“june
15th, 1863.
“His
Excellency, Jefferson Davis.
“God
has again crowned the valor of our troops with success. Early's division
stormed the enemy's intrenchments at Winchester, capturing their artillery,
etc.
“(Signed) R. E. Lee, General.”
Subsequent reports
to the press state that we captured some 6000 prisoners, Gen. Milroy among
them, 50 guns, and a large amount of stores. If we caught Milroy, the
impression prevails that he was hung immediately, in accordance with the
President's order some time since, as a just punishment for the outrages inflicted
by him on our helpless old men, women, and children.
A sealed envelope
came in to-day, addressed by the President to the Secretary of War, marked “Highly
important and confidential,” which, of course, I sent to the Secretary
immediately without breaking the seal, as it is my duty to do to all letters
not private or confidential. I can as yet only conjecture what it referred to.
It may be of good, and it may be of bad import. It may relate to affairs in the
West; or it may be a communication from abroad, several steamers having just
arrived. Can it be from the Government at Washington? I care not what it
is, if we hold Vicksburg.
The
Commissary-General reports that he has some 8,000,000 pounds of bacon, and
quite as much salt and fresh beef at the various depots, besides some 11,000
head of cattle. This is not a large amount for such armies as we have in the
field; but in the fall we shall have 10 per cent. of all the products in the
Confederate States as tax in kind. The Commissary-General, however, recommends
the following reduction of rations: for men in garrison or batteries, a quarter
pound of bacon per day; in camp, one-third of a pound; and marching, half a pound.
Mr. James Spence,
our financial agent in England, gives a somewhat cheering account of money
matters. He recommends the shipping of $1,000,000 worth of cotton per week,
which appears to be practicable. He also advises the shipment of the few
millions of gold the government holds in this country to England; and Mr.
Memminger approves it — in boxes weekly, containing $75,000. If this were
known, it could hardly be accomplished, for such is the distrust of several
members of the cabinet that the people would revolt. They would believe the
cabinet meant soon to follow the gold. And some of our military commanders have
no better opinion of them than the people. Beauregard once stopped some bullion
ordered away by Mr. Memminger.
There is a rumor
that Gen. Wise had a combat yesterday on the Peninsula. But the operations
beyond the Rappahannock, and approaching the capital of the United States, must
relieve Richmond of all immediate danger.
Mr. Lincoln says he
is “making history;” forgetful of the execrable figure he is likely to be in
it. Our papers to-day contain the following:
“Yankee Cruelty; Forly-three Negroes Drowned. — One of the most atrocious incidents of the
whole war was yesterday related to us by a gentleman of this city, who obtained
the facts from Capt. Jas. G. White, of King William County, who vouches for the
accuracy of the statement. Some days ago, when the Yankees made their raid to
Aylett's, they visited the place of Dr. Gregg, living in the neighborhood, and
took from their comfortable homes forty-three negroes, who were hurried off to
York River and placed on board a vessel bound Northward. Along with these
negroes, as a prisoner, was a gentleman named Lee, a resident and highly
respectable citizen of King William, who has since been released and allowed to
return to his home. He states that when the vessel arrived in Chesapeake Bay,
the small-pox made its appearance among the negroes, that disease having
existed to some extent among the same family before they were dragged from
their homes in King William. The captain of the Yankee vessel and his crew were
greatly alarmed at the appearance of the disease on board, and very soon
determined to rid the vessel of the presence of the negroes. Without attempting
to make the shore, and not considering for an instant the inhumanity of the
cruel deed, the whole negro cargo was thrown into the bay, and every one left
to perish by drowning. Not one, perhaps, escaped the cruel fate visited upon
them by those who profess to be their earnest friends and warmest sympathizers.”
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 1, p. 350-2
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