It is believed that Lee, with a large portion of his army, will proceed
immediately to Tennessee against Rosecrans; and it is ascertained that Meade is
sending reinforcements thither. But I fear for Virginia when Lee is away! Meade
must have a large army left behind, else he would not send reinforcements to
Rosecrans. This move will excite the fear of the extortionate farmers, at all
events, and make them willing to sell their surplus produce. But if Richmond
should fall, and the State be overrun, it is possible it would secede from the
Confederacy, which would be a virtual dissolution of it. She would then form
alliances with other Southern States on a new basis, and create a new
provisional government, and postpone the formation of a permanent one until
independence be achieved. However, I am incredulous about the abandonment of
Virginia.
Meantime, I hope France will intervene, and that Mexico will recognize
the independence of the Southern Government.
Another letter from Hon. Mr. Miles, of Charleston, in reply, as it
seems, to a pretty severe rebuke by the Secretary of War, for asking Jenkins's
brigade of South Carolinians for the defense of South Carolina, was received
to-day. Knowing the honorable gentleman's intimate relations with Beauregard,
the Secretary criticises the conduct of the general in permitting the enemy to
establish himself on the lower end of Morris Island — allowing a grove to
remain, concealing the erection of batteries, etc. etc. Mr. Miles in reply
asserts the fact that Gen. B. did the utmost that could be accomplished with
the force and means left at his disposal by the government; and that the grove
would have been felled, if he had been authorized to impress labor, etc. It is
sad to read these criminations and recriminations at such a time as this; but
every Secretary of War is apt to come in conflict with Beauregard.
Gen. Whiting asks, as second in command, Brig.-Gen. Herbert, and
reiterates his demand for troops, else Wilmington will be lost. This letter
came open — having been broken on the way. If a spy did it, which is probable,
the army will soon learn what an easy conquest awaits them.
Mr. C. C. Thayer, clerk in the Treasury Department, leaves on the 9th,
with $15,000,000 for the trans-Mississippi Department; another clerk has
already gone with $10,000,000.
After all, I am inclined to think our papers have been lying about the
barbarous conduct of the enemy. A letter was received to-day from C. N.
Hubbard, a respectable farmer of James City County, stating that when Gen.
Keyes came up the Peninsula about the 1st of July, he sent guards for the
protection of the property of the people living along the line of march; and
they remained, faithfully performing that duty, until the army retired. Mr. H.
complains that these guards were made prisoners by our troops, and, if
exchanges be demanded for them, he fears the next time the hostile army
approaches Richmond, their request for a guard will be refused. What answer the
Secretary will make to this, I have no means of conjecturing; but Mr. Hubbard
recommends him to come to some understanding with the enemy for the mutual
protection of the persons and property of non-combating civilians; and he
desires an answer directed to the care of Col. Shingler, who, indeed, captured
the guard. The Secretary consented to the exchange.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
33-4
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