Late News From Richmond

The New York Herald, whose secession leanings has enabled it to keep good its southern connection, and to received southern papers almost as promptly as when the mails were run regularly, has news from Richmond to the 17th, some items of which are interesting.

“The most extensive preparations had been made for the inauguration of Jeff Davis as President on the 22d instant.  The ceremony was to have been performed with all the pomp and splendor that could be devised.  A military parade and banquet were to add to the attractions of the occasion, and a grand ball was to conclude the festivities of the day.  Now, however, all this is changed in view of the serious reverses that have happened, the ceremony is to be of the simplest kind, without any military display, without banqueting or feasting, and as to the ball one of the ladies said, ‘It would be disgraceful to be dancing and enjoying ourselves after such defeats, and while our poor soldiers are suffering.’  So the ball, too, has been abandoned.

“There was no intention expressed of evacuating Columbus; but it was admitted that such a course might become necessary.  It was stated officially, however, that there was no probability that the line of the Potomac would be abandoned, and there was no doubt expressed as to the ability of the rebels to retain possession of the whole of Virginia east of the Blue Ridge and Cumberland mountains, and to defend the Cumberland Gap.

“On Sunday last, the Spottswood House, and pavement in front of it were filled with excited crowds, discussing the news from Ft. Donelson and the critical condition of the Confederacy.  A prominent member of the Rebel Congress, whose relations to the Rebel President give great weight to his words, declared ‘that the day had now come in which the Southern Confederacy was to pass through the fire; that the events of the next three months would decide whether or not the Southern people are worthy of being an independent nation; that the fortune of war consists of alternate victories and reverses, and that having had their day of triumph, they were now about to experience a skillful and scientific a general as McClellan, made at his leisure, resulting in the formation of an army of 600,000 soldiers, with the discipline of regulars, must result in some successes on his part.  But these reverses,’ he said, ‘would try the temper, the powers of endurance, and the patriotism of the Southern people.  If they became discouraged; if their soldiers, tired of one brief campaign, refused to re-enlist for the war, they might as well abandon the attempt to gain their independence, lay down their arms, return to the arts of peace, acknowledge themselves fairly vanquished, and submit to whatever terms the North saw fit to impose upon them, but if their troops re-enlisted, and the spirit of their people remained unsubdued, the victories which the Unionists had gained would be of no advantage to the victors, but would only be a salutary lesson to the South; that the topography and natural features of the Southern States were  such that no armies however numerous and well disciplined, could penetrate them, or take possession of any of their cities, without being surrounded and cut off, either by regular or by guerilla warfare; that the tide of fortune would soon turn in their favor, if they would learn to rely on themselves alone.  But they must put forth all their efforts, and give up the idea of foreign aid for the present.’”

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 1, 1862, p. 2