by John Beauchamp Jones
APRIL 21ST.—Gen. Longstreet lost, it is said, two 32-pounder guns yesterday, with which he was firing on the enemy’s gun-boats. A force was landed and captured the battery.
Gen. Lee writes that his men have each, daily, but a quarter pound of meat and 16 ounces of flour. They have, besides, 1 pound of rice to every ten men, two or three times a week. He says this may keep them alive; but that at this season they should have more generous food. The scurvy and the typhoid fever are appearing among them. Longstreet and Hill, however, it is hoped will succeed in bringing off supplies of provision, etc.—such being the object of their demonstrations.
Gen. Wise has fallen back, being ordered by Gen. Elzey not to attempt the capture of FortMagruder—a feat he could have accomplished.
