Bright and pleasant,
but indications of change. The papers contain no news from the armies, near or
remote. But there was some alarm in the upper portion of the city about 9 P.M.
last night, from a signal seen (appended to a balloon) just over the western
horizon. It was stationary for ten minutes, a blood-red light, seen through a
hazy atmosphere. I thought it was Mars, but my eldest daughter, a better
astronomer than I, said it was neither the time nor place for it to be visible.
The air was still, and the dismal barking of the ban-dogs conjured up the most
direful portents. All my neighbors supposed it to be a signal from Sheridan to
Grant, and that the city would certainly be attacked before morning. It was
only a camp signal of one of our own detachments awaiting the approach of
Sheridan.
Sheridan's passage
of the James River has not been confirmed, and so the belief revives that he
will assault the city fortifications on the northwest side, while Grant attacks
elsewhere.
Yesterday the
President vetoed several bills, and sent back others unsigned, suggesting
alterations. Among them is the Conscript and Exemption bills, which he has
detained ten days, as Senators say, on a point of constructive etiquette,
insisting that the President and Secretary ought to make certain details and
exemptions instead of Congress, etc. It is precious time lost, but perhaps in
view of the great calamities immediately threatening the country, Congress may
yield. But ten days might be enough time lost to lose the cause.
The communication
referred to by the President, in detaining Congress, has not yet been sent in,
unless it be one of his qualified vetoes, and conjecture is still busy, some
persons going so far as to hint that it relates to a capitulation, yielding up
Richmond on certain terms. I have not heard of any demands of Grant of that
nature.
A dispatch from Gen.
R. E. Lee, received this morning, says Fitz Lee's cavalry was at Powhatan C. H.
last night (so it was not Fitz's signal), and had been ordered to cross to the
north side of the James, which may not be practicable above Richmond. We shall
probably see them pass through the city to-day. He says the roads are bad, etc.
Sheridan, then, has not crossed the river.
Gen. Lee sends to
the department this morning a copy of a fierce letter from Lord John Russell,
British Secretary of State, to our commissioners abroad, demanding a
discontinuance of expeditions fitted out in Canada, and the building and
equipping of cruisers in British ports. It says such practices must cease, for
they are not only in violation of British law, but calculated to foment war
between Great Britain and the United States, which Lord John is very much
averse to. The communication is sent to Washington, D. C., and thence forwarded
by Mr. Seward to Lieut.-Gen. Grant, who sends it by flag of truce to Gen. Lee.
Great Britain gives us a kick while the Federal generals are pounding us.
The enemy have
Fayetteville, N. C. Hardee and Hampton crossed the Cape Fear on the 11th inst.
Sherman's army was then within 7 miles of Fayetteville. Bragg, after his fight
near Kinston, had to fall back, his rear and right wing being threatened by
heavy forces of the enemy coming up from Wilmington.
Some of Sheridan's
force did cross the James, but retired to the north side. So telegraphs Gen.
Lee.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 448-9
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