Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: December 15, 1862

Yesterday evening several trains laden with wounded arrived in the city. The remains of Brig.-Gen. T. R. R. Cobb, of Georgia, were brought down. Brig.-Gen. Gregg, of South Carolina, is said to be mortally wounded. It is now believed that Major-Gen. Hood, of Texas, did not fall. The number of our killed and wounded is estimated, by a surgeon who came with the wounded, to be not over a thousand.

To-day, stragglers from the battle-field say that our loss in killed and wounded is 3000. It is all conjecture.

There was heavy skirmishing all day yesterday, and until to day at noon, when the telegraph operator reports that the firing had ceased. We know not (yet) what this means. We are still sending artillery ammunition to Gen. Lee.

Gen. Evans dispatches from Kinston, N. C., that on the 14th, yesterday, he repulsed the enemy, 15,000 strong, and drove them back to their boats in Neuse River. A portion of Gen. R. A. Pryor's command, in Isle of Wight County, was engaged with the enemy's advance the same day. They have also landed at Gloucester Point. This is pronounced a simultaneous attack on our harbors and cities in Virginia and North Carolina. Perhaps we shall have more before night. Our people seem prepared for any event.

Another long train of negroes have just passed through the city, singing, to work on the fortifications.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 213-4

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: October 23, 1861

The President is highly delighted at the result of the battle of Leesburg; and yet some of the red-tape West Point gentry are indignant at Gen. Evans for not obeying orders, and falling back. There is some talk of a court-martial; for it is maintained that no commander, according to strict military rules, should have offered battle against such superior numbers. They may disgrace Gen. Evans; but I trust our soldiers will repeat the experiment on every similar occasion.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 87

Southern News

WASHINGTON, May 3.

According to reliable information from Richmond the planters have determined to raise no tobacco this season, and the military had received the stock on hand to prevent its falling into the hands of the Federal army.  The Richmond Examiner of May 2d contains the annexed news and items:

SAVANNAH, May 1.

A dispatch from the Corinth correspondent of the Republican, dated 28th April, says the enemy have been reinforced and are advancing.  There is heavy skirmishing daily.  Quite an affair occurred to-day this side of Monterey.

MOBILE, May 1.

A special dispatch to the Mobile Advertiser, from Corinth, 26th ult., says that Col. Scott, of the Louisiana Cavalry, with two companies, had driven out a regiment of Federals from Tuscumbia, killing several and taking 40 prisoners.  The enemy burnt their stores and were pursued by the Confederates.  The result is unknown.  The telegraph operator from the Bay St. Louis has telegraphed the Mobile office that the stores at New Orleans were being emptied of sugar and molasses, which were thrown into the streets and river.  The city was to have been formally surrendered on the 16th ult., but the time was extended.  Some of the enemy’s vessels have gone up river.

AUGUSTA, April 30.

The New Orleans Bulletin of Friday, says that F. D. Renshaw, Confederate States Navy Agent telegraphed from Point Alabasche on the 26th, that seven of our gunboats had been fired after being overpowered by the enemy.

The Navy Department received a similar dispatch last Saturday, but it is not known what boats are referred to.

SAVANNAH, May 1.

Gen. Lawton has formally communicated to the city council his determination to surrender the city.  The council have resolved to sustain Gen. Lawton.

MEMPHIS, April 29.

Dr. Foulkes, editor of the Memphis Avalanche, has been arrested for publishing an article calculated to array the planters against the government.

CHARLESTON, May 1.

The Federals have captured a small battery of two guns near White’s Point, twenty two miles from Charleston.

Gen. Evans has sent a force to look after the Yankees.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Monday Morning, May 5, 1862, p. 1