A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 49

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 49

Col. Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance (Northern born), recommends that the habit of issuing twenty cartridges extra to each of our men be discontinued, and suggests that they be given three cartridges per month, and all over that to be issued upon requisition of the commanding general, on the eve of battle. But might they not, if this were adopted, be liable to be caught sometimes without enough ammunition? He says there is a deficiency of lead.

There is a rumor that the Secretary of the Navy sent an iron-clad out yesterday, at Savannah, to fight two of the enemy's blockading squadron, and that after an engagement of thirty minutes, our ship struck her colors. If this be so, the people will wish that the Secretary had been on the boat that surrendered.

A man by the name of Jackson a short time since obtained a pa.s.sport through our lines from Judge Campbell, and when a negro was rowing him across the Potomac, drew a pistol and made him take him to a Federal gun-boat in sight. He was heartily received, and gave such information to the enemy as induced them to engage in a raid on the Northern Neck, resulting in the devastation of several counties. These facts I got from the President's special detective, Craddock. Craddock also informs me that my communication to Col. Johnston was laid before the President, who called in the Secretary of State and the Secretary of War, to consult on some means of regulating the pa.s.sport business, etc. He says prompt measures will be adopted immediately.

Craddock also informs me that a Jew named Cohen, in this city, has been co-operating with his brother living in the North, obtaining pa.s.sports both ways for bribes--and bribing the officials that granted them, much to our detriment. This, perhaps, has alarmed the President; but if the business of selling pa.s.sports be lucrative, I despair of his being able to put an end to it.

I see the enemy have destroyed the President's house, furniture, etc., in Mississippi.

I have good reason to suppose that the package marked "important," etc., sent from the President's office yesterday to the Secretary of War, was the substance of a conversation which took place between Mr. Ould and Mr. Vallandigham. What Mr. V. revealed to Mr. O., perhaps supposing the latter, although employed here, friendly to ultimate reconstruction, there is no means of conjecturing. But it was deemed "highly important."

JUNE 19TH.--Gen. Lee telegraphs from _Culpepper Court House_ yesterday, that Gen. Rhodes captured Martinsburg, Sunday, 14th inst., taking several guns, over 200 prisoners, and a supply of ammunition and grain.

Our loss was only one killed and two wounded.

The Secretary of the Navy is in bad odor for ordering out the Atlanta at Savannah to fight _two_ Federal steamers, to whom she surrendered.

There is nothing more definite or authentic from Winchester, except that we certainly captured Milroy's army of not less than 5000 men.

To-day the government issued musket and ball-cartridges (forty to each) to the volunteer companies raised in the departments for home defense.

If this does not signify apprehension of an immediate attack, it proves at all events that Lee's army is not to be around the city as it was a year ago--and that signifies his purpose to advance.

JUNE 20TH.--It has got out that the President intends to dispense with the services of Mr. Myers, the Jew Quartermaster-General, and Mr. Miles, member of Congress from South Carolina, who happens to be his friend, is characteristically doing the part of a friend for his retention. But he gives the President some severe raps for alleged contempt of the wishes of Congress, that body having pa.s.sed a bill (vetoed by the President) conferring on Col. M. the rank and pay of brigadier-general.

The operations of Gen. Lee have relieved the depot here, which was nearly empty. Since the capture of Winchester and Martinsburg, only about 1500 bushels of corn are sent to the army daily, whereas 5000 were sent before, and there were rarely more than a day's supply on hand.

To-day, about one o'clock, the city was thrown into a state of joyful excitement, by the reception of news from the North. From this source it was ascertained, what had hitherto been only a matter of conjecture, that a portion of our forces, the same that captured Winchester and Martinsburg, were in Pennsylvania! Gen. Jenkins, with his cavalry, had taken Chambersburg on the 16th inst.--and the North, from the line of Pennsylvania to the lakes, and from the seaboard to the western prairies, was stricken with consternation. These are some of the dispatches, as copied from Northern papers:

"The Governor of Ohio calls for 30,000 troops. The Governor of Pennsylvania calls for 50,000, to prevent the invasion of each State.

"WASHINGTON, June 15th.--Lincoln has issued a proclamation for 100,000 men, to repel the invasion of Maryland, Northern Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio.

