X-----, who had listened in silence to his
narrative.
VIII.
BY FLAG-OF-TRUCE BOAT.
MR. X----- took the letter, broke the seal, and ran his eye over the
contents.
"Decidedly, that woman is a skilful person," he said; "she fishes in
troubled waters with the coolness of an experienced hand."
And presenting the letter to me, the statesman said:--
"Would you like to see a specimen of the sort of documents which go on
file in the departments, colonel?"
I took the letter, and read the following words:--
"RICHMOND, 18 _Dec'r_, 1864.
"Tell, _you know who_, that I have just seen the honorable
Mr.-----" (here the writer gave the real name and official position of
Mr. X-----), "and have had a long conversation with him. He is fully
convinced that I am a good Confederate, and spoke without reserve of
matters the most private. He is in high spirits, and looks on the rebel
cause as certain to succeed. I never saw one more blinded to the real
state of things. Richmond is full of misery, and the people seem in
despair, but this high official, who represents the whole government,
is evidently certain of Lee's success. I found him in a garrulous mood,
and he did not conceal his views. The government has just received
heavy supplies from the south, by the Danville railroad--others are
coming--the whole country in rear of Sherman is rising--and Lee, he
stated, would soon be re-enforced by between fifty and seventy-five
thousand men.
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