Saturday, January 31, 2015

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: May 27, 1861

We leave Montgomery day after to-morrow. The President goes to-day — but quietly — no one, not connected with the Government, to have information of the fact until his arrival in Richmond. It is understood that the Minister of Justice (Attorney-General) accompanies him. There are a great number of spies and emissaries in the country — sufficient, if it were known when the train would pass, to throw it off the track. This precaution is taken by the friends of the President.

The day is pretty much occupied in the packing of boxes. It is astonishing how vast a volume of papers accumulates in a short space of time — but when we consider the number of applications for office, the wonder ceases.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 45

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