Bright and warm.
It is said there is
a movement of the enemy menacing our works on the north side of the river.
There was shelling down the river yesterday and day before, officially
announced by Gen. Lee—two of the enemy's monitors retired.
Gen. Longstreet says
“over 100 of Gen. Pickett's men are in the guard-house for desertion, and that
the cause of it may be attributed to the numerous reprieves, no one being
executed for two months.” Gen. Lee indorses on the paper: "Desertion is
increasing in the army, notwithstanding all my efforts to stop it. I think a
rigid execution of the law is mercy in the end. The great want in our army is
firm discipline." The Secretary of War sent it to the President "for
his information." The President sent it back with the following biting
indorsement:
"When deserters are arrested they should be tried, and if the
sentences are reviewed and remitted, that is not a proper subject for the
criticism of a military commander.—JEFF. DAVIS. November 29th, 1864."
Another dispatch
from Gen. Bragg:
AUGUSTA,
November 30th, 1864.—Following just received from Major Gen. Wheeler: “Four
Miles West Buckhead Church, November 29th, 9 P.M.—We fought Gen. Kilpatrick all
night and all day, charging him at every opportunity. Enemy fought stubbornly,
and left a considerable number of their killed. He stampeded, and came near
capturing Kilpatrick twice; but having a fleet horse, he escaped, bareheaded,
leaving his hat in our hands. Our own loss about 70, including the gallant Gen.
Robertson, severely wounded. Our troops all acted handsomely.”
Gen.
Robertson has arrived here. His left arm is badly broken at the elbow, but he
is doing well.—B. B.
Another dispatch of the same date:
To
establish our communications west, I have ordered the immediate repair of the
Georgia Railroad to Atlanta. With the exception of bridges, the damage is
reported as slight. We should also have a line of telegraph on that route.—B.
B.
I succeeded to-day
in buying of Government Quartermaster (Major Ferguson) four yards of dark-gray
cloth, at $12 per yard, for a full suit. The merchants ask $125 per yard—a
saving of $450. I hope to have it cut and made by one of the government
tailors, for about $50, trimmings included. A citizen tailor asks $350!
The Senate passed a
bill, yesterday, increasing my salary and Custis's $500, which we don't thank
them for unless we can buy rations, etc. at schedule prices. The money is
worthless when we go into the open market.
My landlord, Mr.
King, has gone into the grocery business; and, although he did not raise the
rent for the present year, still asked more upon my offer to pay the amount of
the first quarter to-day—$500, six months ago, were really worth more than
$1000 to-day. At that time I acknowledged the house would bring more than $500.
To-day it would rent for more than $1000. He left it to me to do what was
right. I think it right to pay $800 or $1000, and will do so.
This evening our
servant stepped into the yard just in time to save some clothes drying on the
line. A thief was in the act of stealing them, and made his escape, springing
over the fence into the alley.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 343-5
