The darkest and most
dismal day that ever dawned upon the earth, except one. There was no light when
the usual hour came round, and later the sun refused to shine. There was fog,
and afterward rain.
Northern papers say
Hood has been utterly routed, losing all his guns!
A letter from Mr. ——— to ——— dated Richmond, December 17th, 1864, says:
"I
have the honor to report my success as most remarkable and satisfactory. I have
ascertained the whole Yankee mail line,
from the gun-boats to your city, with all the agents save one. You will be surprised when informed, from the lowest
to the highest class. The agent in your city, and most likely in your
department, has yet to be discovered. This is as certain as what we have
learned (his arrest, I mean), for the party in whose hands the mail is put
coming from your city is known to us; and we have only to learn who gives him
the mail, which can be done upon arrest, if
not sooner, to know everything. What shall be done with the parties (spies,
of course) when we are ready to act? If you ever intimate that trials are tedious, etc., the enemy
seize citizens from some neighborhood as hostages, when their emissaries are
disturbed. I will dispatch, if it be
authorized, and that will end the matter. The lady I spoke to you of is the
fountain-head. What to do with females troubles me, for I dislike to be
identified with their arrest.
"I
request that a good boat, with three torpedoes, and a man who understands
working them, be sent to Milford to report to me at Edge Hill. Let the man be mum on all questions. I would meet him
at Milford, if I knew the day (distance is twenty-five miles), with a wagon, to
take him, torpedoes, and boat to the point required. I must be sure of the day.
"Have
the following advertisement published in Monday's papers:
“‘YANKEES ESCAPED! $1000 REWARD!—A Yankee officer and three privates
escaped from prison on Thursday night, with important matter upon their
persons. The above reward will be givenfor their detection.'
'Let me hear from you through Cawood's Line, upon receipt of this.
Respectfully, etc. ———”
We have the
spectacle now of three full generals-Johnston, Beauregard, and Bragg without
armies to command; and the armies in the field apparently melting away under
the lead of subordinate, if not incompetent leaders. So much for the
administration of the Adjutant-General's office.
Governor Smith is
still exempting deputy sheriffs, constables, etc.—all able-bodied.
It is rumored on the
street that we intend evacuating Savannah. How did that get out—if, indeed,
such is the determination? There are traitors in high places—or near them.
It is also rumored
that the Danville Railroad has been cut. I don't believe it—yet.
There is deep
vexation in the city—a general apprehension that our affairs are rapidly
approaching a crisis such as has not been experienced before. There is also
much denunciation of the President for the removal of Gen. Johnston from the
command of the Army of Tennessee.
Hon. Mr. Foote
declared, Saturday, that he would resign his seat if the bill to suspend the
writ of habeas corpus, now pending, became a law. There is much consternation—but
it is of a sullen character, without excitement.
The United States
Congress has ordered that notice be given Great Britain of an intention on the
part of the Federal Government to increase the naval force on the lakes; also a
proposition has been introduced to terminate the Reciprocity Treaty. Gen. Dix
orders his military subordinates to pursue any rebel raiders even into Canada
and bring them over. So, light may come from that quarter. A war with England
would be our peace.
At 2 P.M. it was
rumored that Charleston is taken and Beauregard a prisoner. Also that Gen. Jos.
E. Johnston (in the city) says Richmond will be evacuated in ten days. I do not
learn what gold sells at to-day! I suspect some coup d'état is meditated.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 357-9
