Raining hard, and
warm.
We have vague reports
of Early's defeat in the Valley by an overwhelming force; and the gloom and
despondency among the people are in accordance with the hue of the
constantly-occurring disasters.
Brig.-Gen. J.
Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance, has been rebuked by Gen. Lee for constantly striving
to get mechanics out of the service. Gen. Lee says the time has arrived when
the necessity of having able-bodied men in the field is paramount to all other
considerations.
Brig. Gen. Preston
(Bureau of Conscription) takes issue with Gen. Lee on the best mode of sending
back deserters to the field. He says there are at this time 100,000 deserters!
C. Lamar, Bath, S.
C., writes to the President that ———, a bonded farmer, secretly removed his
meat and then burnt his smoke-house, conveying the impression that all his meat
was destroyed. The President sends this to the Secretary of War with the
following indorsement: "For attention—this example shows the vice of class
exemption, as well as the practices resorted to avoid yielding supplies to the
government."
The Legislature of
North Carolina has passed resolutions exempting millers, blacksmith, etc.—in
contravention of the act of Congress and directing Gov. Vance to correspond
with the Secretary of War on the subject. This bears an ugly aspect.
Gen. Early's little
army is scattered to the winds. Charlottesville has been in possession of the
enemy, but at last accounts Gen. Rosser, in Sheridan's rear, held it. Sheridan
advanced to Scottsville; and is no doubt still advancing. Lynchburg is rendered
unsafe; and yet some of the bureaus are packing up and preparing to send the
archives thither. They would probably fall into the hands of the enemy.
Gen. Lee is in the
city—where there is much confusion of tongues and impatient, waiting for the
next scene of the drama. If there was to be concert of action between Grant and
Sheridan, probably the copious rains have prevented it.
Two P.M. There is
almost a panic among officials here who have their families with them, under
the belief that the city may be suddenly evacuated, and the impossibility of
getting transportation. I do not share the belief that is, that the event is
likely to occur immediately; but if it should occur, I know my wife and
children will remain—for a season. We must "pray that our
flight be not in the
winter."
Gen. Lee was
closeted with the Secretary of War several hours to-day. It is reported that
Gen. L.'s family are preparing to leave the city.
SOURCE: John
Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate
States Capital, Volume 2, p. 439-40