Clear and cold. No
news—that is bad news. Nothing has transpired officially of the events and
details near Wilmington, but there is a rumor, exaggerated perhaps, of the fall
of Wilmington itself. No doubt Sherman is marching on Charleston, and if there
be no battle soon, it is feared he will take the city without one.
Mr. Foote made a
speech in Congress yesterday—a savage one, I am told. Going home yesterday at 3
o'clock, I met Mr. Foote, and told him what I had heard. He said he could have
wished me to hear every word of it. I asked if it would not be printed. He held
up a roll of manuscript, saying he had written it in full, and that it would
certainly be published. The papers say in their brief reports, that he
disavowed all ideas of reconstruction. After he left the House, one of the
Missouri members offered a resolution for his expulsion, on the ground that he
had, unlawfully, attempted to pass into the enemy's lines, for the purpose of
negotiating a peace, etc. It was referred to the Committee on Elections.
After this a
resolution was introduced, that a joint committee be appointed to prepare an
address, etc., solemnly declaring that the war shall be waged until
independence be achieved, etc. Such addresses have been repeatedly made, and at
last seem to have a demoralizing effect. People remember how many test votes
were taken in the Virginia Convention, showing that the State never would
secede—and at length the Convention passed an ordinance of secession! Nothing
can save this government long but military successes, and these depend upon
having the slave and other property owners in the field. This can never be done
without a renovation of the machinery used to fill up the ranks.
The President is
calm. Some think him subdued. A few days or weeks will determine.
Gen. Howell Cobb
writes his views, etc. Utterly opposed to arming the slaves—better emancipate
them at once, conceding to the "demands of England and France," and
then enlist them. But he thinks a return to the system of volunteering would
answer to fill the ranks with white men; also suggests that the President
concede something to popular sentiment—restore Gen. J. E. Johnston, etc. He
says gloom and despair are fast settling on the people.
J. P. McLean,
Greensborough, N. C., in response to the request of Mr. Secretary Seddon, gives
information of the existence of many Union men in that section, and suggests
sudden death to ——— etc. The Secretary is diligent in getting such information;
but lately it seems he never applies the remedy.
Mr. Secretary Seddon
thinks Mr. Peck's explanation of his purchasing satisfactory; the Assistant
Secretary, Chief of Bureau of War, and Mr. Seddon's private clerk got an
abundance of flour, etc.
Major Harman,
Staunton, says provisions cannot be had in that section to feed Early's army,
unless one-fourth of all produce be bought at market prices, and the people go
on half rations. The slaves everywhere are on full rations.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 392-3
