The news from Kentucky is very vague. It seems there has
been a battle, which resulted favorably for us, so far as the casualties are
concerned. But then Bragg has fallen back forty miles, and is probably retiring
toward Cumberland Gap, that he may not be taken in the rear by the enemy's
forces lately at Corinth.
The President intends suspending the Conscription Act in
Western Virginia, for the purpose, no doubt, of organizing an army of Partisan
Rangers in that direction.
It seems, from recent Northern papers received in this city,
that the elections in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana have gone against the
Abolitionists. What then? If the war should be waged by the Democrats for the
restoration of the Union, and waged according to the rules of civilized
nations, respecting noncombatants, and exempting private property from pillage,
it would be a still more formidable war than that now waged against us.
I have just received the following note from the Secretary:
october 17th, 1862.
mr.
J. B. Jones will hereafter refer all applicants for passports to Gen.
Smith's Adjutant-General, and grant none from the department.
George W. Randolph,
Sec.
of War.
Neither the acting Assistant Secretary, nor Mr. Kean, with
his whole alphabet of initials, could be certain whether the order referred
merely to applicants to go out of the Confederacy, or all applicants of whatever
kind. If the latter, I am funclus officio, so far as passports are
concerned. But Capt. Kean says there is plenty of work for me to do; and I
presume I will not be entirely out of employment.
I took a good look at Mr. Randolph to-day. He is thin,
frail. His face is pale, and will soon be a mass of wrinkles, although he is
not over forty. His eyes are extremely small, blue, and glisten very much.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 173-4
No comments:
Post a Comment