The enemy is undoubtedly falling back on the Rappahannock,
and our army is pursuing. We have about 40,000 in Lee's army, and 4t is
reported that Meade has 50,000, of whom many are conscripts, altogether
unreliable. . We may look for stirring news soon.
About 2500 of the “local” troops were reviewed to-day. The
companies were not more than half filled; so, in an emergency, we could raise
5000 fighting men, at a moment's warning, for the defense of the capital. In
the absence of Custis Lee, Col. Brown, the English aid of the President,
commanded the brigade, much to the disgust of many of the men, and the whole
were reviewed by Gen. Elzey, still more to the chagrin of the ultra Southern
men.
The Secretary seems unable to avert the storm brewing
against the extortioners; but permits impressments of provisions coming to the
city.
It is said the President and cabinet have a large special
fund in Europe. If they should fall into the hands of Lincoln, they might
suffer death; so in the event of subjugation, it is surmised they have provided
for their subsistence, in foreign lands. But there is no necessity for such
provision, provided they perform their duty here. I cut the following from the
papers:
The Vicomte de St. Romain has been sent
by the French Government to ours to negotiate for the exportation of the
tobacco bought for France by French agents.
The Confederate States Government has
at last consented to allow the tobacco to leave the country, provided the
French Government will send its own vessels for it.
The latter will send French
ships, accompanied by armed convoys.
To this the United States Government
objects in toto.
Vicomte de St. Romain is now making his
way to New York to send the result of his mission, through the French Consul,
to the Emperor.
The French frigates in New York are
there on this errand.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
67
No comments:
Post a Comment