The department
companies and militia returned yesterday, through a heavy shower, from the
wild-goose chase they were rushed into by Gen. Elzey's order.
Mr. Reagan, the
Postmaster-General, informed me to-day (the government will not allow bad news
to transpire) that at the second assault on Battery Wagner, Morris
Island, the enemy captured and held the rifle-pits. This, perhaps, involves the
loss of the battery itself — and indeed there is a report, generally believed,
that it fell subsequently. I fear that the port of Charleston is closed finally
— if indeed, as I hope, the city will be still held by Beauregard.
Letters from
Wilmington, dated 21st instant, urgently ask the Secretary of War to have one
of the Great Blakely guns for the defense of that city — and protesting against
both being sent to Charleston. From this, I infer that one or both have been
ordered to Beauregard.
Gen. Samuel Jones
has had a small combat with the enemy in Western Virginia, achieving some
success. His loss was about 200, that of the enemy much greater. This is a
grain of victory to a pound of disaster.
The owners of
several fast blockade-running steamers, in anticipation of the closing of all
the ports, are already applying for letters of marque to operate against the
commerce of the United States as privateers, or in the “volunteer navy” — still
with an eye to gain.
Gen. Lee has
returned to the Army of Northern Virginia — and we shall probably soon hear of
interesting operations in the field. Governor Vance writes for a brigade of
North Carolinians to collect deserters in the western counties of that State.
There must be two
armies in Virginia this fall — one for defense, and one (under Lee) for the
aggressive — 150,000 men in all — or else the losses of the past will not be
retrieved during the ensuing terrible campaign.
Some good may be
anticipated from the furious and universal outcry in the Confederate States
against the extortioners and speculators in food and fuel. Already some of the
millers here are selling new flour at $27 to families; the speculators paid $35
for large amounts, which they expected to get $50 for! But meat is still too
high for families of limited means. My tomatoes are now maturing — and my
butter-beans are filling rapidly, and have already given us a dinner. What we
shall do for clothing, the Lord knows — but we trust in Him.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 27-8
No comments:
Post a Comment