Cloudy; rained much
last night.
The following is all
we know yet of Early's defeat:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
September 20th, 1864.
HON.
JAMES A. SEDDON.
Gen.
Early reports that, on the morning of the 19th, the enemy advanced on
Winchester, near which place he met his attack, which was resisted from early
in the day till near night, when he was compelled to retire. After night he
fell back to Newtown, and this morning to Fisher's Hill.
Our
loss reported to be severe.
Major-Gen.
Rhodes and Brig.-Gen. Godwin were killed, nobly doing their duty.
Three
pieces of artillery of King's battalion were lost.
The
trains and supplies were brought off safely.
R. E. LEE.
The profound chagrin
produced by this event is fast becoming a sort of reckless unconcern. Many
would fight and die in the last ditch, rather than give up Richmond; and many
others are somewhat indifferent as to the result, disgusted with the management
of affairs.
The President left
the city on Monday, ignorant of the defeat of Early, for Georgia. It is said
Beauregard is with him; but this is not certain. His private secretary, Mr.
Burton Harrison, says he will be absent at least a month, perhaps until Christmas.
Congress meets early in November; and before that day we may have terrible
events events determining the fate of the war.
We have heard heavy
firing down the river all day; but it may not be a serious matter, though a
general battle is looked for soon on the south side. Gen. Lee will soon be
reinforced materially. The President has adopted a suggestion I made to Gen.
Bragg, and a general order is published to-day virtually abolishing the Bureau
of Conscription. The business is mostly turned over to the commanders of the
Reserves; and conscription is to be executed by Reserve men unfit for duty in
the field. All the former conscript officers, guards, details, clerks, etc. fit
to bear arms, are to go into the ranks.
“When the cat's
away, the mice will play,” is an old saying, and a true one. I saw a note of
invitation to-day from Secretary Mallory to Secretary Seddon, inviting him to
his house at 5 P.M. to partake of “pea-soup” with Secretary Trenholm. His
“peasoup" will be oysters and champagne, and every other delicacy relished
by epicures. Mr. Mallory's red face, and his plethoric body, indicate the
highest living; and his party will enjoy the dinner while so many of our brave
men are languishing with wounds, or pining in a cruel captivity. Nay, they may
feast, possibly, while the very pillars of the government are crumbling under
the blows of the enemy.
It is said the
President has gone to Georgia to prevent Governor Brown, Stephens, H. V.
Johnson, Toombs, etc. from making peace (for Georgia) with Sherman.
A splenetic letter
from Gov. Vance indicates trouble in that quarter. He says the Confederate
States Government threw every possible impediment in bis way when he bought a
steamer and imported machinery to manufacture clothing for the North Carolina
troops, and now the Confederate States Quartermaster-General is interfering
with these factories, because, he says, he, the Governor, is supplying the
troops at less expense than the Quartermaster-General would do. He demands
details for the factories, and says if the Confederate States Government is
determined to come in collision with him, he will meet it. He says he will not
submit to any interference. Gov. Vance was splenetic once before, but became
amiable enough about the time of the election. Since his election for another
term, he shows his teeth again.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp
Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume
2, p. 289-90
