A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 13

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 13

APRIL 12TH.--The committee (Congressional) which have been investigating the Roanoke Island disaster have come to the conclusion, unanimously, and the House has voted accordingly, and with unanimity, that the blame and guilt of that great calamity rest solely upon "Gen. Huger and Judah P. Benjamin."

APRIL 13TH.--Gen. Wise now resolved to ask for another command, to make another effort in defense of his country. But, when he waited upon the Secretary of War, he ascertained that there was no brigade for him.

Returning from thence, some of his officers, who had escaped the trap at Roanoke, crowded round him to learn the issue of his application.

"There is no Secretary of War!" said he.

"What is Randolph?" asked one.

"He is not Secretary of War!" said he; "he is merely a _clerk_, an underling, and cannot hold up his head in his humiliating position. He never will be able to hold up his head, sir."

APRIL 14TH.--There will soon be hard fighting on the Peninsula.

APRIL 15TH.--Gen. Beauregard has written to Gen. Wise, offering him a command in his army, if the government will consent to it. It will not be consented to.

APRIL 16TH.--Troops are being concentrated rapidly in Virginia by Gen.

Lee.

APRIL 17TH.--To-day Congress pa.s.sed an act providing for the termination of martial law within thirty days after the meeting of the next session.

This was as far as they could _venture_; for, indeed, a majority seem to be intimidated at the glitter of bayonets in the streets, wielded by the authority of martial law. The press, too, has taken the alarm, and several of the publishers have confessed a fear of having their offices closed, if they dare to speak the sentiments struggling for utterance.

It is, indeed, a reign of terror! Every Virginian, and other loyal citizens of the South--members of Congress and all--must now, before obtaining Gen. Winder's permission to leave the city for their homes, bow down before the _aliens_ in the Provost Marshal's office, and subscribe to an oath of allegiance, while a file of bayonets are pointed at his back!

APRIL 18TH.--The President is thin and haggard; and it has been whispered on the street that he will immediately be baptized and confirmed. I hope so, because it may place a great gulf between him and the descendant of those who crucified the Saviour. Nevertheless, some of his enemies allege that professions of Christianity have sometimes been the premeditated accompaniments of usurpations. It was so with Cromwell and with Richard III. Who does not remember the scene in Shakspeare, where Richard appears on the balcony, with prayer book in hand and a priest on either side?

APRIL 19TH.--All believe we are near a crisis, involving the possession of the capital.

APRIL 21ST.--A calm before the storm.

APRIL 22D.--Dibble, the traitor, has been captured by our soldiers in North Carolina.

APRIL 23D.--The North Carolinians have refused to give up Dibble to Gen.

Winder. And, moreover, the governor has demanded the rendition of a citizen of his State, who was arrested there by one of Gen. Winder's detectives, and brought hither. The governor says, if he be not delivered up, he will inst.i.tute measures of retaliation, and arrest every alien policeman from Richmond caught within the limits of his jurisdiction.

Is it not shameful that martial law should be playing such fantastic tricks before high heaven, when the enemy's guns are booming within hearing of the capital?

APRIL 24TH.--Webster has been tried, condemned, and _hung_.

APRIL 25TH.--Gen. Wise, through the influence of Gen. Lee, who is a Christian gentleman as well as a consummate general, has been ordered into the field. He will have a brigade, but not with Beauregard. The President has unbounded confidence in Lee's capacity, modest as he is.

Another change! Provost Marshal G.o.dwin, for rebuking the Baltimore chief of police, is to leave us, and to be succeeded by a Marylander, Major Griswold, whose family is now in the enemy's country.

APRIL 26TH.--Gen. Lee is doing good service in bringing forward reinforcements from the South against the day of trial--and an awful day awaits us. It is understood that he made fully known to the President his appreciation of the desperate condition of affairs, and demanded _carte blanche_ as a condition of his acceptance of the position of commanding general. The President wisely agreed to the terms.

APRIL 27TH.--Gen. Lee is calm--but the work of preparation goes on night and day.

APRIL 28TH.--We have rumors of an important cabinet meeting, wherein it was resolved to advise or command Gen. Johnston to evacuate Yorktown and retire toward Richmond! Also that Norfolk is to be given up! I don't believe it; Lee's name is not mentioned.

APRIL 29TH.--Major Griswold is here, and so is a new batch of Marylanders.

APRIL 30TH.--Troops from the South are coming in and marching down the Peninsula.

CHAPTER XIV.

Disloyalists entrapped.--Norfolk abandoned.--Merrimac blown up.--Army falling back.--Mrs. Davis leaves Richmond.--Preparing to burn the tobacco.--Secretary of War trembles for Richmond.--Richmond to be defended.--The tobacco.--Winking and blinking.--Johnston's great battle.--Wounded himself.--The wounded.--The hospitals.

