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Staunton Spectator: August 4, 1863 Go To Page : 1 | 2 |

A July Jaunt in the Valley
(Column 5, 6, 7)

Summary: Bucolic account of a summer day's wandering in the Valley with mention of many specific locations.

From Gen. Lee's Army
(Column 1)

Summary: Describes the military situation as settled with no general engagement anticipated for the next several weeks.

Mexico Declared An Empire
(Column 1)

Summary: Reporting on recent events in Mexico, the article notes that Mexico has been declared an Empire, and that Maximilian has been declared Emperor. Should Maximilian decline the offer, he is requested to select a person in whom he has full confidence to occupy the throne.

The Recognition Question
(Column 1)

Summary: States that Mr. Roebuck has been asked by Lord Palmerstown to withdraw his motion of recognition of the Confederacy. Furthermore, it is reported that Parliament has refused to even discuss the question of recognition in the present session. There is greater optimism for a positive response from France on the recognition question.

Lieut. Thos. C. Kinney
(Column 1)

Summary: Notifies the public of the death of Lieut. Kinney of typhoid fever on July 28th in Staunton. The young man was stricken with the disease while serving with General Lee and was brought to his home to die. The article also discusses his having graduated from the Virginia Military Institute and notes his honorable service for his country.

The Wounded at Gettysburg
(Column 1)

Summary: Records the numbers of wounded in the hospitals of Gettysburg--8,000 Confederate and 10,000 Union soldiers. The Herald criticizes the unwillingness of some Confederate soldiers to help their more grievously wounded brethren. Many Confederate soldiers express the most ardent desire to get into Union hospitals, where they will receive better treatment.

Origin of Article: New York Herald

Editorial Comment: "In the hospitals at Gettysburg there are, by the statement of a correspondent of the New York Herald, about 8,000 wounded Confederate soldiers, and 10,000 Yankee. There were more cases of amputation with our soldiers than with the enemy, and they have been more fatal. This correspondent says that their hospitals are much better managed than ours. He says:"

Full Text of Article:

"The wounds of the patients were inflamed and the bandages dry. When asked where their nurses were, they said they only had one or two to each floor, and they could not attend them all. In each corner was a pile of dirt, and the flours were wet from the careless spilling of water when the wounds were wet. We went into the yard, and there were some two hundred slightly wounded and convalescent rebels, able to draw and cook their own rations, eating their breakfasts. In our hospitals these would have been made to take their watches with the helpless as nurses; but they would not raise a hand to help their more unfortunate fellows. So true is this that many of them express the most ardent desire to get into Union hospitals, where they will have proper attendance.

General Armistead
(Column 1)

Summary: Reports that, despite newspaper accounts in Northern papers that General Armistead died as a result of wounds suffered on the battlefield at Gettysburg, he is in fact alive and has written to his son. The Examiner believes that this misreporting is yet another example of the fact that the Yankees are so much under the influence of the "'father of lies' that they can tell the truth neither of the living nor the dead."

Origin of Article: Richmond Examiner

The Hostage Officers
(Column 1)

Summary: Discusses the proposed response to the confinement of two Confederate officers, Gen. Wm. H. F. Lee and Capt. Winder, as hostages against the planned execution of two Union officers by the Confederate authorities. The Confederate authorities have advised the Union that the Confederate government will not be intimidated by any such threats and that the execution of said officers will take place as soon as the President sees fit.

General Morgan's Raid
(Column 2)

Summary: Recounts the details of General Morgan's raid through Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio and the subsequent capture of Morgan and his men as they attempted to escape to Virginia by crossing the Ohio River. The article notes the damage Morgan did to Union infrastructure, the bravery of General Morgan, and the fact that he and his men are being held in a penitentiary as hostages "for the officers of Negroes whom we hold in close confinement."

Impressment of Horses in Staunton
(Column 2)

Summary: Describes the events that took place in Staunton a week earlier when the impressment officer sealed the town's exits and confiscated almost all the horses in Staunton. The article claims that, while the townspeople of Staunton do not begrudge their government the horses, they do feel that the measure was carried out in the wrong manner.

Full Text of Article:

Last Tuesday was an exciting day in Staunton to all the owners of horses.--The impressment officer had it made known very early in the morning, by having all the ways of egress "blockaded," that "he was about," and that he was as anxious to get possession of equine flesh as was Richard III when he exclaimed on Bosworth field with all the force of his lungs, "A horse! A horse!! My kingdom for a horse!!!" Such was the hurry, and so great the seeming emergency that locks were broken and doors prized off their hinges, as there was not time to wait for the owners to bring the keys. The horses of physicians and undertakers were taken; but were graciously restored to their owners when apprised that the sick would die and the dead go unburied if the horses of physicians and undertakers were not given up. The citizens were taken by surprise, and were at a loss to know what caused such a pressing emergency. They were perfectly willing to give up their horses, if needed, but had some objection to the quo modo--the manner in which the officer performed his duty. They modestly thought that there was a right and a wrong way of doing a right thing, and were under the impression that the officer did the right thing in the wrong way. The persons in the best humor on Tuesday last in Staunton were those who were so fortunate as not to own a horse. They gratulated [sic] themselves with the reflection: Blessed is the man who owns "nary a hoss." These fortunates would hallo across the street to their friends and inquire, "how are you off for horse flesh?" When they would get the reply, "I didn't have any horse flesh, but all my horse bones have been impressed."

