Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: March 12, 1863

To day we have no army news.

Mr. Richard Smith issued the first number of The Sentinel yesterday morning. Thus we have five daily morning papers, all on half sheets. The Sentinel has a biography of the President, and may aspire to be the “organ.”

John Mitchel, the Irishman, who was sentenced to a penal colony for disturbances in Ireland, some years ago, is now the leading editor of the Enquirer. He came hither from the North recently. His “compatriot,” Meagher, once lived in the South and advocated our “institutions.” He now commands a Federal brigade. What Mitchel will do finally, who knows? My friend R. Tyler, probably, had something to do with bringing him here. As a politician, however, he must know there is no Irish element in the Confederate States. I am sorry this Irish editor has been imported.

The resignation of Gen. Toombs is making some sensation in certain circles. He was among the foremost leaders of the rebellion. He was Secretary of State, and voluntarily resigned to enter the army. I know not precisely what his grievance is, unless it be the failure of the President to promote him to a higher position, which he may have deemed himself entitled to, from his genius, antecedents, wealth, etc. But it is probable he will cause some disturbance. Duff Green, who is everywhere in stormy times, told me to-day that Gen. Toombs would be elected Governor of Georgia this fall, and said there were intimations that Georgia might make peace with the United States! This would be death to the government — and destruction to Toombs. It must be a mistake. He cannot have any such design. If he had, it would be defeated by the people of Georgia, though they sighed for peace. Peace is what all most desire — but not without independence. Some there are, in all the States, who would go back into the Union, for the sake of repose and security. But a majority would not have peace on such terms.

Still, it behooves the President to be on his guard. He has enemies in the South, who hate him much.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 272-3

Latest By Telegraph

REPORTED FOR THE DUBUQUE DAILY HERALD.

THIRTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS.

An Immense Corcoran Meeting in Boston.

SENATOR BRIGHT EXPELLED.

GEN. MEAGHER ASSUMES HIS COMMAND.

A SECRET DISPATCH SENT TO ENGLAND AND FRANCE BY JEFF. DAVIS.

Probable Passage of the Legal Tender Clause.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FROM HONOLULU

SECESH PENSIONISTS STRUCK FROM THE ROLLS.

Firing and Mysterious Movements at Sewell’s Point.

GEN. BUTLER’S EXPEDITION.

EMBARKATION OF TROOPS.

THE ENTIRE DIVISION TO CONSIST OF 10,000 MEN.

Fire at Mendalia [sic], Illinois.

– Published in The Dubuque Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 7, 1862, p. 1

Afternoon Report

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5. – Herald Correspondence. – The only event yesterday was the assumption of his command by General Thos. F. Meagher, who accompanied by Gen. Shields took command of the Irish Brigade amidst great enthusiasm.  Gen. Shields addressed the troops in most effective terms.

Capt. Griffin’s battery did some splendid shooting to-day at Masons Hill.  They fired a dozen rounds with Schrepnell shell from two 12-pounder Parrott guns at a tree 1,600 yards distant.  All the shells but one exploded, and every shot struck within a few feet of the tree.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6. – Those who voted against Bright’s expulsion, were, Nays, Bayard, Cowan, Carlisle, Harris, Kennedy, Upham, Nesmith, Pearce, Powell, Rice, Salsbury, Ten Eyek, Thompson and Willey. – 14.  Yeas. 32.

The Vice President said that as two-thirds had voted in favor of the resolution, it was adopted.

(Tribune Correspondence.) – It is believed that Secretary Stanton will speedily take in fact as he has commenced in form, the conduct of the war, which usage and departmental law gives him the right to do.

The scene at the close of the expulsion of Senator Bright was dramatic.  There was a desperate decisiveness in the “no” with which Mr. Bayard answered to his name.  When Mr. Carlisle of Virginia voted “no” the flutter was significant and loud.  He had been counted only among the doubtful.

