Hot and dry until 4
P.M. Gust, and 15 minutes' rain. Good for turnips.
Forts Gaines and
Powell are lost—the latter blown up. Gen. Maury telegraphs for infantry, has
some 4000 men for the defense of Mobile, etc.
Our raiders, under
McCausland and Bradley Johnson, it is said were surprised and defeated last
Sunday, with loss of 400 men, 500 horses, and 4 pieces of artillery. A rumor
prevails that Early has gained another victory near Winchester.
No news yet from our
agent sent to North Carolina to purchase supplies, but we learn flour and bacon
are not held one-quarter as high there as here. I do sincerely hope Grant's
raiders will keep quiet until I can get something to eat !
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel
War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
262
