The profound solicitude manifested in the
North about
Beauregard is amusing.
For a time they would not permit themselves to believe that he was alive.
Convinced of that fact, they are endeavoring to console themselves by the idea that he is not in
Virginia.--As late as June 10, the New York
Times had the following
news, which, the Charleston
Courier remarks, will be amusing to all who know
Gen. Beauregard and his masterly powers of reserve and silence:
"
Beauregard heard from.
"
Washington, Sunday, June 9.-- I have heard from a gentleman, whose reliability is beyond a question, that, on Wednesday last,
Gen. Beauregard was at
Charleston,
S. C.--There he was seen and conversed with by my informant, who, though a resident of that city, and a Union man at heart, is compelled by force of public opinion to lend countenance and material aid to the rebel movement.
‘"
Gen. Beauregard was well, in fine spirits, and confident of the result of this trouble being victory for the
Confederacy. 'It is folly,' said he, 'for us to scatter our forces — part here, part at
Richmond, part at
Pensacola, and elsewhere.
We should, and I am determined to, concentrate a grand army of sixty thousand men at some proper point and compel the
U. States to attack us. I know from reliable scouts that their army will not remain idle — the nature of its
materiel forbids it. They are active, pushing men, and already insubordination is manifest in their ranks, and no cause is more evident than
inaction. What if they do move forward and take this or that point?--they have
Yet to meet our army.
I shall concentrate at Manassas Gap between sixty and seventy thousand men. They will be so entrenched, and will occupy so defensible a position, as to be absolutely impregnable, and when the strength of the
Federal troops is spent and worn, or I will utterly overwhelm and destroy them.
It can be done, and I confess I can see no other way for us to do.'"’
The same paper, however, publishes another
Washington dispatch, containing a certificate of property received of
John H. Gorgas for the service of the
State of Virginia, signed B. S. Eucle,
Lieut. Col. Virginia Volunteers, and which sets forth that the property is "subject to the orders of
Gen. Beauregard, commander of the forces of
Virginia.
Whereupon the
Times discourseth as follows:
‘
"The concluding portion of this dispatch is interesting, inasmuch as it furnishes positive evidence of the presence of
Beauregard in
Virginia, if, indeed, that allegation be not as false as the act it is intended to sanction is rapacious.
Beauregard professes, in a recent letter, to lament that circumstances will deny him the pleasure of visiting the Old Dominion, and if he be actually in command here at this time, the fact shows that he has the vanity to keep up the popular curiosity as to his whereabouts, by dodging about in a clandestine way.
‘"It is rumored that this rebel hero has been in
Washington during the present week, and that he spent two nights and a day here.
The fact is not at all improbable.
He might easily come here in the garb of a market-man, without running a great risk of discovery.
There are few here who would recognize him, except Army officers, and they would not know him thus disguised."’
’
It is obvious that
Beauregard is somewhere.
He is worthy all the interest his enemies take in him, and, with the aid of
Providence, may soon make himself still more interesting.
