We have further reports from the West, confirming the
success of Longstreet. It is said he has taken 2200 prisoners, and is probably
at Knoxville.
The President left the city this morning for Orange Court
House, on a visit to Gen. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia.
We are a shabby-looking people now — gaunt, and many in
rags. But there is food enough, and cloth enough, if we had a Roman Dictator to
order an equitable distribution.
The Secretary of War is destined to have an uncomfortable
time. After assuring the Legislature and the people that provisions in transitu
would not be impressed, it is ascertained that the agents of the
Commissary-General are impressing such supplies, and the Secretary is reluctant
to interfere, the Commissary-General being understood to have the support of
the President.
A committee of the Grand Jury yesterday submitted a paper to
the President, on the subject of provisions — indicating the proximity of
famine, and deprecating impressments. The President sent it to the Secretary,
saying Mr. Seddon would no doubt take measures to keep the people of Richmond
from starving; and directing the Secretary to "confer" with him. But
to-day he is off to the army, and perhaps some may starve before any relief can
be afforded.
A genteel suit of clothes cannot be had now for less than
$700. A pair of boots, $200—if good. I saw to-day, suspended from a window, an
opossum dressed for cooking, with a card in its mouth, marked "price,
$10." It weighed about four pounds. I luxuriated on parsnips to-day, from
my own little garden.
A dollar in gold sold for $18 Confederate money, to-day. Our
paper is constantly depreciating; and I think it is past redemption, unless we
adopt Mr. Moseley's plan, and cause some six or eight hundred millions to be
canceled, and fix a maximum price for all commodities necessary for the support
of life. Congress will never agree upon any measure of relief. But if the paper
money be repudiated, nevertheless we shall have our independence, unless the
Southern people should become mad, divided among themselves. Subjugation of a
united people, such as ours, occupying such a vast extent of territory, is
impossible. The tenure of its occupation by an invading army would always be
uncertain, and a million would be required to hold it.
A hard rain commenced falling this evening, and continued in
the night. This, I suppose, will put an end to operations in Virginia, and we
shall have another respite, and hold Richmond at least another winter. But such
weather must cause severe suffering among the prisoners on Belle Isle, where
there are not tents enough for so large a body of men. Their government may,
however, now consent to an exchange. Day before yesterday some 40,000 rations
were sent them by the United States flag-boat — which will suffice for three
days, by which time I hope many will be taken away. Our Commissary-General
Northrop has but little meat and bread for them, or for our own soldiers in the
field. It must be confessed they have but small fare, and, indeed, all of us
who have not been "picking and stealing," fare badly. Yet we have
quite as good health, and much better appetites than when we had sumptuous
living.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
101-2
No comments:
Post a Comment