What a Deserter says.
The Lynchburg
Republican, of Monday, relates the following:
‘
A deserter from the
Yankee army of
McDowell at
Fredericksburg, is now here under guard.
He belonged to
King's division, and states that they were on the march to
Richmond, and had gotten some eight or ten miles from
Fredericksburg, when the news of
Banks's rout by old Stonewall came upon them like a clap of thunder from a clear sky, producing the utmost consternation among both officers and men. A halt was immediately called, and in a short time afterwards, orders came from
Washington for the army to move to the
Valley to his support.
The march was immediately commenced, and on Monday, the 25th of May, they had reached the vicinity of Culpeper Court-House, when he, (the deserter) not liking the idea of being pitted against the Stonewall brigade, took French leave and came into the
Confederate lines.
He states that on Friday night, 20th May, the guard over the magazine in
Fredericksburg was killed, and the magazine blown up, destroying an immense amount of ammunition, and damaging many buildings in the vicinity.
Several citizens were arrested, charged with the act, but up to the time he left no evidence had been obtained as to their guilt.
The
Yankees have stretched a Union flag across the
Main street of the town, but the citizens refuse to pass under it. To show their contempt for it, they will frequently go up to it, and then with the most contemptuous movements turn back, and go around the square.
In all other respects it is said the citizens show their utter loathing for the
Federals, and leave no opportunity unimproved of making it as plain to them as possible.
The ladies are especially violent in their insulting conduct, and frequent threats of punishing them are made by the
Federal officers.
The Federal
General Shields was in
Stafford, opposite
Fredericksburg, when the news of
Banks's defeat arrived, and he, too, hastened back with his division towards
Winchester.
McDowell's army, according to this account, has been much exaggerated.
At no time, even with the reinforcements brought by
Shields, did it number over forty thousand.--There anticipated a gay time in their ‘"forward to
Richmond,"’ and had been promised they should certainly dine there on the first of June.
Much murmuring and discontent was heard among the men when their destination was changed, and numbers of them were taking every opportunity of escaping.
The deserter is an Englishman, professes himself heartily tired of fighting, and says that it is tolerably certain, unless the war closes very shortly, the
Yankee army generally will melt away by desertion, such is the disgust at the long continuance of the war. As it is, it is only kept together now by the exercise of the sternest discipline, deserters being constantly caught in the act and shot.
’
