They are still striking at martial law in the Senate, as
administered by Gen. Winder. A communication from the Secretary of War admits
that Gen. W. was authorized to suppress substitute agencies — “but this did not
justify impressment and confiscation.” It appears that Gen Winder ordered the
agents to be impressed into the service, and the money paid for substitutes to
be confiscated! Notwithstanding his blundering ignorance is disavowed, he is
still retained in command.
The enemy are at Warrenton; and McClellan's army has crossed
the Upper Potomac. Another battle is imminent — and fearful will be the
slaughter this time. Lee had but little if any more than 40,000 in the battle of
Sharpsburg; the Northern papers said McClellan had 200,000! a fearful odds. But
Lee now has 70,000 — and, besides, he will be defending Virginia. McClellan,
with his immense army, must advance, or else relinquish command. The
Abolitionists of the North have never liked him, and they wield the power at
present. A defeat of Lee near Winchester would produce consternation here.
There are, as usual, thousands of able-bodied men still in
our streets. It is probable every man, able to march, will be required on the
field of battle. If we can get out all, we shall certainly gain the day,
and establish our independence.
How shall we subsist this winter? There is not a supply of wood
or coal in the city — and it is said there are not adequate means of transporting
it hither. Flour at $16 per barrel, and bacon at 75 cts. per pound, threaten a famine.
And yet there are no beggars in the streets. We must get a million of men in
arms and drive the invader from our soil. We are capable of it, and we must do
it. Better die in battle than die of starvation produced by the enemy.
The newspapers are printed on half sheets — and I think the
publishers make money; the extras (published almost every day) are sold to the
newsboys for ten cents, and often sold by them for twenty-five cents. These are
mere slips of paper, seldom containing more than a column — which is reproduced
in the next issue. The matter of the extras is mostly made up from the
Northern papers, brought hither by persons running the blockade. The supply is
pretty regular, and dates are rarely more than three or four days behind the
time of reception. We often get the first accounts of battles at a distance in
this way, as our generals and our government are famed for a prudential reticence.
When the Northern papers simply say they have gained a victory, we rejoice,
knowing their Cretan habits. The other day they announced, for European
credulity, the capture and killing of 40,000 of our men: this staggered us; but
it turned out that they did capture 700 of our stragglers and 2000 wounded men
in field hospitals. Now they are under the necessity of admitting the
truth. Truth, like honesty, is always the best policy.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 160-1
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