It appears, after the consultation of the generals and the
President yesterday, it was resolved not to send Pickett's division to
Mississippi, and this morning early the long column march through the city
northward. Gen. Lee is now stronger than he was before the battle. Gen. Pickett
himself, with his long, black ringlets, accompanied his division, his troops
looking like fighting veterans, as they are. And two fine regiments of cavalry,
the 2d and 59th North Carolina Regiments, passed through the city this morning
likewise.
A letter was received from Gen. Beauregard to-day, again
protesting against the movement of so many of his troops to Mississippi; 5000
on the 5th, and more than 5000 on the 10th instant. He makes an exhibit of the
forces remaining in South Carolina and Georgia — about 4000 infantry, 5000 cavalry,
and 6000 artillery, some 15,000 in all. He says the enemy is still on the
coast, in the rivers, and on the islands, and may easily cut his communications
with Savannah; and they have sufficient numbers to take Charleston, in all
probability, without passing the forts. He says information of his weakness is
sure to be communicated to the enemy — and I think so too, judging from the
number of passports “allowed” by Judge Campbell and Mr. Benjamin!
There is some purpose on the part of Gen. Lee to have a raid
in the enemy's country, surpassing all other raids. If he can organize two
columns of cavalry, 5000 each, to move in parallel lines, they may penetrate to
the Hudson River; and then the North will discover that it has more to lose by
such expeditions than the South. Philadelphia, even, may be taken.
To-day, the regular train on the Fredericksburg road came
back to the city, the conductor being in a terrible fright, and reporting that
the enemy were again at Ashland. But it turned out that the troops there were
our men! It is not probable the enemy's cavalry will soon approach Richmond
again.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 325-6
