Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: January 21, 1863

Last night the rain fell in torrents, and to-day there is a violent storm of wind, from the N.W. This may put an end, for a season, to campaigning on land, and the enemy's fleet at sea may be dispersed. Providence may thus intervene in our behalf.

It is feared that we have met with a serious blow in Arkansas, but it is not generally believed that so many (5000 to 7000 men) surrendered, as is stated in the Northern papers. Gen. Holmes is responsible for the mishap.

Conscription drags its slow length along. It is not yet adding many to the army. The Assistant Secretary of War, and several others, “by order of the Secretary of War,” are granting a fearful number of exemptions daily. Congress, I hope, will modify the exemption bill immediately. It is believed enrolling officers, surgeons, and others are permitting thousands to remain at home “for a price.” liven clerks in the War Department, it is said, are driving a lucrative business in “getting men off,” who should be on duty, in this war of independence. Young men in the departments, except in particular eases, will not stand in good repute “when the hurly burly's done, when the battle's lost and won.”

Congress is at work projecting the organization of a Supreme Court.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 243

From Fort Monroe

FORT MONROE, March 13.

The following is taken from Southern papers:

In the rebel House of Representatives, on Monday, a resolution passed advising planters to withdraw for cultivation of cotton and tobacco, and devote their energies to raising provisions, hogs, cattle, etc.

The Senate passed a bill organizing a Supreme Court.

The President set a message to Congress stating that he had suspended Floyd and Pillow from their commands until they could give more satisfactory accounts of the Donelson affair.

Petersburg, Richmond and Norfolk are under martial law.

The Richmond Examiner of yesterday says that considerable uneasiness is felt at the reports of our forces falling back from Manassas and the Upper Potomac.  Positive assurances are given that these movements are purely [strategic], and not made on account of any pressure by the enemy. – The points for a new line of defence have not yet been selected, but it is thought will extend from Staunton to Gordonsville.

The same paper contains a severe article on Gov. Letcher, for his secret proclamation calling upon the whole body of militia, and says this is calculated to breed disloyalty.

The nomination of Gen. Lee as commanding General of the rebel army was sent to the Senate.

The Massilla Times of the 29^th gives the report of a revolution in New Mexico against the Federal authority, and that Mr. Otero is heading the movement.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 14, 1862, p. 2