Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: October 30, 1864

Bright and beautiful.

Some firing was heard early this morning on the Darbytown road, or in that direction; but it soon ceased, and no fighting of moment is anticipated to-day, for Gen. Longstreet is in the city.

My son Thomas drew a month's rations yesterday, being detailed for clerical service with Gen. Kemper. He got 35 pounds of flour (market value $70), 31 pounds of beef ($100.75), 3 pounds of rice ($6), one sixth of a cord of wood ($13.33), salt ($2), tobacco ($5), vinegar ($3)—making $200 per month; clothing furnished by government, $500 per annum; cash, $18 per month; $4 per day extra, and $40 per month for quarters; or $5000 per annum.

Custis and I get $4000 each-making in all $13,000! Yet we cannot subsist and clothe the family; for, alas, the paper money is $30 for one in specie!

The steamers have brought into Wilmington immense amounts of quartermaster stores, and perhaps our armies are the best clad in the world. If the spirit of speculation be laid, and all the men and resources of the country be devoted to defense (as seems now to be the intention), the United States could never find men and material sufficient for our subjugation. We could maintain the war for an indefinite period, unless, indeed, fatal dissensions should spring up among ourselves.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 318-9

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: November 12, 1863

No accounts of any fighting, but plenty of battles looked for.

A. A. Little writes to the Secretary of War from Fredericksburg, that the attempt to remove the iron from the Aquia Railroad by the government having failed, now is the time for private enterprise to effect it. If the Secretary “will say the word,” it can be done. He says the iron is worth “millions, its weight in gold!” Will Mr. Seddon let it be saved? Yes, indeed.

Mr. Heyliger, agent at Nassau, writes on the 3d instant (just a week ago), that he is shipping bacon by every steamer (three or four per week), leather, percussion caps, and a large amount of quartermaster's stores. But the supply of lead and saltpeter is exhausted, and he hopes the agents in Europe will soon send more. About one in every four steamers is captured by the enemy. We can afford that.

The President sent over to-day, for the perusal of the Secretary of War, a long letter from Gen. Howell Cobb, dated at Atlanta, on the 7th instant. He had just returned from a visit to Bragg's army, and reports that there is a better feeling among the officers for Gen. Bragg, who is regaining their confidence. However, he says it is to be wished that more cordiality subsisted between Generals Bragg and ———, his ——— in command. He thinks Generals B—— and C—— might be relieved without detriment to the service, if they cannot be reconciled to Bragg. He hints at some important movement, and suggests co-operation from Virginia by a demonstration in East Tennessee.

It is generally believed that France has followed the example of England, by seizing our rams. Thus the whole world seems combined against us. And Mr. Seward has made a speech, breathing fire and destruction unless we submit to Lincoln as our President. He says he was fairly elected President for four years of the whole United States, and there can be no peace until he is President of all the States, to which he is justly entitled. A war for the President!

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p. 95-6

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Tuesday, September 27, 1864

Burned R. R. and stores. Captured Com'y and Q. M. stores. Quite a time. Visited rebel hospital, Deaf and Dumb Asylum, and Insane Asylum. Marched to Waynesboro in eve.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 131

Diary of 2nd Lieutenant Luman Harris Tenney: Saturday, September 10, 1864

Busy over monthly papers. Letter from home. Fixed up my commissary returns.¹

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¹ In my possession are a large number of these duplicate packages of “Monthly Returns of Quartermasters Stores,” “Monthly Returns of Clothing, Camp and Garrison Equipage, Abstracts, Vouchers,” etc., etc., all carefully assorted and securely fastened. (F. D. T.) The following is a copy of one of the vouchers: “I certify on honor that during the months of November and December, 1864, the following quartermasters’ stores were necessarily expended under my direction in Co. C, 2nd Ohio Cav.: 113, one hundred and thirteen grain sacks (worn). During the greater portion of this time our Regiment has been continually moving and these sacks have been used for bedding, for horses and men.

Luman H. Tenney,                 

Capt. 2nd Ohio Cav.  

Com'd'g Co. C. ”

Camp Russell, Va., December 30, 1864.

SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman Harris Tenney, p. 130