Year: 1863

raj, and hearing his free comments on the
events of the week. If for one moment
/ am tempted to lift the veil and reveal
portions of his conversation, it is because
feel that all who speak the English
tongue should be admitted to closer per-
ception and higher appreciation of one
who does honor to our race. The Gene
raj bewailed the comparative impunity
with which Sedgwick and his followers
had escaped from his grasp. Sup to this
time We have done nothing but afford the
Northern press material for another great
Union victory?' True, we have driven
our enemy from every field, swept away
lis every formation, scourged him out of
his works from which neither whirlwind
nor hurricane could ever drive my poor
raggamuffins what of that? l have
learnt that nothing but the entire capture
of whole corps will ever produce an
effect, and such capture should unques-
tiOnably have been effected yesterday"
In answer to my remark that, judging
from the wholesale capture of arms and
accoutrements, at least one quarter of
Hooker's army must be impotent for
offence, he observed, "With the resources
of the North probably the deficiency of
arms has been made good already. Con-
ceive the glee of the contractors, when a
new call for everything wanted for 100, 900
men, from caps down to shoes, is received
at Washington, all the profits going into
the pockets of the Republican party! Com
pare with their resources those which l
WELD. Not day passes but opportunities
occur. Signal advantages offer themselves,
but | cannot use them. Want of trans
port, want of tools, pontoons, horses, and
great inferiority in numbers force me to
abandon the chance of action. But here
after think we shall be more on an equal
ity." But most interesting of all was his
conversation about Stonewall Jackson.
Had | been able to dictate events, mos!
gladly would 1 have been disabled in my
own person if he had been spared Such
an executive officer The sun never shone
on. | have but to show him my design,
and know that if it can be done it will be
done. No need for me to send and watch
him. Straight as the needle to the pole
he advances to the execution of my pur-
pose. Pure. high-minded, unselfish, he has
no earthly thought of himself or his own
advancement. The sole aim and object of
his life is the good of his country"


AS we parted, the Generals last words
led me to conclude that his attack upon
Hooker would be resumed that afternoon.
We arrived at Charlottesville about one
O'Clock. The morning had been singu-
larly and oppressively hot Presently
heavy thunder-clouds blew up from the
south, the wind swept round into the
southeast, and there was sound of much
rain. The whole Of that afternoon, the
following night, and most of the next day
rents OF rain deluged the earth, and it be-
came very cold. AS l sheltered myself in
little farmhouse an the plankroad, the
brigades of Anderson's division came
splashing through the mud, the wild, tu-
multuous spirits, singing, shouting, jesting,
needless of soaking rags drenched to the
skin, and burning again to mingle in the
wild revelry of battle. One could not but
speculate what manner of night Hooker's
men were passing. But assuredly the
heavy rain of Tuesday night, the deafen-
ing reverberations of Gods artillery, which
rent the heavens, and Knocked puny mans
efforts at imitation, were blessings indeed


They arrested and delayed the renewal
of Lees attack, and preserved Hooker's
army for the opportunity of ''Another
great Union victory


THE FINALE.


WEDNESDAY. May 6.-The morning
broke misty, with rain, heavy and lower
ing. The reader will anticipate my state
ment that it found Hooker and his army
on the northern bank of the river. All
night long had they been streaming across
the pontoons over the United States Ford.
It was found that they had thrown up
works and traverses which were marvels
of industry and indefatigable energy, but
which, fresh from the memory of the slope
at Ohancellorville, and Of the entrench-
ments and abattis in the black jack thicket,
they dared not attempt to hold. Further
comments upon the incidents which so
hurriedly and imperfectly I have attempted
to relate I will, in mercy to the reader,
forbear. The bloody repulse of the enemy
at every point, the Illustration of every
movement, the spectacle of at least 120,-
900 men hurled back in three places
across the Rappahannock, after paying
fearful toll for its passage, constitute an
ensemble which requires nothing to be ad-
ded to it.