A refugee from
Portsmouth reports the arrival of 6000 Federal troops at Newport News, and that
Richmond is to be menaced again.
Brig.-Gen. H. W.
Allen, Alexandria, La., reports 8000 deserters and skulking conscripts in that
vicinity, and a bad state of things generally.
Gen. Lee has written
three letters to the department, dated 30th and 31st October. 1st, complaining
of the tardiness of the Bureau of Examination, and the want of efficient
officers; 2d, complaining of the furloughs given Georgia officers as members of
the legislature, causing a brigade to be commanded by a lieutenant-colonel,
etc.; 3d, relating to an order from the Secretary to respite certain deserters,
condemned to execution. He says executions are necessary to keep the army
together, but he feels the painfulness of the sad necessity.
Mr. H. D. Whitcomb,
Superintendent Central Railroad, applied for and obtained passports for his
mother and sister to return to the United States. He is a Northern man.
Brig.-Gen. S. A.
Meredith (United States) writes from Fortress Monroe, proposing that prisoners
west of the Mississippi be exchanged at Galveston. Mr. Ould, our agent of
exchange, indorses on it that there is no necessity for immediate action, for
the United States are not exchanging any prisoners at all at this time.
Mr. Memminger writes
for troops to be sent to Ashville, West North Carolina, which is menaced by the
traitors, tories, and Federals. His family is there, having fled from South
Carolina. Hon. Jas. Farron also writes that a bad state of things exists in
that section, and communication is kept open with the enemy in East Tennessee.
From St. Helena
Parish, Ark., we have letters stating that all restraint is thrown off, and
everybody almost is trading with the enemy. Some 1500 bales of cotton per week
is taken to the Yankees from that region. They say most of the parties have
permits from the government or from commanding generals to trade with the
enemy.
Gen. Whiting writes
that his men are suffering for shoes, and as 15,000 pairs are in that town,
asks if he shall not impress them. The Secretary is reluctant to do this, and
asks the Quartermaster-General what he shall do. The Quartermaster-General
advises that the shoes be bought at a fair price, and paid for in cotton. He
says blankets may be had in the same way.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
86-7
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