A dispatch from Raleigh informs us of a mob yesterday in
that city. Some soldiers broke into and partially destroyed the office of the Standard,
alleged to be a disloyal paper; after that, and when the soldiers had been
dispersed by a speech from Governor Vance, the citizens broke into and
partially destroyed the Journal, an ultra-secession paper. These were
likewise dispersed by a speech from the Governor.
Gen. Whiting writes that the enemy is making demonstrations
against Lockwood's Folly, 23 miles from Wilmington. He says if 3000 were to
pass it, the forts and harbor would be lost, as he has but one regiment — and
it is employed on picket service. He says in ten nights the enemy can come from
Charleston — and that Wilmington was never so destitute of troops since the
beginning of the war, and yet it was never in such great peril. It is the only
port remaining — and to lose it after such repeated warning would be the
grossest culpability.
The officers of the signal corps report that Gen. Meade has
been ordered to advance, for it is already known in Washington that a large
number of troops are marching out of Virginia. Lee, however, it is now
believed, will not go to Tennessee. They also report that a Federal army of
6400 — perhaps they mean 64,000 — is to march from Arkansas to the Rio Grande,
Texas. If they do, they will be lost.
The engineer corps are to fortify Lynchburg immediately.
The clerks of the Post-office Department have petitioned the
Secretary of War to allow them (such as have families) commissary stores at
government prices, else they will soon be almost in a state of starvation.
Their salaries are utterly inadequate for their support. The clerks in all the
departments are in precisely the same predicament. The Postmaster-General
approves this measure of relief — as relief must come before Congress meets — and
he fears the loss of his subordinates.
It is said by western men that the enemy is organizing a
force of 25,000 mounted men at Memphis, destined to penetrate Georgia and South
Carolina, as far as Charleston! If this be so — and it may be so — they will
probably fall in with Longstreet's corps of 20,000 now passing through this
city.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
41-2
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