Bright and frosty.
About one o'clock last night, there was an alarm, supposed to be the approach
of the enemy from the West—Sheridan's cavalry—and the tocsin sounded until
daylight. It was a calm moonlight night, without a cloud in the sky. Couriers
reported that the enemy were at the outer fortifications, and had burned Ben
Green's house. Corse's brigade and one or two batteries passed through the city
in the direction of the menaced point; and all the local organizations were
ordered to march early in the morning. Mr. Secretary Mallory and
Postmaster-General Reagan were in the saddle; and rumor says the President and
the remainder of the cabinet had their horses saddled in readiness for flight.
About a year ago we had Dahlgren's raid, and it was then announced that the
purpose was to burn the city and put to death the President, the cabinet, and
other prominent leaders of the "rebellion." Perhaps our leaders had
some apprehension of the fate prepared for them on that occasion, and may have
concerted a plan of escape.
As well as I can
learn from couriers, it appears that only some 1200 or 1500 of the enemy's
cavalry advanced toward the city, and are now (10 A.M.) retiring—or driven back
by our cavalry. But it is a little extraordinary that Gen. Lee, with almost
unlimited power, has not been able to prevent 1200 Federals riding from
Winchester to Richmond, over almost impracticable roads, without even a
respectable skirmish wherein 1000 men were opposed to them. It is true Early
was routed—but that was more than a week ago, and we have no particulars yet.
The enemy's papers will contain them, however.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 446
