Item Description: “About Richmond’ (editorial), The Daily Journal (Wilmington, N. C.), 14 June 1864.
Transcription:
General LEE, for two years past, has exhibited iron endurance, and has kept the field with a constancy almost without parallel. It is known that, for some time past, the General has been pretty seriously indisposed although he is now recovering and able to ride down to the lines in an ambulance. He did so last week. In the meantime General BEAUREGARD is at hand to relieve him of the sole load until he recovers.— General LEE has had an attack of what may be called “the prevailing epidemic,” :—namely a derangement of the bowels.
The lines of the opposing armies, both entrenched, we suppose, are at some points within fitty yards of each other. Last week, when a friend of ours was down to the front by way of Gaines’ Mill, the New Bridge and around there, the atmosphere was unwholesome with picket-firing, occasional shelling and all that sort of thing. This must be the case when hostile forces are so close together.
Whether General LEE contemplates assuming the offensive or not we cannot pretend to say. Some assert that he does, others assert that he does not. General Lee has not apprized us of his intentions. It may be that no decisive movement will made until he is ready to resume the active command in the field. In the meantime the Yankees are extending their ravages into portions of the South-western part of Virginia that they have not previously reached. They want to control all the communications by railroad, even as low down as Lynchbnrg. That is part of their grand programme, some part of which, considering the vast means employed, may reasonably be expected to succeed. We must be prepared for some reverses and some ugly blows at that. It is the fortune of the war.
Item Citation: editorial, The Daily Journal (Wilmington, N.C.), 14 June 1864, page 2, column 1. Call number C071 W74j, North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
