Later from the North.
The Northern papers, of the evening of the 4th, are received, but do not contain much of interest. The evening edition of the Baltimore American has a dispatch dated at Bloomfield, Va., November 3d, 7 P. M., which states that the advance of the Army of the Potomac up the Valley, on the left side of the Blue Ridge, is being pushed forward with all dispatch. The same dispatch says that ‘"Gen. Pleasanton occupied Upperville this afternoon, after a spirited engagement with the enemy for about four hours. We had none killed, but several men were wounded. The enemy left three of their dead on the field. Upperville is only four miles from Ashby's Gap, which the rebels are endeavoring to hold."’ The American says that the Yankee army ‘"is now ready and prepared to fight a general battle at any time and place where the enemy may see proper to meet them. It is in better condition to day then it ever has been, with the exception of a want of more cavalry."’Extract from the letter of a Loyal Lady, the "wife of a high rebel officer, to her mother."
We find in the New York Times the following letter. The Times is very solicitous lest its authenticity should be doubted. This is genuine letter of ‘"a loyal lady."’ We wonder how ‘"horrid void"’ Sneed, of the Savannah Republican, relishes the allusion to himself! Savannah, Ga., U. S. A., October 11, 1862.
Dear Mother
--Your kind letter reached me, and would have given me an unmingled pleasure but for the announcement of poor Captain--'s death.
How terrible for his sisters, and for poor Miss--, who, when I last saw her, showed me his carte de visite, and half confessed they were engaged, although neither the Commodore nor her aunt knew or suspected anything of the matter.--Every person here is in mourning except myself, and I only not so because I cannot find materials, and hope soon to be allowed to go North, as General — has half promised me passage under the next flag of truce, to some vessel of Admiral Dupont's squadron.
Our little darling is sadly in need of shoes, her only present foot covering being little carpet slippers, with carpet soles, made by myself.
They do very well while it is quite dry, but the least shower keeps her within doors, and she wears out nearly two pair each week, so that I am constantly busy.
Of tea and other comforts we preserve only vague remembrances; but food, thank God, is becoming plentiful again, such as it is — wheat, chickens, corn, and pigs; and, although it is admitted here by all that the rebellion has yet a sharp struggle before it, there is no longer any hope, as I sincerely wish there was, of its being starved into submission.
You cannot think how bitterly the North is ridiculed here, and all my efforts to defend it only end in mortification and consciousness that those who think otherwise have the best of the argument.
It is now the regular habit to send so called ‘"deserters"’ into the Union lines along the Potomac, whenever we want to get a mail carried North.
These ‘"deserters,"’ who are generally the bravest, sharpest and most unscrupulous enfants perdus in the rebel army, enter McClellan's lines, tell him just such stories as they have been told to take the oath, and are immediately dismissed.
They then go to Baltimore, post their letters there get a return mail, and are back in Richmond within three or four days from the time of leaving the managers of this mail line of Baltimore.
It is thus the — and--[Two papers are mentioned here, one published in New York and one in Baltimore,] get their ‘"late Southern news,"’ and I can assure you that this mail runs regularly — the carriers many times getting across the Potomac and into Maryland without being once challenged; while, if they are challenged, they announce themselves as ‘"deserters,"’ take the oath — though even this is not always asked of them — and then hurry on to Baltimore, which is our chief post office.
They have here in private circulation — though it may be a forgery — a phrenological chart of Gen. McClellan's character, made by Fowler and Wells, of New York, and which was given, they say by McClellan to his friend, Major-General G. W. Smith, whose health is now quite recovered, though at the expense of his mind, which will never be what it was. This written chart — such, dearest mother, as you had made of me when I came back last summer five years ago, from Miss--'s school — makes McClellan's lump of caution out-balance all the other qualities of his head, and they are making fun of it all the time, and of course most actively — those who wish to annoy me — when I am present.
They have had this ‘"chart"’ printed for private circulation, and while the papers here all seem in a conspiracy to praise Gen. McClellan be is the most bitterly ridiculed man I ever knew, in private.--The editor of the Savannah Republican was at cousin Mary's last Tuesday evening, and had the ‘"greatest fun."’ as he called it, (horrid old creature that he is.) trying to make me angry.
But cousin Mary stopped him, and even Senator — said that as I was an avowed enemy of the South," (though Heaven knows I am not,) and had only come here to nurse--,(her husband) I was entitled to be treated with the courtesy due to a ‘"prisoner of war!"’ and not vexed and vexed and ridiculed.
But I assure you you can have no idea what confidence the people here have that this ‘"chart"’ is correct, and so, whenever Lee or Jackson want to make McClellan stop anywhere or avoid a battle.
They send off some ‘"deserters."’ first to tell him they are in immense force, and any other odiousness they please; and then they get significant hints to the same effect, published in the Richmond rebel papers and these papers are actually carried to McClellan, and even sold to him at a high price, the two men passing themselves off as Union farmers, who gave him the information which stopped him ten days after the battle of Sharpsburg, when he was thinking of advancing, and quite ready, having received sixty dollars between them for their trouble and expenses in bringing the information.
George says they are non-commissioned officers — sergeants or corporals, I forget which — and are to be commissioned as second lieutenants when they get back from Baltimore.
You may fancy how these things annoy me. But I have nothing but annoyance now, though people here say there is no chance of another battle on the Potomac before next spring.
Dear Mother
