Gen. Lee's plan works like a charm! Although I have daily
orders from Mr. Randolph to send persons beyond our lines, yet the precautions of
Lee most effectually prevent any spies from knowing anything about his army.
Even the Adjutant-General, S. Cooper, don't know how many regiments are ordered
into Virginia, or where they are stationed. Officers returning from furlough,
cannot ascertain in the Adjutant-General's office where their regiments are!
They are referred to me for passports to Gen. Lee's headquarters. No man with a
passport from Gen. Winder, or from his Provost Marshal, can pass the pickets of
Gen. Lee's army. This is the harbinger of success, and I predict a career of glory
for Lee, and for our country! There are some vague rumors about the approach of
Stonewall Jackson's army; but no one knows anything about it, and but few believe
it. Recent Northern papers say he is approaching Winchester, and I see they are
intrenching in the valley to guard against his terrible blows. This is capital!
And our people are beginning to fear there will be no more fighting
around Richmond until McClellan digs his way to it. The moment fighting
ceases, our people have fits of gloom and despondency; but when they snuff
battle in the breeze, they are animated with confidence. They regard victory as
a matter of course; and are only indignant at our long series of recent
reverses, when they reflect that our armies have so seldom been led against the
embattled hosts of the enemy.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 135
No comments:
Post a Comment