Fight at Manassas Gap
(Column 2)

Summary: Describes a military engagement at Manassas Gap that took place on July 23rd between an advance brigade of General Ewell's corps and between 6,000 and 8,000 Union soldiers. Despite numerical inferiority and a weak strategic position, Wright's brigade of Georgians fought bravely and managed to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy.

Death of Col. Patton
(Column 2)

Summary: Announces the death of Col. W. T. Patton's, the son of the late Hon. John M. Patton of Richmond.

Origin of Article: Baltimore Gazette

Soldiers, the Great Desideratum
(Column 3)

Summary: Calls for increased enlistment in the war effort. The author declares it is "idle to talk of peace" until the enemy tires of war. Furthermore, the reporter interprets the North's refusal to negotiate with Vice President Stephens as confirmation of the North's unwillingness to enter into serious peace negotiations.

Full Text of Article:

The great need of the South at this time is more soldiers. All of all defeats and losses are attributable to a want of soldiers. As we have before noticed the President has issued a proclamation calling out all men, not exempted by law, between the ages of 18 and 45. This call is rendered proper, and indeed indispensable, by Lincoln's call for 300,000 conscripts to swell his forces to be employed for our subjugation.

In the language of the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer, his armies, whatever force they may amount to, must be met, if it should require every man and boy in the Confederacy. It is a hard duty, but it is a duty which cannot be avoided but with the loss of everything that as individuals and as a community the people of the Confederacy hold dear.

The Yankee Congress has already passed laws to confiscate the property of the people of the Confederacy, and to emancipate their slaves, and the savage malignity of their conduct, wherever they have secured a foot-hold in the South, shows, beyond peradventure that those laws will be enforced if they ever get the power to enforce them. Their soldiers have been promised farms in the South as the reward of their services in conquering us; and they must be wilfully [sic] blind who imagine that the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who have had a taste of blood and ample liberty to rob and outrage, will ever be permitted to return to the North in case of the conquest of the South. The only hope of preserving the lives and property of non-combatants in the large Northern cities, would lie in the quartering of those blood-thirsty villains at the South.

Under such circumstances, and our readers know that we have stated them correctly, it is idle to talk of peace, until the North shows a willingness to have peace, or at least to enter upon negotiations. That they are not prepared for this is manifest from their refusal even to listen to so distinguished a Commissioner as Vice President Stephens upon a secondary point.

We repeat, it is idle to talk of peace, until the North shows a willingness to have peace, or at least to enter upon negotiations. That they are not prepared for this is manifest from their refusal even to listen to so distinguished a Commissioner as Vice President Stephens upon a secondary point.

We repeat, it is idle to talk of peace. We must talk of war and wage war until the enemy tires of war. History is full of examples for our encouragement, of more unequal and even more bloody wars, that finally resulted in the triumph of the people fighting for their rights, their homes and their lives. It is the will of God that we suffer occasional disasters. Let us not, by our own will, permit a combination of all the worst disasters that can befall a people--immediate loss of property, liberty, honor, and eventual loss of life also. Courage, then, Southrons! Brave and true men seize the moment of adversity, not to indulge despair, but to nerve themselves against disaster, and to compel victory. Assured that we are beating for the right, nothing but the will of God should conquer us, and that will has been, so far, more manifested in our favor than against us.

Death of Col. William Dabney Stuart
(Column 3)

Summary: Describes the career and death of Col. William Dabney Stuart, son of Col. Thomas Stuart. He died in Staunton on July 29, 1863 from a wound he received in Pickett's charge.
(Names in announcement: Col. Thomas Stuart, Col. William Dabney Stuart)

The Conduct of the Enemy
(Column 4)

Summary: A somewhat rambling essay that touches on a number of issues. The failure to exchange troops is seen as indicative of the Union's desire to fight a war of attrition and take advantage of its larger population. In addition, mention is made of the Union government's refusal to meet with Vice President Stephens. There is also a long discussion on the injustice of the North's selecting General W. H. F. Lee and Capt. Winder as hostages to stay the Confederacy's hand in the execution of two Union officers. Finally, the newspaper reminds its readers that "All this forbearance and chivalrous courtesy on our part--all the Christianity and civilization, as General Lee says--has been thrown away upon such an enemy."

