
hills and has ample men TO take charge of
1t all. Under the circumstances, Shcrrnans
combined army could not take Macon.
h The report reaches Richmond that the Federal
General Merritt. with force OF from 900 to g.
GOO mon, Is out on raidlng expedition in Loudoun
County. So far. he has burned several mills
and barns, and Is engaged in laying waste to
the country after the manner of Sheridan I'm the
Valley.
Captain Mouhtjoy attached to Mosby's stan
and ono OF the most gallant officers I'm the whole
Confederate service was killed few days since
while pursuing the enemy with small band.
The retreating members OF tho enemy-s> band
suddenly wheeled and fred at random. Captain
breast and fell from his horse In the road He
died I'm less than an hour.
William p Munford, the president OF the
acknowledges cash contributions amounting to
$4,000. but not enough to the wants OF
the poor and suffering. Thero have come I'm
many valuable contributions In the way of
supplies. Cash contributions should be sent TO
II. e. G. Baskerville, treasurer. and relief sup
plies to the relief committee OF Richmond care
or Martin & Cardoza