Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: August 24, 1864

Clear and pleasant.

Operations now must be initiated by the enemy. Gen. Lee writes that he is too weak to attempt to dislodge the Yankees from the Weldon Railroad. He cannot afford the loss of men necessary to accomplish it. He says the enemy, however, was "worsted" in the two conflicts, that of Friday and Sunday. And if he were to drive him away, the road would still be subject to interruption. He thinks we can still get supplies, by wagons, round the enemy's position, as well as by the Danville Road. He also suggests that corn be imported at Wilmington, and that every effort be made to accumulate supplies here; and he thinks we can hold out until corn matures some six weeks hence, so that the moral effect will be good, when it is apparent the efforts of the enemy to cut off our supplies are thwarted. He thinks the enemy has relinquished the idea of forcing our fortifications. But he says that Grant intended to force his way into Richmond last week.

I wrote a letter to the President to-day, urging the necessity of preventing the transportation of any supplies on the railroads except for distribution at cost, and thus exterminating the speculators. The poor must be fed and protected, if they be relied upon to defend the country. The rich bribe the conscription officers, and keep out of the ranks, invest their Confederate money and bonds in real estate, and would be the first to submit to the United States Government; and the poor, whom they oppress, are in danger of demoralization from suffering and disgust, and might also embrace reunion rather than a prolongation of such miseries as they have so long experienced. The patriotism of 1861 must be revived, or independence cannot be achieved. If a Peace Democrat be elected, no doubt terms of peace will be tendered, on the basis of reunion; and if they be rejected, perhaps the war may be continued. Or Lincoln may modify his conditions of peace; and the rich, always seeking repose and security, may embrace them. The surest plan is to break up speculation, and put the rich as well as the poor in the army. We must deserve independence, else we shall not get it. There must be no partiality, and especially in favor of the rich. I wrote plainly, intimating the danger of Reconstruction, without the greatest care, and a scrupulous performance of duty.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 270-1

Rosecrans to be Dealt With

Under the above title the New York Post has the following pungent hit at those rose-water-lilly-livered democrats of the peace on any terms that the secesh may dictate persuasion.

The Post Says:

We understand that a committee of “democrats,” to be composed of John Van Buren, Ben. Wood, James Brooks, Vallandigham and Sunset Cox, are about to address a severe note to General Rosecrans, asking him what he means by his singular proceedings in Tennessee. Their feelings have been very much hurt by this rough and ruffianly mode of handling their friends, Bragg, Johnson, Hardee, Rains, etc., and demanded an explanation.

Does he not know that he is irritating the minds of our Southern brethren by his harsh measures? Can he hope to win them back to love of the old Union by his bayonets, swords, and cannon? Why did he not throw down his arms and coax them into their allegiance and duty? His sharp, ill-advised, radical method by gunpowder, we fear, has only confirmed them in their dislike of the federal government.

Mr. Vallandigham, indeed as we understand, is about to bring the case of this offender to the attention of the House of Representatives. He will propose a committee to inquire by what authority Gen. Rosecrans has taken it upon himself to put to death several thousand of our fellow citizens at Murfreesboro, to blow their houses to atoms, seize their cattle, and let their negroes run. He (Vallandigham) has long made the constitution a subject of special study, and he finds that it guarantees to every citizen perfect security in his rights of person and property. No one can be molested in these without due process of law; yet this Rosecrans, sets the provisions of the sacred instrument entirely at naught. Or is he so insane to suppose that his ten inch shells are what the constitution means by “due process of law?” Can he imagine that his “advance of the whole line with enthusiastic cheers” is a fair trial by jury which the constitution awards every man?

It will be in vain for the culprit to plead that he is acting according to laws of war; for that dodge has been attempted by President Lincoln in defense of his edict of freedom; but the “democrats,” in their conscientious devotion to the letter of the constitution, will not admit the plea.

– Published in The Athens Messenger, Athens, Ohio, Thursday, January 29, 1863

From Corinth

When Soldiers speak, it “Rings of the Pure Mettle.” From a private letter received by our fellow citizen, Mr. Marietta of Ottawa, we are permitted to make the following extract. If our soldiers don’t make “short work” of some of the cowardly villains, on their return, who delight in stabbing them in the back by whining “Peace,” there is no judging of a pending storm by peals of heaviest thunder.

Well I want to know what you at home think about the war. For my part, believe that the war would have been settled long before to-day if the South had not been encouraged by those in the North who seek the destruction of the Government, just to accomplish their own designs. Now the question will arise. who are they? Well, they are a set of men who call themselves “Conservative Democrats, or, “Peace Democrats.” They are doing more to prolong the war than the meanest rebel in the South. Well I will tell you what I think of such men. – I think they never ought to die a natural death; and hell would be too good a place for them. It makes my blood boil to think that while thousands of our brave soldiers have fallen in battle, and thousands more are willing to offer their lives to sacrifice to the good old stars and stripes and while we are thus contending to preserve the honor of that emblem of our fore-fathers, those who ought to be engaged with us in the great struggle, are in reality our most bitter enemies, and doing all they can to defeat the Union cause. Well, all we ask of such men is to keep still, for we know they are cowards and will never fight on either side.

I know that secession is about played out. They say themselves that unless they can succeed in dividing the North the thing is “gone up.” They are becoming alarmed, and a few more victories on our side, will decide the contest.

Deserters from Bragg’s army are coming in almost every day; they report things in a horrible condition.

F. Marietta

– Published in The Union Sentinel, Osceola, Iowa, Saturday, March 14, 1863