Clear and very cold; can't
find a thermometer in the city.
The President did sign the
bill creating a general-in-chief, and depriving Gen. Bragg of his staff.
Major-Gen. Jno. C.
Breckinridge has been appointed Secretary of War. May our success be greater
hereafter !
Gen. Lee has sent a letter
from Gen. Imboden, exposing the wretched management of the Piedmont Railroad,
and showing that salt and corn, in "immense quantity," have been
daily left piled in the mud and water, and exposed to rain, etc., while the
army has been starving. Complaints and representations of this state of things
have been made repeatedly.
Gold sold at $47 for one at
auction yesterday.
Mr. Hunter was seen early
this morning running (almost) toward the President's office, to pick up news.
He and Breckinridge were old rivals in the United States.
The Enquirer seems in favor
of listening to Blair's propositions. Judge Campbell thinks Gen. Breckinridge
will not make a good Secretary of War, as he is not a man of small details. I
hope he is not going to indulge in so many of them as the judge and Mr. Seddon
have done, else all is lost! The judge's successor will be recommended soon to
the new Secretary. There will be applicants enough, even if the ship of State
were visibly going down.
Although it is understood
that Gen. Breckinridge has been confirmed by the Senate, he has not yet taken
his seat in the department.
The President has issued a
proclamation for the observance of Friday, March 10th, as a day of
"fasting, humiliation, and prayer, with thanksgiving," in pursuance
of a resolution of Congress.
It seems that Virginia,
Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee will not be represented in the cabinet; this
may breed trouble, and we have trouble enough, in all conscience.
It is said Mr. Blair has
returned again to Richmond—third visit.
Can there be war brewing
between the United States and England or France? We shall know all soon. Or
have propositions been made on our part for reconstruction? There are many
smiling faces in the streets, betokening a profound desire for peace.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp
Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 401-2
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