The Californians, McDougal and Simmons, were at first absent, but not a moment too soon they came in, and 32 votes declared the law that in the American Senate hereafter no traitor shall occupy a seat.  When the result was announced the galleries burst into applause, but was checked instantly

Mr. Bright bundled up the portable property on his desk, turned his back upon the Court which had tried him, went to Secretary Forney’s room and drew his pay to the last cent, and with a defiant stride passed into the Public Land Committee room, where his wife awaited him.  In her presence the actor’s costume fell.  The ruined politician sat down and haggard and crushed, contemplated the wreck he had made of his fortunes.

Mr. Arnold was authorized to-day to report fully the views of the Lake and River defence Committee on the fortifications of the frontier and the army and equipping of vessels for the Lakes.  Their recommendations will be thorough.

It is said Gov. Morgan’s nomination as Maj. General, will be rejected by the Senate.  If it is confirmed it is apprehended every Governor of every free State will claim this rank and emolument.

The New York Times Paris correspondent states that a secret dispatch from Jeff Davis had been furnished the Governments of France and England which gives full details of the military and commercial resources of the confederacy, and which points out in detail the advantages which France would derive by aiding in the establishment of the new Government.  In its details of military resources, France is expected to see that the Confederacy is able to resist the North forever, which entitles them to recognition, while in its commercial details are seen the enticing phantom of free trade and commercial riches.

Times Washington Correspondence – Vallandigham, Pendleton and Corning, with Morrill, Conkling, Horton and a few others, held a caucus this P. M. and agreed to compromise all their proposed amendments of the demand Treasury Note scheme in one bill, with the view to making a stronger combination against the bill of the committee of Ways and Means, which the Administration has endorsed as indispensable to maintaining the Government and carrying on the war.  The vote may be close, but the chances are decidedly in favor of the legal tender clause.

Hon. Jno. Parker, U. S. Consul at Honolulu, has arrived here with important information from that Government.  He says agents have been sent to England to hypothecate the entire group of the Sandwich Island to Great Britain.

The President has approved the bill authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to strike from the pension rolls the names of all such persons as have or may hereafter take up arms against the Government of the United States, or who have in any manner encouraged the rebels or manifested a sympathy with their cause.  It is known that some persons in the West, after drawing their pensions, have openly joined the enemy, while others who have not taken this extreme step have openly sympathized with the rebels and drawn their pensions.  The law just passed affords a partial remedy against disloyal pensioners receiving money from the Government.

– Published in The Dubuque Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, Friday Morning, February 7, 1862, p. 1

A Brave Speech by a Brave Man

At a banquet given a few nights ago to Brig Gen. Meagher, in honor of his appointment, Gen. Shields made a speech, of which the following is the substance.  It is a grand rebuke of the imputations that have been cast upon his patriotism:

Said he, “I was in New Mexico when I first heard of the battle of Bull Run.  I read the account in a Spanish paper, and I wouldn’t believe it.  I felt sure that it must be an invention of our enemies, for I knew that the Spaniards were most persistent haters of everything American.  I had fought in Mexico alongside of Northern men and Southern men, and I knew that both were brave.  I did not believe that either would run away and if any man then had dared to tell that the account was true, I would have knocked him down.  But shortly after I read the account in our own papers and I felt humiliated.  I determined at once to come and offer my services to the Government, to be employed in any way in which I could be the most useful.  I had no desire again to enter the field of conflict.  I had suffered great privations in a soldier’s life; and I desired to spend the short remainder of my life in peaceful associations, and had you been successful I should have done so.  But when I saw that you were defeated – when I saw that the Government which had so long protected me, and mine had received such great kindness, was in danger of being overthrown by the hands of traitors, I determined at once to leave my home in the far west, and devote what little blood was left in me, and the few years that remained, to its defence and support.  For the future, till this war is ended and the rebellion overcome, I have no political feelings or preferences.  Let us, I beg of you, during this conflict, have no Democrats, no Republicans, - but one party, - and that for our country – our whole country in all its integrity.”

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Thursday Morning, March 6, 1862, p. 2