THE FREDERICKSBURG EXILES.

THE sufferings of the people of Fredericksburg, Va., just previous to and after the battle in December, 1862, were equalled only by the heroic fortitude and true patriotism with which they were endured, a devotion so grand that it drew tears from the eyes of General Lee when he spoke of it. The Richmond Examiner contained the following letter in reference to these unfortunates:

FREDERICKSBURG, March 11, 1863. Your correspondent has endeavored, in previous communications, to present your readers with some idea of the pecuniary losses and destruction of property to which the people here have been subjected.

The personal suffering remains to be told. Much of it, perhaps the greater part, will never be known, save to the afflicted individuals themselves or their families, for the parties are naturally slow to acknowledge their privations and necessities. Indeed, your correspondent, although fully acquainted with the population, was not aware of the facts of their condition until he had made investigation. The inquiry was prompted by his observation of the return of many of the fugitives to their ruined homes. A ride through the region where they have sought refuge revealed the reason. The day was raw, and the roads one mass of mud, of such consistency and depth as rendered it perfectly impassable, even on horseback. The hog-paths presented the only prac ticable passage. Yet, on such a day, and along such a road, your correspondent met a lady of this place on foot, who be fore the bombardment had lived in affluence, and whose house had been the very home of hospitality. She was only at tended by her child, of eight or ten years, and the faithful

house-dog. The group was thus wending its way to Frede, icksburg, having already walked some five or six miles, and was then about the same distance from their destination. The want of food had driven them to undertake the journey.

This is not a single instance, for in the district which bore the brunt of the enemy's late devastation, those who were possessed of a competence and enjoyed every comfort are, in many instances, reduced to absolute indigence, whilst many who have lived in opulence suffer all the pangs of poverty. The late inhabitants, for the most part, are temporarily domi ciled in the houses, negro cabins and shanties of the sur rounding country within a radius of twelve or fifteen miles. In some cases, as many as four or five families have taken refuge under the same roof. Your correspondent, attracted by the curling smoke ascending from one of the chimneys, visited a hut, for such it really was, which was inhabited by some of the involuntary exiles. He found it consisting of a single room, and occupied by five children, two females and an aged man. They were citizens of Fredericksburg, whose homes had heretofore been cheered by comfortable circumstances. They were now huddled around a few burning sticks, which had been gathered by the old man's trembling fingers, and the feeble flame flickered, and they shivered with each blast of the wintry wind that blew its chilling breath through many a crevice of their humble abode. The interior of the room showed the cleanliness of female care, but the slender clothing of the inmates and their sparse supply of food were painfully apparent. Their whole reliance was the provision made by public charity, and the inclement weather and impassable roads had precluded them from the procurement of their regular supplies. The country around affords no subsistence.

In a conference with the mayor, your correspondent was informed that the relief fund is rapidly diminishing, and the number and necessities of the applicants increasing. The despoiled population number about six thousand. Of these, about one fourth are destitute. This proportion has been fed for some twelve weeks. The contributions aggregate $200,000 Your readers can readily estimate how soon starvation will staro a multitude in the face, unless this purse is replenished.

The generosity of the army, and of Virginia generally, has been unexampled, but the urgency and occasion of suffering here should commend itself to the charitable consideration of every Southern community.

A correspondent of the Richmond Enquirer thus refers to the citizens who remained in the city during the battle.—

The Yankee generals were almost thunderstruck at finding so many persons through a shelling lasting twelve hours, and carried on without intermission, with one hundred and fortythree guns. General Sturgis told a lady that the women of Fredericksburg ought to be handed down to the latest posterity as model heroines. He then said to the same lady— "Madam, it is too dangerous for you to remain longer, General Lee will shell the town; go over to the other side, I will assure you protection and a return whenever you choose to come back." The lady's reply was quite significant-" No, sir," said she, "I have no more business across that river than a Yankee has in heaven; I shall stay and take the best care I can of my property." He then asked if she had a husband in the Southern army. "No, sir, I have a son; but if my husband does not now enlist and avenge the vandalisms you have committed on my town and its people, I shall get a divorce." Said Sturgis. "I admire your pluck, madam, and from this time forward, as long as I remain, you shall be pro

tected." In another instance, a gentleman had been arrested, and was being carried before an officer, when his daughter, one of the most beautiful and accomplished girls in the city, seized an old sword lying near, and following the guard, who was conducting her father, and who was abusing him, bade him desist, threatening him with instant death if he should harm her father, accompanied him to the presence of the officer, when both were released. A Yankee officer who witnessed this scene, said he would rather fight the best regiment of the South than encounter the women of Fredericksburg.

One of the most gratifying of the many interesting inci dents of the occupation of Fredericksburg was the faithful conduct of the slaves who remained. In several instances they saved, amid the perfect rain of shot and shell, houses and indeed squares from destruction. In other instances, they claimed and secured protection for the property of their owners; whilst in not a few instances they asked to be permitted to share the plunder with the thieving soldiery, and getting the permission, took care to save, for those who had left, many valuable articles.

LINES.

WRITTEN ON THE BACK OF A CONFEDERATE NOTE.*

I.

REPRESENTING nothing on God's earth now,

And nought in the waters below it;—
As the pledge of a nation that's dead and gone,
Keep it, dear friend, and show it!

*The above lines were written by a gallant soldier of the late C. S. A. and, as far as my knowledge extends, have never been in print before. -Editor.

II.

Show it to those who will lend an ear
To the tale this paper can tell ;-
Of liberty, born of the patriot's dream,
Of the storm cradled nation that fell.

III.

Too poor to possess the precious ores,
And too much of a stranger to borrow,
We issued to-day our promise to pay,
And hoped to redeem on the morrow.

IV.

The days rolled on-the weeks became years,— But our coffers were empty still;

And coin was so rare, that our treasury quaked If a dollar should drop in the till.

V.

But the faith that was in us was strong indeed,

And our poverty well we discerned :

And these poor little cheques represented to pay That our suffering volunteers earned.

VI.

We knew it had scarcely a value in gold,
Yet as gold our soldiers received it;

It gazed in our eyes with a "promise to pay,"
And each patriot Confed'rate believed it.

VII.

But our boys thought little of price, or pay,
Or of bills that were over due;

We knew if it bought us our bread to-day,

It was all our poor country could do.