"HARRISBURG, June 15th.--Dispatches from Chambersburg and Hagerstown state that the rebel cavalry are at Berryville and Martinsburg. A dispatch dated 14th, says that hard fighting is going on. The rebels had driven Reynolds from Berryville, and were advancing on the capital. The towns and cities throughout Pennsylvania are in danger.

"LATER.--Private dispatches state that on the 16th the rebels were at Chambersburg in force. The Federals were removing the railroad machinery, stock, and stores. Great excitement and alarm pervaded the entire country."

In the "hard fighting," Gen. Lee reports our loss as "one killed and two wounded." Here's the second dispatch:

"SHELBYVILLE, TENN., June 18th.--Nashville papers of the 17th inst. have been received here. They contain Lincoln's proclamation, calling for 100,000 militia, for six months' service, and the following highly interesting telegrams:

"LOUDON, PA., June 16th.--The rebels are in heavy force in the c.u.mberland Valley.

"BEDFORD, PA., June 16th.--Scouts report 6000 rebels at c.u.mberland, Maryland. The inhabitants are flying for safety from Harper's Ferry.

"HARRISBURG, June 16th.--Business is suspended here. All the important doc.u.ments have been removed from the capital.

"Milroy telegraphs officially his repulse from the fortifications at Winchester by 15,000 rebels, with the loss of 2900 men.

"Governor Curtin calls upon the people of Pennsylvania to defend the State, saying that Philadelphia has not responded, while the enemy are in Chambersburg. He reproaches Pennsylvania for sniffling about the length of service when the exigency exists.

"Dispatches state that everything looks gloomy, and there is no saving the country south of the Susquehanna.

"BALTIMORE, June 16th.--Governor Bradford calls on the people to rally to the defense of Maryland.

"PROVIDENCE, R. I., June 16th.--Governor Smith convenes the Legislature on Thursday for the purpose of raising troops.

"PHILADELPHIA, June 16th.--The Mayor has issued a proclamation closing the stores in order that the occupants may join military organizations to defend the city.

"NEW YORK, June 16th.--All the regiments are getting ready under arms.

The Brooklyn bells were rung at midnight, summoning the men to the regiments, which were to leave immediately for Philadelphia.

"Governor Andrews, of Ma.s.sachusetts, tenders Lincoln all the available force of militia from that State."

Milroy's statement in relation to the number of prisoners taken by us is pretty fair, when compared with Hooker's official statements on similar occasions. Some of the prisoners will probably arrive in Richmond to-day--and the Agent of Exchange has been notified that 7000 would be sent on. So Gen. Milroy told nearly _half_ the truth.

Again:

THIRD DISPATCH.

"SHELBYVILLE, June 19th.--Other dispatches in the Nashville papers say that the rebels advanced six miles beyond Chambersburg. On the 16th Gen.

Taylor telegraphs officially his retreat, and the capture of the Federal forces at Winchester."

Later in the day the New York _Herald_ of the 17th inst. was received by the flag of truce boat. I now quote from it:

"Fortifications are being rapidly erected all along the north bank of the Susquehanna, and Gen. McClellan or Gen. Franklin has been called for to head the State troops.

REPORTS FROM HARRISBURG.

"HARRISBURG, PA., June 16th.--Midnight.--Rebel cavalry to-day occupied Littletown, eleven miles from Gettysburg, but at last accounts had not advanced beyond that point.

"The rebel officers at Chambersburg stated that they were only waiting for infantry to move forward. The authorities are inclined to believe, however, that they will not move farther North.

"The farmers in the valley are sending their horses and cattle into the mountains.

"The rebels are gathering up all the negroes that can be found.

"Private property has been respected.

"They burned the railroad bridge across Scotland Creek, six miles this side of Chambersburg.

HARPER'S FERRY INVESTED.

"BALTIMORE, June 16th.--Fugitives from Hagerstown report the rebels picketing all the roads and not permitting any one to pa.s.s.

"The force that pa.s.sed through were all cavalry, under Jenkins and Imboden, and did not exceed 2500.

"All was quiet at Frederick up to five o'clock this evening, though the people were greatly excited and hundreds were leaving.

"HARRISBURG, June 17th.--The aspect of affairs, so far as can be judged by the reports from the border, seems to be this: