The last few days have been cool and dry; fine weather for
campaigning. And yet we hear of no demonstrations apparently, though I believe
Lee's army is moving.
Mr. Lamar, of Savannah (formerly president of the Bank of the
Republic, New York), writes that he and others are organizing an Exporting and
Importing Company, and desires the government to take an interest in it. So far
the heads of bureaus decline, and of course the Secretary will do nothing. But
the Secretary has already engaged with Mr. Crenshaw in a similar enterprise,
and so informed Mr. Mason, at London.
About 10 A.M., some 2500 men of all arms arrived at “double
quick,” having left Ashland, eighteen miles distant, at 5 o'clock this morning.
That was brisk marching. The guns were sent down on the railroad. The
government has information that Gen. Keyes, with a full division of infantry and
a brigade of cavalry, had marched up to West Point, to threaten Richmond. The
troops, however, which arrived from Ashland, had been taken from the batteries
here, and did not belong to Gen. Lee's army.
Messrs. Davenport & Co., Mobile, charge Gen. Buckner
with permitting 1000 bales of cotton to be shipped to New Orleans.
The president of the Fredericksburg Road states, in a letter
to the Secretary, that, after the battle, by military authority, the cars were
appropriated by the Federal officers (prisoners), while our wounded soldiers
had to remain and await the return of the trains.
Hon. Mr. Dargin, of Alabama, writes to the Secretary, to
procure from the President a disavowal of the “organship” of the Enquirer, as
that paper, under the belief that it speaks for the government, is likely to
inflict much mischief on the country. He alluded to the bitter articles against
the Democrats and peace men of the North, who would soon have been able to
embarrass, if not to check the operations of the Republican war party. He says
now, that they will write against us, and deal destruction wherever they
penetrate the land.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 326-7
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