One of the President's Aids, Mr. Johnston, has asked the
Secretary's permission for Mrs E. B. Hoge, Mrs. M. Anderson, Miss Judith
Venable, and Mrs. R. J. Breckinridge, with children and servants, to leave
Richmond by flag of truce, and proceed to their homes in Kentucky. Of course it
will be granted — the President sanctions it, but does not commit himself by
ordering it.
There was no fighting on the Rappahannock yesterday, and no
rumors to-day.
Letters were received from Gen. Lee to-day. He says several
thousand of his men are barefoot! He suggests that shoes be taken from
the extortioners at a fair price. That is right. He also recommends a rule
of the department putting cavalry on foot when they cannot furnish good horses,
and mounting infantry that can and will procure them. This would cause better
care to be taken of horses. Gen. Lee also writes for more arms — which may
indicate a battle. But the weather is getting bad again, and the roads will not
admit of marching.
Mr. Gastrell, M. C, writes to the Secretary of War for
permission for Messrs. Frank and Gemot, a Jew firm of Augusta, Ga., to bring
through the lines a stock of goods they have just purchased of the Yankees in
Memphis. Being a member of Congress, I think his request will be granted. And
if all such applications be granted, I think money-making will soon absorb the
war, and bring down the prices of goods.
We are a confident people. There are no symptoms of trepidation,
although a hostile army of 150,000 men is now within two day's march of our
capital. A few of guilty consciences, the extortioners, may feel alarm — but
not the women and children. They reflect that over one hundred thousand of the
enemy were within four miles of the city last spring and summer—and were
repulsed.
The negroes are the best-clad people in the South. They have
their Sunday clothing, and the half-worn garments of their masters and
mistresses; and having worn these but once a week, they have a decidedly
fresher aspect than the dresses of their owners. They are well fed, too, at any
cost, and present a happy-appearance. And they are happy. It is a great mistake
of the Abolitionists, in supposing the slaves hail their coming with delight;
on the contrary, nearly all the negroes regard their approach with horror.
It might be well for the South if 500,000 of the slaves were
suddenly emancipated. The loss would not be felt — and the North would soon be
conscious of having gained nothing! My friend, Dr. Powell, near the city,
abandoned his farm last summer, when it was partly in possession of the enemy,
leaving fifty negroes on it — which he could have sold for $50,000. They
promised not to leave him, and they kept their word. Judge Donnell, in North
Carolina, has left his plantation with several hundred thousand dollars worth
on it — rather risking their loss than to sell them.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 201-3
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