A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 121

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 121

If Savannah falls, our currency will experience another depreciation, and the croaking reconstructionists will be bolder.

The members of the Virginia a.s.sembly propose paying themselves $50 per day!

Congress has not yet pa.s.sed the act increasing the compensation of members.

DECEMBER 19TH.--The darkest and most dismal day that ever dawned upon the earth, except one. There was no light when the usual hour came round, and later the sun refused to shine. There was fog, and afterward rain.

Northern papers say Hood has been utterly routed, losing all his guns!

A letter from Mr. ------ to ------, dated Richmond, December 17th, 1864, says: "I have the honor to report my success as most remarkable and satisfactory. I have ascertained the _whole Yankee mail line, from the gun-boats to your city, with all the agents_ save one. You will be _surprised_ when informed, from the lowest to the highest cla.s.s. The agent in your city, and most likely in your department, has yet to be discovered. This is as certain as what we have learned (his arrest, I mean), for the party in whose hands the mail is put coming from your city is known to us; and we have only to learn who gives him the mail, which can be done upon arrest, if _not sooner_, to know everything. What shall be done with the parties (spies, of course) when we are ready to act? If you ever intimate that _trials are tedious_, etc., the enemy seize citizens from some neighborhood as hostages, when their emissaries are disturbed. _I will dispatch_, if it be authorized, and that will end the matter. The lady I spoke to you of is the fountain-head. What to do with females troubles me, for I dislike to be identified with their arrest.

"I request that a good boat, with three torpedoes, and a man who understands working them, be sent to Milford to report to me at Edge Hill. Let the man be _mum_ on all questions. I would meet him at Milford, if I knew the day (distance is twenty-five miles), with a wagon, to take him, torpedoes, and boat to the point required. I must be sure of the day.

"Have the following advertis.e.m.e.nt published in Monday's papers:

"'YANKEES ESCAPED! $1000 REWARD!--A Yankee officer and three privates escaped from prison on Thursday night, with important matter upon their persons. The above reward will be given for their detection.'

"Let me hear from you through Cawood's Line, upon receipt of this.

Respectfully, etc. ------."

We have the spectacle now of three full generals--Johnston, Beauregard, and Bragg--without armies to command; and the armies in the field apparently melting away under the lead of subordinate, if not incompetent leaders. So much for the administration of the Adjutant-General's office.

Governor Smith is still exempting deputy sheriffs, constables, etc.--all able-bodied.

It is rumored on the street that we intend evacuating Savannah. How did that get out--if, indeed, such is the determination? There _are_ traitors in high places--or near them.

It is also rumored that the Danville Railroad has been cut. I don't believe it--yet.

There is deep vexation in the city--a general apprehension that our affairs are rapidly approaching a crisis such as has not been experienced before. There is also much denunciation of the President for the removal of Gen. Johnston from the command of the Army of Tennessee.

Hon. Mr. Foote declared, Sat.u.r.day, that he would resign his seat if the bill to suspend the writ of _habeas corpus_, now pending, became a law.

There is much consternation--but it is of a sullen character, without excitement.

The United States Congress has ordered that notice be given Great Britain of an intention on the part of the Federal Government to increase the naval force on the lakes; also a proposition has been introduced to terminate the Reciprocity Treaty. And Gen. Dix orders his military subordinates to pursue any rebel raiders even _into_ Canada and bring them over. So, light may come from _that_ quarter. A war with England would be our peace.

At 2 P.M. it was rumored that Charleston is taken and Beauregard a prisoner. Also that Gen. Jos. E. Johnston (in the city) says Richmond will be evacuated in ten days. I do not learn what gold sells at to-day!

I suspect some _coup d'etat_ is meditated.

DECEMBER 20TH.--A brighter morning, cool and clear.

The _President_ was at work yesterday. He and the Secretary and Gen.

Cooper put their heads together to make up a _regiment_ for Col. Miller in Mississippi, and designate the two field officers to be under him--from two battalions and two unattached companies.

If the Northern (purporting to be official) accounts be true, Gen. Hood has sustained an irretrievable disaster, which may involve the loss of Tennessee, Georgia, etc.

Hon. Mr. Foote declared last night his purpose to leave the city in a few days, never to resume his seat in Congress, if martial law should be allowed. He said he had information that when Charleston _fell_, South Carolina would conclude a treaty of peace (submission?) with the United States; and that North Carolina was prepared to follow the example! I have observed that these two States do not often incline to go together.

