Letters were received to-day from Gens. Beauregard, Mercer,
Whitney, and S. Jones.
It appears that Beauregard has some 6000 men of all arms,
and that the enemy's force is estimated to be, or to have been (before losing
some 3000), about 10,000. It is true the enemy has the benefit of his floating
batteries, but we have our stationary ones. I think Charleston safe.
Gen. Mercer squeaks for the fate of Savannah, unless
the government impresses slaves to work on the fortifications. All our generals
squeak when an attack is apprehended, for the purpose of alarming the
government, and procuring more men and material, so as to make success doubly
sure.
And Gen. Whiting is squeaking loudly for the impressment of
a thousand slaves, to complete his preparations for defense; and if he does not
get them, he thinks the fall of Wilmington a pretty sure thing.
And Gen. Jones squeaks from the West, asking that the 3000
infantry he was at last compelled to send to Gen. Lee, near Winchester, be
returned to him to oppose the enemy's raids. But what were they sent to Lee
for, unless he meant to give battle? Such may be his intention, and a victory
now is demanded of him to place him rectus in curio.
Beauregard says Fort Wagner, which has made such a
successful defense on Morris Island, was located by Gen. Pemberton, and this is
evidence of some military skill. But all the waters of Lethe will not
obliterate the conviction of the people that he gave his army in the West to
the enemy. If he had not been Northern born, they would have deemed him merely
incompetent. Hence the impolicy of the government elevating Northern over
Southern generals. All generals are judged by the degree of success they
achieve, for success alone is considered the proof of merit, and one disaster
may obliterate the memory of a dozen victories. Even Lee's great name is dimmed
somewhat in the estimation of fools. He must beat Meade before Grant comes up,
or suffer in reputation.
Gov. Bonham has demanded the free negroes taken on Morris
Island, to be punished (death) according to the State law.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 388
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