Slightly hazy and
sunshine.
Quiet, save aimless
and bootless shelling and picket firing along the lines on the south side of
the river.
Hon. Geo. Davis,
Attorney-General, to whom was referred the question of the constitutionality of
the purposed removal from office of clerks appointed to fill places
specifically created by act of Congress previous to the enactment of the
Conscript law, without there being alleged against them any misconduct,
inefficiency, dishonesty, etc., has reported that as several subsequent acts of
Congress already indicate an intention to put all capable of bearing arms in
the army, it is the duty of the President and the Secretary of War to carry out the intentions of Congress,
leaving the constitutional question to the decision of the courts! The
Constitution they swore upon the holy, etc. to support! Thus, & refugee
must either starve his wife and children by relinquishing office, or be disgraced
by appealing to the courts!
It is reported that
30,000 of the enemy crossed to this side of the river last night, and that
fighting has began at 10 A.M.; but I hear nothing save an occasional report of
cannon.
It is said brisk
skirmishing is now (12 m.) going on along the lines.
Gen. Cooper and Mr.
Secretary Seddon wants Brig.-Gen. R. (Charleston) relieved, for insulting a lady in one of his fits
of drunkenness. The President is reluctant to consent.
We have intelligence
to-day of gun-boats and transports ascending the Rappahannock River. Another
squall from that quarter!
Three P.M. The
cannonading has grown quick and terrific along the lines, below the city (north
side), with occasional discharges nearer, and farther to the left (north), as
if the enemy were attempting to flank our army.
The sounds are very
distinctly heard, the weather being damp and the wind from the southeast. We
can distinguish the bursting of the shell quickly after the discharge of the
cannon.
The firing ceased at
dark. It rains hard and steadily, now. What a life! what suffering; in mud and
water, without tents (in the trenches), burdened with wet blankets, and perhaps
without food! To-morrow, in all probability, a battle will be fought.
Gen. Lee, for
several weeks, as if aware of the impending operations in this vicinity, has
been on this side of the river, superintending in person the fortifications
multiplied everywhere for the defense of the city, while reinforcements have
been pouring in by thousands. It must be a fearful struggle, if Gen. Grant
really intends to make another effort to capture Richmond by assault! Our
works, mostly made by the negroes, under the direction of skillful engineers,
must be nearly impregnable, and the attempt to take them will involve a
prodigious expenditure of blood.
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