The _great_ disaster would be the loss of Richmond and retreat of Lee's army southward. This would probably be followed by the downfall of slavery in Virginia.

The Secretary of War has sent an agent to the Governor of North Carolina, to ask for special aid in supplying Lee's army with meat--which is deficient here--or else it cannot be maintained in the field in Virginia! Very bad, and perhaps worse coming.

There is a rumor that Gen. Breckinridge has beaten Gen. Burbridge in Tennessee or Western Virginia.

Gen. R. E. Lee is in town, looking robust, though weather-worn. He complains that the department is depleting his army by details, often for private and speculative purposes, to the benefit of private individuals--speculators.

I drew my (State) salt to-day, 70 pounds, for 7 in family--20 cents per pound. It retails at a $1 per pound!

Mr. Secretary ---- has sent (per Lieut.-Col. Bayne) some gold to Wilmington, to buy (in Na.s.sau) loaf sugar for his family, to be brought in government steamers.

My son Thomas could get no beef ration to-day--too scarce.

DECEMBER 21ST.--Raining; rained all night.

The following dispatch was received this morning:

"WILMINGTON, December 20th, 1864,10 A.M.--The head of the enemy's fleet arrived off this port during last night. Over thirty steamers are now a.s.sembling, and more are following.--BRAXTON BRAGG."

It may be hoped that Gen. Bragg will do something more than chronicle the successes of the enemy this time. He is nearer to him than when he remained at Augusta; and yet the press could be made reticent on arrivals, etc.

Lieut.-Col. Sims, a.s.sistant Quartermaster General, has contracted with the _Southern Express Company_ to transport all the funds of the Quartermaster's Department--hundreds of millions!

Mr. Hunter was with the Secretary this morning, when I laid before the latter Bragg's dispatch. I doubt not it failed to contribute to a mollification of their painful forebodings.

By Northern papers I see President Lincoln disapproves Gen. Dix's order to troops to cross the Canada line in pursuit of raiders.

Gold is $45 for one to-day.

The army has no meat this day, the commissaries, etc. have it all, and are speculating with it--it is said. So many high officials are _interested_, there is no remedy. We are at the mercy of the quartermasters, commissaries, railroad companies, and the _Southern_ Express Company. The President and Secretary either cannot or will not break our shackles.

An official account states the number of houses burnt by the enemy in Atlanta to be 5000!

There is a rumor of another and a formidable raid on Gordonsville. The railroad is now exclusively occupied with the transportation of troops--perhaps for Wilmington. The raid may be a ruse to prevent reinforcements being sent thither.

The Andersonville Report belongs to the Adjutant-General's Office, and therefore has not come back to me.

DECEMBER 22D.--Clear and cold. We have nothing from below. From Wilmington, we learn there is much commotion to resist the armada launched against that port. Gen. Lee is sending troops _via_ the Danville Road in that direction.

The wire has been cut between this and Gordonsville, by the scouts of the raiders launched in that direction. We breakfast, dine, and sup on horrors now, and digest them all quite sullenly.

I am invited to a turkey dinner to-day (at Mr. Waterhouse's), and have some hesitation in accepting it at a time like this. Ought I to go? He is a skilled artisan and has made money, and no doubt the turkey is destined to be eaten by somebody.

At an auction this morning, a Jew bid off an old set of tablespoons, weighing twelve ounces and much worn, at $575. He will next _buy_ his way out of the Confederacy. Mr. Benjamin and Judge Campbell have much to answer for in allowing such men to deplete the South of its specie, plate, etc. There were some commissaries and quartermasters present, who are supposed to have stolen much from the government, and desire to exchange the currency they have ruined for imperishable wealth. They, too, will run away the first opportunity.

The sun shines brightly this beautiful cold day; but all is dark in Congress. The Tennessee members say Hood's army is destroyed, that he will not get 1000 men out of the State, for the Tennesseeans, Kentuckians, etc. refuse to retire farther south, but straggle and scatter to their homes, where they will remain.

I am told we have but a thin curtain of pickets on the north side of the James River, between us and 15,000 negro troops.

The President is at work at his residence, not having yet come down to his office; and I learn it is difficult to get his attention to any business just now but _appointments_; had to get him to sign a bill pa.s.sed by Congress to pay the civil officers of the government. No doubt he is anxious and very unhappy.