Warm, with alternate sunshine and showers.
With the dawn recommenced the heavy boom of cannon down the
river. It was rumored this morning that our right wing at Drewry's Bluff had
been flanked, but no official information has been received of the progress of
the fight. I saw a long line of ambulances going in that direction.
To-day it is understood that the battle of Petersburg will
be fought by Beauregard, if he be not withheld from attacking the enemy by
orders from Richmond.
We have been beaten, or rather badly foiled here, by orders
from high authority; and it is said Gen. Ransom finds himself merely an
instrument in the hands of those who do not know how to use him skillfully.
The enemy is said to have made a bridge across the James
River, either to come on the north side, or to enable the raiders to reach
them. They are also planting torpedoes, for our iron rams. They are not yet
ready.
Gen. Lee is prosecuting the defensive policy effectively.
Couriers to the press, considered quite reliable, give some details of a most
terrific battle in Spottsylvania County day before yesterday, 12th inst. Our
men (with extra muskets) fought behind their breastworks. The host of
assailants came on, stimulated by whisky rations, ten deep, and fearful was the
slaughter. Their loss is estimated at 20,000; ours, 2000. The enemy were still
in front. Grant says he will not recross the Rappahannock as long as he has a
man left. Lee seems determined to kill his last man.
A great
deal of time is said to have been consumed in cabinet council, making
selections for appointments. It is a harvest for hunters after brigadier and
major-generalships. The President is very busy in this business, and Secretary
Seddon is sick-neuralgia.
Last night Custis came home on a furlough of twelve hours.
He got a clean shirt, and washed himself—not having had his shoes or clothes
off for more than a week. He has not taken cold, though sleeping in the water,
and not having dry clothes on him for several days. And his appetite is
excellent. He departed again for camp, four miles off, at 5. A.M., bringing and
taking out his gun, his heavy cartridge-box, and well-filled haversack (on his
return).
Half-past four o'clock P.M. A tremendous cannonade is now
distinctly heard down the river, the intonations resembling thunder. No doubt
the monitors are engaged with the battery at Drewry's Bluff. It may be a
combined attack.
Gen. Pemberton has resigned his commission; but the
President has conferred on him a lieutenant-colonelcy of artillery. Thus the
feelings of all the armies and most of the people are outraged; for, whether
justly or not, both Pemberton and Bragg, to whom the President clings with
tenacity, are especially obnoxious both to the people and the army. May Heaven
shield us! Yet the President may be right.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 2, p.
209-10