by John Beauchamp Jones
JANUARY 15TH.—The President’s message is highly applauded. It is well written; but I do not perceive much substance in it, besides some eloquent reproaches of England and France for the maintenance of their neutrality, which in effect is greatly more beneficial to the United States than to us. The President essays to encourage the people to continued effort and endurance—and such encouragement is highly judicious at this dark epoch of the struggle. He says truly we have larger armies, and a better supply of arms, etc., now, than we have had at any time previously.
The President says he will, unless Congress directs differently, have all Federal officers that we may capture, handed over to the States to be dealt with as John Brown was dealt with. The Emancipation Proclamation, if not revoked, may convert the war into a most barbarous conflict.
Mr. Foote, yesterday, introduced a resolution requesting the recall of our diplomatic agents; and, after a certain time, to notify the foreign consuls to leave the country, no longer recognizing them in an official capacity.
A bill was introduced making Marylanders subject to conscription.
January 15.—Mound City, Arkansas, was burned by a detachment of National troops, the place having long been the resort of guerrillas.— The bill authorizing the issue of one hundred million dollars in United States legal tender notes, was signed and became a law.—A detachment of the Twenty-second Wisconsin regiment, carrying despatches from Helena to Clarendon, Ark., were attacked by a body of rebels, who succeeded in capturing seventeen of their number. In the skirmish a rebel lieutenant and six men were killed and wounded.—Chicago Tribune.
Buntyn Station, Thursday, Jan. 15. The rain of the day before has turned into snow during the night, and I awoke to find the ground all white, my head imbedded in a snow drift. Looked out to see the 4th Platoon boys crawling out from under the snow, their tent having given way under the weight and rolled aside. It was a little the hardest sight seen during my campaign, but there was no murmur, all were jovial and contented. We had to take the horses, who were trembling at the rack, out to exercise to the race course, against a blinding storm of snow from the west. In the afternoon it stopped snowing, leaving about a foot deep on the ground. Many of the boys gone to Memphis.
