No battle had occurred in Northern Virginia up to 10 o'clock
yesterday morning, although there is a constant stream of prisoners being sent
to this city daily, taken by our cavalry. At last accounts Meade's army was
retreating toward Washington City, hotly pursued by Lee. They were near
Manassas, the first battle-field of the war.
There is nothing new from the West, except some skirmishing
of cavalry in Central and Western Tennessee, wherein our men have had the
advantage, though sometimes falling back before superior numbers.
At Charleston a brisk cannonading is kept up between the
batteries; and it is said more hostile transports are arriving, which may
indicate active operations on land. Our 700-pounder Blakely No. 2 is there.
Judge Campbell is giving passports rapidly, sometimes
binding the Jews not to engage in private operations, but to confine
themselves, while in the United States, to the purchase of supplies for the
Confederate States service! Some, however, are willing to go on these terms to
avoid conscription, but will realize profit by selling information to the enemy.
Judge Hastings, of California, proposes to return thither
and publish a pamphlet describing newly discovered gold mines, and organizing
companies to work them, which shall be secessionists; and when organized, he
will fall upon and destroy the United States troops, march into Arizona, and
from thence pour reinforcements into Texas. The Secretary, in the absence of
the President, sends a copy of this scheme to Lieut.-Gen. E. K. Smith, trans-Mississippi
Department, and gives some encouragement to the judge; abstaining, however, for
the present, from devoting any money to the project.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
72
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