From the Charleston Mercury, 12/13/1862
LETTER FROM
RICHMOND.
(CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MERCURY.)
RICHMOND, Wednesday,
December 10.
It is too beautiful a day for one
to do anything but avail oneself of General WINDER'S new order issued this
morning, which permits a hundred and fifty barrels of whisky to be brought here
each month. One may now hope to get comfortably mellow without seriously
impairing one’s exchequer or one’s character, these fine cold days.
From the Rappahannock, nothing.
Reported that part of our army has fallen back to Hanover Junction. An old
resident of Port Royal tells me that if Burnside crosses there, he will be in
the worst sort of a pickle. The place is a little Gibraltar - between two
creeks, with a river in front and high hills in the rear.
The Examiner holds that Napoleon,
knowing what reception his despatch to Russell and Gortschakoff would meet, has
adroitly managed to secure for himself the glory of being the representative of
all Europe as a peace maker. A gentleman, just from abroad, says that all
Europe, England and Russia excepted, had already acceded to Napoleon’s proposals
and views. This gentleman has the same old story of splendid opportunities lost
or rejected by the Confederate authorities. The Examiner thinks that, if
Burnside’s army is condemned to winter in the barren wastes of Stafford county,
where it now is, it will cease to exist before spring.
The Whig, speaking of the
prospective reduction of one per cent. in the rate at which Treasury Notes may
be funded, asks, 'How would it do to follow up that move by a continued
reduction of one per cent. for each month after the first reduction - applicable
only to notes issued prior to the 1st of January, 1863.' A writer in
the same paper suggests that each family of four spare one blanket for the
soldiers.
The Enquirer calls upon the
Government to all around these enormous extortioners, and adds: "In addition to
laws aimed at extortion, let the taxes come down upon income rather than
property." The same paper announces the arrival, by way of Winchester and
Staunton, of three French gentlemen, understood to be bearers of despatches from
the French to the Confederate Government.
It is noticeable that General
Bragg, in his dispatch reciting Morgan’s brilliant affair at Hartsville, styles
him 'Acting Brigadier.' So, this man, who has done as much or more
than any cavalry officer in the service, Stuart not excepted, and who has shown
the best capacity for his peculiar work, is still a Colonel, while men who
hardly ever smelt gunpowder, and certainly never commanded in action, are Major
and Lieutenant Generals.
Extensive additions are being
made to the hospitals, already large, at Howard’s Grove, and I notice that Dr.
McCaw, Chief Surgeon of the hospital town on Chimborazo Heights, advertises for
250 negro nurses. Thus timely preparation is being made for the sickness of
spring.
Salt is falling rapidly.
HERMES.
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