Year: 1864

Il
knotty achievements. That the rebels are
convinced of this we hear daily convincing
evidence in the sWarms Of deserters flock
| ing to our lines, and the tales of~despou.
dency they allege as prevailing at Rich
mond. Over fifty arrived on the 9th at
these headquarters, and nearly an equal
number yesterday and to-day, all of whom
speak of extensive conspirRcies as existing
in the rebel army to get away. When we
reflect that there are many of these skedad-
dlers of Lees army who do not come TO
our lines, but hide in woods and secret
place inside their own lines, we can form
some idea of the rapid rduction going on
in the ranks.


But the present disposition and move.
ments of our troops are applying tension
to their extended lines which must, in itself,
iDflict upon them a weakness of which we
shall not be slow to take advantage at the
proper time, Alreadyth the drain upon their
army has reduced their forces to such an
extent as to make them like Paddy's blan-
ket, too short ct one end, and it is necessary
to cut from Petersburg to man the Rich
mond defences and Vice versa. How long
this shall last do not propose to define;
but that the days are numbered it needs no
prophet to foretell. Already JEFF Davis,
their prophet, has begun the jeremisd which



this great crime shall soon be brought to
reherse in concert. When the chieftains
blauch with terror how long shall the rank
and file remain without Decentralization


These cheerful presagings are not the
result Of views inconsiderately and hastily
adopted by correspondent predisposed to
anticipate success. On the contrary, they
are the unexpected bursts ofsunshine which
shine through thick clouds of doubt which
existed in the writer's mind on his arrival
here the other day from another field, and
they have been gradually adopted by con-
sideration of the situation, examination Of
the state of the army, aud free interchange
of opinion with both officers and men who
have been with the army since the begin
ming of this ION to Richmond" movement.


But there must be fighting yet in getting
to the goal of our desires, hard, desperate
fighting, and the fields of old Virginia shall
furnish yet many grave to dead heroes of
our advancing army. Let the folks at
home look to it then that no firing in the
rear occurs to multiply these graves or rem.
der vain these sacrifices. Put on guard no
traitor to discourage or to dampeH at the
critical time our soldiers enthusiasm, or
unuerYe their arms as they deal the telling
blows, and all shall yet be we'll.


OF the terror and dismay at Richmond
now existing, all the deserIers who come
inside our lines bear witness. Every man,
of whatever age, condition, occupation or
position, is hurried to the defenses and put
on duty. Many of these desert to us, bring- |
ing valuable Information; many hide them !
selves away out of reach of their provost
guard, and thus escape the duty they |
abhor. Eight of the crews of their gun
boats have come in within a day or two,
and we learn that conspiracy to deliver
to our hands their picket or guard boat
was discovered day before yesterday, and
the leaders put in irons in consequence.
The opportunity to go to such part of the
North as they may desire, which we give
them, is beginning to be understood in
their ranks, and is taken advantage of,
every opportunity. day about dozen
of their videttes came in en- ESdSse, and a
happier set of men at their escape you
never saw. s "A


Last evening q couple of government
officials who we're on duty as pickets, on
being relieved came by, mistake inside our
lines, and were brought in prisoners. One
held clerkship under the Confederate
Government, in the Comptroller's Office,
and the other in that of the Second Audi
tor. Two sorrier and more chopfallen
descendants of the F. F. VS.. it is rare to
meet. They seemed, in addition to their
modification of being captured, especially
puzzled how il happened that they should
have made such a mistake as they did, and
we're particularly anxious to be exchanged.
| In an interview which Gen. BHtler granted
them during the evening, they axiously in-
quired of him when they might hope for an
| exchange. "That cannot be-" replied the
General, with emphasis, ''until the Govern
menty you represent, consent to exchange our.
soldiers, colored as welt as white, whom it
holds, for yours in our possession, man for
man. Until that point is conceded no man
of yours can be excnapged ON any pretext,
except they are wounded. or this 1 am
fully determined, and equally so Is the
Government of which am the representa-
tive and exponent. l owe it to these color.
ed men who are fighting in our armies, in
fulfllmeut of the pledges made them in
behalf of my Government at the beginning
of the war, and by heaven, sirs, those
pledges shall be fulfilled. renewed the
oath the other day as 1 looked on the two
hundred black heroes who lay stark and
stiff by yonder fort, with their dead faces
turned to heaven, where they had fallen in
defense of the Government which you
have been for four years attempting to de-
stroy. Perhaps, sirs, you doubt whether
my Government will sustain me in this
| courses but permit me, gentlemen, to re-
mind you that it has sustained me for nine
months past, and have the assurance that
it will continue to do so until you are glad
and willing to recognize our negro soldiers
as entitled to the respect and the amenities
accorded by civilized nations to soldiers
captured in civilized warfare. "a


Moreover, we hold now over sixty
thousand of your 'chivaIry,' as yOu are
pleased to style yourselves, and upwards
of Eve thousand officers. You shall be
added to this interesting collection and
will be treated as they are, until such time
as my Government consents to allow that
they and you be retaliated upon, in kind,
| for the Infamous outrRges and crnelties
which you have practiced upon our SOL
diers Ianguishing in your prisons. When