Hon. G. A. Henry, Senator from Tennessee, writes to the
Secretary that it is rumored that Gen. Pemberton is to command Gen. Polk's
corps in Tennessee. He says if this be true, it will be disastrous; that the
Tennessee troops will not serve under him, but will mutiny and desert.
It is reported to-day by Gen. Elzey (on what information I
know not) that Meade's army has been reduced to 30,000 or 40,000 men, by the
heavy reinforcements sent to extricate Rosecrans. Be this as it may, there is
no longer any doubt that Lee is advancing toward the Potomac, and the enemy is
retreating. This must soon culminate in something of interest.
I saw Commissary-General Northrop to-day, and he
acknowledges that Mr. Moffitt, who sells beef (gross) to the butchers at from
45 to 55 cents, is one of his agents, employed by Major Ruffin, to purchase
beef for the army! The schedule price is from 16 to 20 cents, and he pays no
more, for the government — and if he buys for himself, it is not likely he pays
more — and so we have a government agent a speculator in meat, and co-operating
with speculators! Will Mr. Secretary Seddon permit this?
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
70
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