Cloudy and somber.
We have authentic
intelligence of the defeat of our forces under Gen. Early, near Winchester. Two
generals, Rhodes and Godwin, were killed. We lost some guns, and heavily in
killed and wounded. The enemy have Winchester, and Early has retreated,
bringing off his trains, however. This has caused the croakers to raise a new howl
against the President, for they know not what.
Mr. Clapman, our
disbursing clerk (appointed under Secretary Randolph), proposed, to-day, to
several in his office—jestingly, they supposed—revolution, and installing Gen.
Lee as Dictator. It may be a jest to some, but others mean in earnest.
I look for other and
more disastrous defeats, unless the speculators are demolished, and the wealthy
class put in the ranks. Many of the privates in our armies are fast becoming
what is termed machine soldiers, and will ere long cease to fight well having
nothing to fight for. Alas, the chivalry have fallen! The lagging land
proprietors and slave-owners (as the Yankees shrewdly predicted) want to be
captains, etc. or speculators. The poor will not long fight for their oppressors,
the money-changers, extortioners, etc., whose bribes keep them out of the
service.
Mr. Foote openly
advocates a convention; and says the other States will have one certainly: and
if Virginia declines to unite in it, she will be “left out in the cold.” This
is said of him; I have not heard him say it. But I believe a convention in any
State or States, if our disasters continue, will lead to reconstruction, if
McClellan be elected. If emancipation, confiscation, etc. be insisted on, the
war will never terminate but in final separation.
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