The President publishes a dispatch from Lee, announcing a
victory! The enemy has been driven from all his intrenchments, losing many
batteries.
Yesterday the President's life was saved by Lee. Every day
he rides out near the battle-field, in citizen's dress, marking the
fluctuations of the conflict, but assuming no direction of affairs in the
field. Gen. Lee, however, is ever apprised of his position; and once, when the
enemy were about to point one of their most powerful batteries in the direction
of a certain farm-house occupied by the President, Lee sent a courier in haste
to inform him of it. No sooner had the President escaped than a storm of shot
and shell riddled the house.
Some of the people still think that their military President
is on the field directing every important movement in person. A gentleman told
me to day, that he met the President yesterday, and the day before, alone, in
the lanes and orchards, near the battle-field. He issued no orders; but awaited
results like the rest of us, praying fervently for abundant success.
To-day some of our streets are crammed with thousands of
blue-jackets — Yankee prisoners. There are many field officers, and among them
several generals.
General Reynolds, who surrendered with his brigade, was thus
accosted by one of our functionaries, who knew him before the war began:
“General, this is in accordance with McClellan's prediction;
you are in Richmond.”
“Yes, sir,” responded the general, in bitterness; “and d—n
me, if it is not precisely in the manner I anticipated.”
“Where is MeClellan, general?”
“I know not exactly; his movements have been so frequent of late.
But I think it probable he too may be here before night!”
“I doubt that,” said his fellow-prisoner, Gen. McCall; “beware
of your left wing! Who commands there?”
“Gen. Jackson.”
“Stonewall Jackson? Is he in this fight? Was it really
Jackson making mince-meat of our right? Then your left wing is safe!”
Four or five thousand prisoners have arrived.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 138-9
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