Illness of General Floyd
(Column 4)

Summary: Alerts readers to the imminent death of retired General Floyd from diseases contracted during his time in the service.

Origin of Article: Richmond Examiner

President's Proclamation
(Column 4)

Summary: Notifies the readers of President Davis's proclamation that Friday the twenty-first of August is to be a day of fasting, humiliation, and prayer. The article notes that the President "attributes our trials and reverses to the prevalence of the sins of presumptuous self-confidence, and the idolatrous worship of Mammon."

Full Text of Article:

We invite attention to the proclamation of President Davis appointing Friday, the 21st of this month, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer, and express the hope that it will be observed in the proper christian spirit. It will be observed that the President attributes our trials and reverses to the prevalence of the sins of presumptuous self-confidence, and the idolatrous worship of Mammon. Our people have been too forgetful of the living God, from whom all blessings flow, and have been recklessly seeking gain, seemingly oblivious of the fact that it is impossible to serve God and Mammon. It is too true, as the President says, "that the love of lucre has eaten, like a gangrene, into the very heart of the land, converting too many of us into worshippers of gain, and rendering them unmindful of their duty to their fellowmen [sic], and to their God." As long as the people practice the sin of extortion upon each other, and the officers of the Confederacy rob the Government, we cannot expect to be vouch-safed the boon of freedom and independence.

[No Title]
(Column 4)

Summary: Small filler that notes the death of Hon. Jno. J. Crittenden at Frankfort, Kentucky.

The American Question in France
(Column 5)

Summary: Discusses the recent visit by Messrs. Roebuck and Lindsay to Fontainebleau, France, for the purpose of persuading the Emperor to make an official movement at London for the recognition of the Southern States.

Origin of Article: The New York Herald

Meade's Mendacity
(Column 5)

Summary: Reports on a recent communication from General Lee that disputes despatches from General Meade about the number of Confederate troops captured as Lee's army retreated to the south bank of the Potomac.

Editorial Comment: "The following official communication from General Lee illustrates the unreliability of despatches emanating from Yankee Generals."

Proclamation of Governor Brown
(Column 5)

Summary: Reports on the recent adoption of conscription in Georgia, which became necessary because of the drop in enlistments.

Editorial Comment: "The following is an abstract of the recent proclamation by Governor Brown of Georgia:"

The President's Address
(Column 5)

Summary: Alerts the readers to the fact that the President has issued a strong appeal for all soldiers absent without leave from the armed forces to return within twenty days or be treated as deserters.

Full Text of Article:

The President has issued a strong appeal to the soldiers of the Confederacy absent from their commands to return IMMEDIATELY, and promises amnesty to all who are absent without leave if they return within twenty days from this date, after which time all will be treated and punished as deserters. General Lee and President Davis have both issued calls for soldiers to return immediately--the emergency is great and every soldier should be at his post of duty. The address was received too late for insertion in this issue.

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: Reports on the horrific losses of the 1st Michigan Regiment which, according to reports, began the war with 1,050 men and came out of Gettysburg with only 87.

Origin of Article: Baltimore Gazette

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: Announces the death of Hon. Wm. L. Yancey, a member of the Confederate Senate.

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: Notifies readers that Lt. Col. Henry Clay Pate of the 5th Virginia Cavalry, who was wounded in the cavalry battle of Aldie, is recovering in Clarke County.

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: According to a recent announcement from Washington, D.C., "the place of a drafted man who had been exempted by payment of $300 will not be filled by another drafted man."

[No Title]
(Column 5)

Summary: A small filler announcing that General Cooper has ordered all Quartermasters and Commissaries to detail disabled soldiers so that citizens employed in those positions can be made available for immediate conscription.

Gen. Lee's Orders
(Column 6)

Summary: Publication of General Orders, no. 80, ordering all officers and soldiers now absent from duty and not detached on special service to return immediately to their regiments.

Married
(Column 6)

Summary: Mr. Henry Smith and Miss Mary Ann Vance, both of Augusta County, were married on July 30.
(Names in announcement: Rev. Wm. S. Baird, Mr. Henry Smith, Miss Mary Ann Vance)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Announcement of the death of Mary Ann Gordon, daughter of Samuel and Martha Gordon, on July 24,1863 at the age of 24 years.
(Names in announcement: Miss Mary Ann Gordon, Samuel Gordon, Martha Gordon)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Announcement of the death of Mr. David Bell, Company C, 5th Virginia Regiment, on June 24th at a hospital in Lynchburg.
(Names in announcement: Mr. David Bell)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Announcement of the death of John B. Rankin, Sr., on July 26th at the age of 64 years.
(Names in announcement: Mr. John B. RankinSr.)

Died
(Column 6)

Summary: Announcment of the death of Nancy Davis, wife of Ambrose Davis, on July 26th at the age of 45 years.
(Names in announcement: Nancy DavisSr., Ambrose Davis)