A bright, cool
morning.
Dispatches from
Lieut.-Gen. R. Taylor indicate that Federal troops are passing up the
Mississippi River, and that the attack on Mobile has been delayed or abandoned.
Gen. Lee writes
urgently for more men, and asks the Secretary to direct an
inquiry into alleged charges that the bureaus are getting able-bodied details
that should be in the army. And he complains that rich young men are elected
magistrates, etc., just to avoid service in the field.
Gen. McClellan's
letter accepting the nomination pledges a restoration of the Union “at all
hazards.” This casts a deeper gloom over our croakers.
“Everybody" is
now abusing the President for removing Gen. Johnston, and demand his
restoration, etc.
Our agent has
returned, without wheat or flour. He says he has bought some wheat, and some
molasses, and they will be on soon.
I hope Gen. Grant
will remain quiet, and not cut our only remaining railroad (south), until we
get a month's supply of provisions! I hear of speculators getting everything
they want, to oppress us with extortionate prices, while we can get nothing
through on the railroads for our famishing families, even when we have an order
of the government for transportation. The companies are bribed by speculators,
while the government pays more moderate rates. And the quartermasters on the
roads are bribed, and, although the Quartermaster-General is apprised of these
corruptions, nothing is done to correct them.
And Mr. Seward has
promised, for President Lincoln, that slavery will not be disturbed in any
State that returns to the Union; and McClellan pledges States rights, and all
the constitutional guarantees, when the Union is re-established. A few more
disasters, and many of our croakers would listen to these promises. The rich
are looking for security, and their victims, the poor and oppressed, murmur at
the Confederate States Government for its failure to protect them.
In this hour of
dullness, many are reflecting on the repose and abundance they enjoyed once in
the Union.
But there are more
acts in this drama! And the bell may ring any moment for the curtain to rise
again.
Dr. Powell brought
us some apples to-day, which were fried for dinner-a scanty repast.
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