Raining; rained all
night. My health improving, but prudence requires me to still keep within the
house.
The reports of
terrific fighting near Peterburg on Wednesday evening have not been confirmed.
Although Gen. Lee's dispatch shows they were not quite without foundation, I
have no doubt there was a false alarm on both sides, and a large amount of
ammunition vainly expended.
HEADQUARTERS, March 30th, 1865.
GEN.
J. C. BRECKINRIDGE, SECRETARY OF WAR.
Gen.
Gordon reports that the enemy, at 11 A.M. yesterday, advanced against a part of
his lines, defended by Brig.-Gen. Lewis, but was repulsed.
The
fire of artillery and mortars continued for several hours with considerable
activity.
No
damage on our lines reported.
R. E. LEE.
We are sinking our
gun-boats at Chaffin's Bluff, to obstruct the passage of the enemy's fleet,
expected soon to advance.
Congress passed two
acts, and proper ones, to which the Executive has yet paid no attention
whatever, viz.: the abolition of the Bureau of Conscription, and of all Provost
Marshals, their guards, etc. not attached to armies in the field. If the new
Secretary has consented to be burdened with the responsibility of this
contumacy and violation of the Constitution, it will break his back, and ruin
our already desperate cause.
Four P.M.—Since
writing the above, I learn that an order has been published abolishing the
"Bureau of Conscription."
Gov. Vance has
written to know why the government wants the track of the North Carolina
Railroad altered to the width of those in Virginia, and has been answered: 1st,
to facilitate the transportation of supplies to Gen. Lee's army from North
Carolina; and 2d, in the event of disaster, to enable the government to run all
the locomotives, cars, etc. of the Virginia roads into North Carolina.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 463
