After all the rumors from Northern Virginia, I have seen
nothing official. I incline to the belief that we have achieved no success
further than an advance toward Washington, and a corresponding retreat of the enemy.
It is to be yet seen whether Lee captured more prisoners than Meade captured.
It is said we lost seven guns. But how can Lee achieve anything when the
enemy is ever kept informed not only of his movements in progress, but of his
probable intentions? I observe that just about the time Lee purposes a
movement, several Jews and others of conscript age are seen to apply for
passports through the lines, for ordnance and medical stores, and Judge
Campbell is certain to “allow” them. The letter-book, for they are now
recorded, shows this. These men bring supplies from Maryland, if they ever
return, in saddle-bags, while the same kind are landed every week at Wilmington
by the cargo!
A recent letter from Lieut.-Gen. E. Kirby Smith,
trans-Mississippi, fills me with alarm. He says the property-holders in
Arkansas and Louisiana — which States we are evacuating — are willing to return
to their allegiance to the United States if that government should modify its
policy. He says we have but 32,500 in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas — all told
— and the enemy twice that number.
Gen. D. H. Hill has been relieved in the West, and ordered
to report in this city to Gen. Cooper. It was necessary perhaps to have a
scape-goat. Bragg will probably be sustained by the President — but then
what will become of ———, who is so inimical to Bragg?
The President has published, in the West, an eloquent
address to the soldiers.
It appears from Gen. K. Smith's letter that the French
captured a vessel having on board, for the Confederate States, 12,000 stand of
arms, which were taken to Vera Cruz. It is presumed that the French commander
supposed these arms were sent over for the use of the Mexicans, probably by the
United States. If this be so, it is reasonable to suppose they will be restored
us, and so far I do not learn that this government has taken umbrage at the
capture. It may be that they were taken to keep them from falling into the
possession of the United States cruisers. There are one or two French war
steamers now at Charleston, interchanging courtesies with the Confederate
States authorities there. It also appears by Gen. Smith's letter that'a large
amount of arms for the trans-Mississippi Department were deposited at
Vicksburg, and fell into the hands of the enemy. The President indorsed on the
back of the letter that this was a blunder, and asks by whose order the deposit
was made. Col. Gorgas must answer.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
73-4
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