A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 21

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 21

Senator Brown, of Mississippi, opposed the bill increasing our salaries, on the ground that letters from himself, indorsed by the President, applying for clerkships for his friends, _remained unanswered_. He did not seem to know that this was exclusively the fault of the head clerk, Mr. Randolph, who has the t.i.tle of Secretary of War.

And the _Examiner_ denounces the bill, because it seems to sanction a depreciation of our currency! What statesmanship! What logic!

OCTOBER 14TH.--Congress adjourned yesterday at five o'clock P.M. I have heard nothing of Mr. Brooks and the Pa.s.sport Bill I drafted. The truth is that, with few exceptions, the members of this Congress are very weak, and very subservient to the heads of departments.

Congress has given him (the President) power to suspend the writ of _habeas corpus_ anywhere, until thirty days after the rea.s.sembling of Congress--and they have failed to pa.s.s the joint resolution declaring no power exists under the Const.i.tution to inst.i.tute martial law. They voted it separately, but _flinched_ when put to the test to act conjointly; and martial law still exists in this city.

We have Northern accounts of a dash into Pennsylvania by Gen. Stuart and 1500 of his cavalry. He went as far as Chambersburg, which surrendered; and he was gathering horses, etc., for the use of the army, paying for them in Confederate notes. They say he did not disturb any other description of private property without paying for it. I hope he is safely back again by this time. The Northern papers claim a victory in Kentucky--but I shall wait until we hear from Bragg.

Gen. Magruder has been a.s.signed to duty in Texas. What Gen. Johnston is to do, does not yet appear. A great many new a.s.sistant adjutants and inspector-generals are to be appointed for the generals, lieutenant-generals, majors, and brigadier-generals, having rank and pay of colonels, majors, captains, and lieutenants of cavalry. Like the Russian, perhaps, we shall have a purely military government; and it may be as good as any other.

Gold, in the North, is selling at 28 per cent. premium; and Exchange on England at $1.40. This is an indication that the Abolitionists are bringing distress upon their own country.

The financial bill did not pa.s.s--so there is to be no forced loan.

Neither did a bill, making Confederate notes a legal tender--so there will be a still greater depreciation.

Gen. Hardee is a lieutenant-general.

OCTOBER 15TH.--A young man showed me a pa.s.sport to-day to return to Washington. It appears that Secretary Randolph has adopted another plan, which must be a rare stroke of genius. The printed pa.s.sport is "by order of the Secretary of War," and is signed by "J. H. Winder, Brig.-Gen."

But this is not all: on the back it is "_approved_--by order of Major-Gen. Gustavus W. Smith," and signed by one of Smith's "adjutants."

So the command of the Secretary of War is approved by the New Yorker, Smith, after being first manipulated by Winder. It is an improvement, at all events, on the late mode of sending out spies--they cannot get pa.s.sports for bribes now, without Smith's adjutant knowing something about it. Heretofore the "Plug Uglies" might take the bribe, and by their influence with Gen. Winder, obtain his signature to a blank pa.s.sport.

The following was received yesterday:

"WINCHESTER, VA., Oct. 14, 1862.

"HON. G. W. RANDOLPH.

"The cavalry expedition to Pennsylvania has returned safe. They pa.s.sed through Mercersburg, Chambersburg, Emmetsburg, Liberty, New Market, Syattstown, and Burnesville. The expedition crossed the Potomac above Williamsport, and recrossed at White's Ford, making the entire circuit, cutting the enemy's communications, destroying arms, etc., and obtaining many recruits.

"R. E. LEE, General."

Thus, Gen. Stuart has made another circle round the enemy's army; and hitherto, every time he has done so, a grand battle followed. Let McClellan beware!

A letter, just received from Gen. Lee, says there is no apprehension of an immediate advance of McClellan's army. This he has ascertained from his scouts sent out to obtain information. He says the enemy is in no condition to advance. Will they go into winter quarters? Or will Lee beat them up in their quarters?

But the government has desired Lee to fall back from the Potomac; and Lee, knowing best what he should do at present, declines the _honor_. He says he is now subsisting his army on what, if he retreated, would subsist the enemy, as he has but limited means of transportation. He says, moreover, that our cavalry about Culpepper and Mana.s.sas (belonging to the command of Gen. Gustavus W. Smith), should be more _active_ and _daring_ in dashing at the enemy; and then, a few weeks hence, McClellan would go into winter quarters. That would insure the safety of Richmond until spring.

There is a rumor, generally credited, that Bragg has led the enemy, in Kentucky, into an ambuscade, and slaughtered 25,000. A traveler from the West reports having read an account to this effect in the Louisville _Journal_. If the _Journal_ really says so--that number won't cover the loss. The Abolitionist journals are incorrigible liars. And, indeed, so are many of those who bring us news from the West.

OCTOBER 16TH.--There is no confirmation of the reported victory in Kentucky.

An Englishman, who has been permitted to go North, publishes there a minute and pretty accurate description of our river defenses.

I have written a leading article for the _Whig_ to-morrow, on "Martial Law and Pa.s.sports." My plan is to organize committees in all the border counties to examine the pa.s.sports of strangers seeking egress from the country; and to permit loyal citizens, not desiring to pa.s.s our borders, or the lines of the armies, to travel without pa.s.sports. An officer and a squad of soldiers at the depots can decide what soldiers are ent.i.tled to pa.s.s on the roads.

