The enemy's raid in Mississippi seems to have terminated at
Enterprise, where we collected a force and offered battle, but the invaders
retreated. It is said they had 1600 cavalry and 5 guns, and the impression
prevails that but few of them will ever return. It is said they sent back a detachment
of 200 men some days ago with their booty, watches, spoons, jewelry, etc.
rifled from the habitations of the non-combating people.
I saw Brig.-Gen. Chilton to day, Chief of Gen. Lee's Staff.
He says, when the time comes, Gen. Lee will do us all justice. I asked him if
Richmond were safe, and he responded in the affirmative.
I am glad the Secretary of War has stopped the
blockade-running operations of Gen. Winder and Judge Campbell, Assistant
Secretary of War. Until to-day, Gen. W. issued many passports which were
invariably approved by Judge Campbell, but for some cause, and Heaven knows
there is cause enough, Mr. Secretary has ordered that no more passports be
granted Marylanders or foreigners to depart from the Confederacy. I hope Mr. S.
will not “back down” from this position.
To-day I returned to the department from the Bureau of Conscription,
being required at my old post by Mr. Kean, Chief of the Bureau of War, my
friend, Jacques, being out of town with a strangury. Thus it is; when Congress
meets I am detailed on service out of the department, and when Congress
adjourns they send for me back again. Do they object to my acquaintance with
the members?
A few weeks ago I addressed the President a letter
suggesting that an alphabetical analysis be made of letter and indorsement
books, embracing principles of decisions, and not names. This I did for the
Bureau of Conscription, which was found very useful. Precedents could thus be
readily referred to when, as was often the case, the names of parties could not
be recollected. It happened, singularly enough, that this paper came into my
hands with forty-nine others to-day, at the department, where I shall wholly
remain hereafter. The President seemed struck with the idea, and indorsed a reference
on it to the “State, Treasury, War, and Navy Departments,” and also to the
Attorney-General. I shall be curious to know what the Secretary thinks of this
plan. No matter what the Secretary of War thinks of it; he declined my plan of deriving
supplies directly from the people, and then adopted it.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 300-1
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