It is no doubt true
that the Rebels have left. I called on General Halleck on a matter of business,
and while there, about 11, he had a telegram saying the Rebels passed through
Rockville to the northwest about 3 this A.M. They are making, I remarked, for
Edwards Ferry and will get off with their plunder if we have no force there to
prevent. He said it was by no means certain they would cross at Edwards Ferry.
We looked over the map together, and he, like myself, thought it probable they
had taken that course. I remarked that they appeared not to have concentrated
their force at any one place. Halleck asked by what authority I said that.
There was harshness and spite in his tone. I coolly said by my own judgment and
the observation of almost any one who had any intelligence on the subject. He
said he did not think I had heard so from any military man who knew anything
about it. I said no military man or any other had been able to tell me where
they were concentrated to the amount of five thousand. Nor have I found any
except Halleck, Hitchcock, and a few around the Department express an opinion
that there was a large number, or that they were concentrated. They were
defiant and insolent, our men were resolute and brave, but the Bureau generals
were alarmed and ignorant, and have made themselves and the Administration
appear contemptible.
The Rebels, before
leaving, burnt the house of Judge Blair, Postmaster-General. This they claimed
to have done in retaliation for the destruction of the house of Governor
Letcher, — a disgraceful act and a disgraceful precedent. I have no idea that
General Hunter or any officer authorized the burning of Letcher's house. It was
doubtless done by some miscreants, hangers-on, stragglers, who ought to be
punished. But men in authority appear to have had direction in burning Blair's
house.
SOURCE: Gideon Welles, Diary of Gideon
Welles, Secretary of the Navy Under Lincoln and Johnson, Vol. 2: April 1, 1864
— December 31, 1866, p. 76
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