OCTOBER 17TH.--The article in the _Whig_ is backed by one of a similar character in the _Examiner_. We shall see what effect they will have on the policy adopted by the Secretary of War.

Although still unofficial, we have confirmatory accounts of Bragg's victory in Kentucky. The enemy lost, they say, 25,000 men. Western accounts are generally exaggerated.

The President has appointed the following lieutenant-generals: Jackson, Longstreet, (Bishop) Polk, Hardee, Pemberton, Holmes, and Smith (Kirby).

The raid of Stuart into Pennsylvania was a most brilliant affair. He captured and destroyed much public property--respecting that of individuals. The Abolitionists are much mortified, and were greatly frightened. The plan of this expedition was received at the department to-day--just as conceived and prepared by Lee, and it was executed by Stuart in a masterly manner.

Advices from Winchester inform the government that McClellan is receiving large reinforcements. He may be determined to cross the Potomac and offer battle--as nothing less will satisfy the rabid Abolitionists. Gen. Lee is tearing up the rails on the road from Harper's Ferry.

Our improvident soldiers lose a great many muskets. We should not have arms enough on the Potomac, were it not for those captured at Harper's Ferry. An order will be issued, making every man responsible for the safe-keeping of his gun.

OCTOBER 18TH.--Major-Gen. Jones telegraphs from Knoxville, Tenn., that a wounded officer arrived from Kentucky, reports a victory for Bragg, and that he has taken over 10,000 prisoners. We shall soon have positive news.

A letter from Admiral Buchanan states that he has inspected the defenses of Mobile, and finds them satisfactory.

I traversed the markets this morning, and was gratified to find the greatest profusion of all kinds of meats, vegetables, fruits, poultry, b.u.t.ter, eggs, etc. But the prices are enormously high. If the army be kept away, it seems the supply must soon be greater than the demand.

Potatoes at $5 per bushel, and a large crop! Half-grown chickens at $1 each! b.u.t.ter at $1.25 per pound! And other things in the same proportion.

Here is a most startling matter. Gov. Baylor, appointed Governor of Arizona, sent an order some time since to a military commander to a.s.semble the Apaches, under pretense of a treaty--_and when they came, to kill every man of them, and sell their children to pay for the whisky_. This order was sent to the Secretary, who referred it to Gen.

Sibley, of that Territory, to ascertain if it were genuine. To-day it came back from Gen. S. indorsed a _true bill_. Now it will go to the President--and we shall see what will follow. He cannot sanction such a perfidious crime. I predict he will make Capt. Josselyn, his former private Secretary, and the present Secretary of the Territory, Governor in place of Baylor.

OCTOBER 20TH.--The news from Kentucky is very vague. It seems there has been a battle, which resulted favorably for us, so far as the casualties are concerned. But then Bragg has fallen back forty miles, and is probably retiring toward c.u.mberland Gap, that he may not be taken in the rear by the enemy's forces lately at Corinth.

The President intends suspending the Conscription Act in Western Virginia, for the purpose, no doubt, of organizing an army of Partisan Rangers in that direction.

It seems, from recent Northern papers received in this city, that the elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana have gone against the Abolitionists. What then? If the war should be waged by the Democrats for the restoration of the Union, and waged according to the rules of civilized nations, respecting non-combatants, and exempting private property from pillage, it would be a still more formidable war than that now waged against us.

I have just received the following note from the Secretary:

"OCTOBER 17th, 1862.

"MR. J. B. JONES will hereafter refer all applicants for pa.s.sports to Gen. Smith's Adjutant-General, and grant none from the department.

"GEORGE W. RANDOLPH,

"_Sec. of War_."

Neither the acting a.s.sistant Secretary, nor Mr. Kean, with his whole alphabet of initials, could be certain whether the order referred merely to applicants to go out of the Confederacy, or all applicants of whatever kind. If the latter, I am _functus officio_, so far as pa.s.sports are concerned. But Capt. Kean says there is plenty of work for me to do; and I presume I will not be entirely out of employment.

I took a good look at Mr. Randolph to-day. He is thin, frail. His face is pale, and will soon be a ma.s.s of wrinkles, although he is not over forty. His eyes are extremely small, blue, and glisten very much.

OCTOBER 21ST.--Still nothing definite from Kentucky, more than the retreat of Bragg. Gen. Loring is here--he would not act upon the suggestions of Lee, and so he is recalled.

The government is uneasy about Richmond. They want a portion of Lee's army sent hither. But Lee responds, that although he is not advised of the condition of things on the south side of James River, yet, if he detaches a portion of his army, he may be too weak to encounter McClellan, if he should advance.

I saw the Secretary again this morning; he wished me to turn over all the pa.s.sport business to the military. I said I was glad to be rid of that business, and would never touch it again.

OCTOBER 22D.--Back at the department at work, but not much to do yet.

The mails are not heavy.

We have Bragg's report of the battle of Perryville. He beat the enemy from his positions, driving him back two miles, when night set in. But finding overwhelming ma.s.ses acc.u.mulating around him, he withdrew in good order to Bryattsville. Thus Kentucky is given up for the present!