MAY 1ST.--The ladies shower loaves of bread and slices of ham on the pa.s.sing troops.

MAY 2D.--An iniquitous-looking prisoner was brought in to-day from Orange C. H., by the name of Robert Stewart. The evidence against him is as follows: He is a Pennsylvanian, though a resident of Virginia for a number of years, and owns a farm in Orange County. Since the series of disasters, and the seeming downward progress of our affairs, Stewart has cooled his ardor for independence. He has slunk from enrollment in the militia, and under the Conscription Act. And since the occupation of Fredericksburg by the enemy he has made use of such equivocal language as to convince his neighbors that his sympathies are wholly with the Northern invader.

A day or two since, near nightfall, three troopers, weary and worn, halted at Stewart's house and craved food and rest for themselves and horses. Stewart, supposing them to be Confederate soldiers, declared he had nothing they wanted, and that he was dest.i.tute of every description of refreshments. They said they were sorry for it, as it was a long ride to Fredericksburg.

"Are you _Union_ soldiers?" asked Stewart, quickly.

"Yes," said they, "and we are on scouting duty."

"Come in! Come in! I have everything you want!" cried Stewart, and when they entered he embraced them.

A sumptuous repast was soon on the table, but the soldiers refused to eat! Surprised at this, Stewart demanded the reason; the troopers rose, and said they were Confederate soldiers, and it was their duty to arrest a traitor. They brought him hither. Will he, too, escape merited punishment?

MAY 3D.--I fear there is something in the rumor that Norfolk and Portsmouth and Yorktown and the Peninsula will be _given_ up. The Secretaries of War and Navy are going down to Norfolk.

MAY 4TH.--The Yankees on the Peninsula mean to fight. Well, that is what our brave army pants for.

MAY 5TH.--The prospect of battle produces a joyous smile on every soldier's face to-day.

MAY 6TH, 7TH.--We have not yet reached the lowest round of the ladder.

The Secretary is at Norfolk, and the place is to be evacuated. I would resign first.

MAY 8TH.--Norfolk and Portsmouth are evacuated! Our army falling back!

The Merrimac is to be, or has been, blown up!

MAY 9TH.--My family, excepting my son Custis, started to-day for Raleigh, N. C., where our youngest daughter is at school. But it is in reality another flight from the enemy. No one, scarcely, supposes that Richmond will be defended. But it must be!

MAY 10TH.--The President's family have departed for Raleigh, and the families of most of the cabinet to their respective homes, or other places of refuge. The President has been baptized (at home) and privately confirmed in St. Paul's Church.

MAY 11TH.--The Baltimore detectives are the lords of the ascendant. They crook a finger, and the best carriages in the street pause, turn round, and are subject to their will. They loll and roll in glory. And they ride on horseback, too--government horses, or horses _pressed_ from gentlemen's stables. One word of remonstrance, and the poor victim is sent to Castle G.o.dwin.

MAY 12TH.--I suggested to the Provost Marshal several days ago that there was an act of Congress _requiring_ the destruction of tobacco, whenever it might be in danger of falling into the hands of the enemy.

He ran to Gen. Winder, and he to some one else, and then a hundred or more negroes, and as many wagons, were "pressed" by the detectives. They are now gathering the weed from all quarters, and piling it in "pressed"

warehouses, mixed with "combustibles," ready for the conflagration.

And now the consuls from the different nations are claiming that all bought on foreign account ought to be spared the torch. Mr. Myers, the little old lawyer, has been employed to aid them. He told me to-day that none ought to be burnt, that the Yankees having already the tobacco of Missouri, Kentucky, and Maryland, if we burn ours it will redound to their benefit, as it will enhance the price of that in their hands. That is a Benjamite argument. He hastened away to see the Secretary of State, and returned, saying, in high glee (supposing I concurred with him, of course), Mr. B. agreed with him. I told him, very gravely, that it mattered not who agreed with him; so soon as the enemy came to Richmond all the tobacco would be burned, as the retiring army would attend to it; several high officers were so resolved. He looked astounded, and departed.

MAY 13TH.--This morning I learned that the consuls had carried the day, and were permitted to collect the tobacco _alleged_ to be bought on foreign account in separate warehouses, and to place the flags of their respective nations over them. This was saving the property claimed by foreigners whose governments refused to recognize us (these consuls are accredited to the United States), and destroying that belonging to our own citizens. I told the Provost Marshal that the act of Congress included _all_ tobacco and cotton, and he was required by _law_ to see it all destroyed. He, however, acknowledged only martial law, and was, he said, acting under the instructions of the Secretary of State. What has the Secretary of State to do with _martial law_? Is there really no Secretary of War?