A pleasant sunny
Sabbath morn.
The quiet below
continues. Not a gun has been heard for three days; the longest intermission we
have had for many months. What can it mean? Sheridan has spread desolation in
the Shenandoah Valley, perhaps to prevent Early from penetrating Pennsylvania,
etc., intending to come with all expedition to Grant.
Troops, or rather
detailed men, and late exempts, are beginning to arrive from North Carolina. I
saw 250 this morning. Some of them were farmers who had complied with the terms
prescribed, and a week ago thought themselves safe from the toils and dangers
of war. They murmur, but there is no escape. They say the Governor has called
out the militia officers, and magistrates also.
Desertion is the
order of the day, on both sides. Would that the men would take
matters in their own hands, and end the war, establishing our independence. Let
every man in both armies desert and go home!
Some one has sent a
“Circular” of the “Bureau of Conscription” to the President, dated some few
weeks ago, and authorizing enrolling officers everywhere to furlough farmers
and others for sixty days, to make out their claims for exemption. This the
President says in his indorsement defeats his efforts to put the whole
able-bodied male population in the field; and no doubt has been the source of
the many abuses charged against the “bureau." The Secretary sends the
paper to the “bureau” for report, stating that he felt great surprise at the
terms of the “Circular,” and had no recollection of having seen or sanctioned
such a document. The Superintendent reports that it was issued by the authority
of the Secretary of War, and was warranted by law looking to the interests of
agriculture, etc. The truth is that the Circular was prepared by a subordinate
in the Bureau of Conscription, and signed by Col. August, “Acting
Superintendent.” It was approved by Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War,
“by order of the Secretary of War” who never saw it. Mr. Seddon has left all
the business of conscription in the hands of Judge Campbell; and poor Gen.
Preston-indolent and ill-has been compelled to sign, sanction, and defend
documents he knew nothing about; and Mr. Seddon is in a similar predicament.
The Secretary of War
has written a long letter to Gen. Lee, suggesting that he assemble a council of
officers to decide what measure shall be adopted in regard to the treatment of
prisoners in the hands of the enemy.
It appears that Gen.
Butler has notified Gen. Lee that he is now retaliating fearfully—making them
work in his canal—on certain Confederates for some alleged harsh treatment
of negro prisoners in our hands—sending slaves back to their
masters. Mr. Seddon, without assuming any responsibility himself, yet intimates
the idea that this government is prepared to sanction the most sanguinary
remedy; and I understand several members of the cabinet to have always been in
favor of fighting that is, having others fight-under the black flag. If the
government had only listened to Gen. Lee's suggestions, we should have had
abundance of men in the field to beat the enemy out of Virginia. I hope the
present recruiting excitement comes not too late. And I trust he will interpose
so far in behalf of the country as to wrest the railroads from the hands of the
speculators and the dishonest quartermasters.
Not a gun has been
heard by me to-day, and the mysterious silence defies my powers of penetration.
I only hope it may continue sine die.
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