The Secretary
arrived to-day, sick; and was accompanied by Major Tyler, himself unwell. And
troops are beginning to arrive in considerable numbers. The precincts of the
city will soon be a series of encampments. The regiments are drilled here, and
these mostly forwarded to Manassas, where a battle must soon occur, if the
enemy, now in overwhelming numbers, should advance. The Northern papers say the
Yankee army will celebrate the 4th of July in Richmond. Nous verrons. But
no doubt hostilities have commenced. We have accounts of frightful massacres in
Missouri, by German mercenaries. Hampton has been occupied by the enemy, a detachment
having been sent from Fortress Monroe for that purpose. They also hold Newport
News on the Peninsula. There are rumors of a fight at Philippi. One Col.
Potterfield was surprised. If this be so, there is no excuse for him. I
think the President will make short work of incompetent commanders. Now a blunder
is worse than a crime.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States
Capital, Volume 1, p. 48
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