Year: 1862

An Inside View of Lees Army -Naked-


ness aud Starvation impcnding-E Earn


est Appeal to the People of the South


for Clothing.


\ correspondent of the Savannah Re
publican, who is with Lees army, writes
from Winchester, Va, on the Goth ult., thai
he was not at all prepared for the hardships
that army had experienced since it left the
Rappahanuock, and that he could recall 10
parallel instance in history, except Napo-
Icons disastrous retreat from Moscow.
where an army had done more marching
and fighting, under such great disadvau-
tagcs, than Lees During whole month
The army had but four days rest. One
fifth Of the men were barcfOOted. one-halt
in rags, and the whole half famished. The
country through which they were passing
was desolated and the transportat ON was
insufficient TO Keep the army supplied, and
when provision trains arrived the mon sell
dOm had time to cook. and many of them
had left their cooking utensils behind. II
was not unusual 10 see Il company of starry
ing men have barrel of -four distributed
to them. which they could not make into
bread. No army on this continent contin-
ucS the writer has ever suffered so much
as the army of Northern Virginia within
the last three months. But their past trials
are hardly worth naming in comparison
with the suf1erings in store for the winter
unless the people of the Confederate States
everywhere and in whatever circumstances
come to its immediate relief. He says, the
men must have clothing and shoes this
winter. They must have something to
cover themselves when sleeping, and to
protect themselves from the driving slcet
had snow storms when on duty. This must
be done though friends at home, should
have to wear cotton and sit by the fire. II
is not necessary to counsel violent meas
ures; but it is not expected that any per-
son will he permitted to accumulate leather
and cloth for purposes of speculation. II
was hoped that we might obtain winter sup
plies III Maryland This hope was born
after the army left Richmond. and has now
mscrably pcrishcd. The Government is
unable to furnish the supplies, for they are
not to be had in this country. If it had eN-
crcised a little foresight last spring and sum
mer when vessels were running the block
ade. with cargocs of calico linen and other
articles of like Importance, partial sup
ply, at least of hats, blankets, shoes and
wooden goods might have been obtained
from England. But foresight is quality
Of the mind that is seldom put in practice
in these days.


"But whatever may be done by the people
should he done immediately. Not one mo-
ment can he lost that will not he marked,
as by the secondhand of u watch, with The
pangs of sufferer. Already the hills and
valleys in this high latitude have been Wis
tied by frost, and The nights are uncom-
fortably cool to the man who sleeps upon
the ground. ......


d" If the army Of Virginia could march
through the South Just as it is - ragged
and almost barefooted and hatless many
of the men limping along, and not quite
we'll Of their wounds and sickness, yet
cheerful and not willing to abandon their
places in the ranks - thcm clothes riddlcd
with balls. and their banners covered with
the smoke and dust of battle, and shot into
tattcrs, many of them inscribed with Will
liamsburg," Seven Pines, Gaines Mill
" Garnctt's Farm Front Royal Me-
Dowell, -" Cedar Rum" and other victOri-
Gus fields - if this army of veterans, thus
clad and shod, with tatlered uniforms and
banners, could march from Richmond to
the Mississippi, it would produce sensa-
ton that has no parallel in history since
Peter the Hermit led his swelling hosts
across Europe to the rescue of the Holy
Sepulcher,


! do not write to create an alarm, or to
produce a sensation, but to arouse the peo-
pie to Il sense of the true condition of the
army. | have yet to learn that anything is
to be gained by suppressing the truth, and
leaving the army to suffer If must with
hold the truth when the necessities of the
service require it to be spoken, am quite
ready to return home