March 23. — General Benham rode off this morning with Captain Bowers, Lieutenant Van Brocklin, and Major Spaulding. He visited the commands of Major Spaulding and Captain Slosson. Major Spaulding and Lieutenant Van Brocklin selected a new encampment for the pontoon train. Captain Lubey went down to Belle Plain to drill in the pontoon-bridge laying. Moved our headquarters over to the Engineer Brigade. Morning pleasant, but towards afternoon it grew cloudy.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
by John Beauchamp Jones
MARCH 23D.—The snow has nearly disappeared, and the roads are very bad. No food is brought to the market, and such as may be found in the city is held at famine prices.
I saw a letter to-day from Bishop Lay, in Arkansas. He says affairs in that State wear a dark and gloomy aspect. He thinks the State is lost.
Gen. Beauregard writes the Hon. Mr. Miles that he has not men enough, nor heavy guns enough, for the defense of Charleston. If this were generally known, thousands would despair, being convinced that those charged with the reins of power are incompetent, unequal to the crisis, and destined to conduct them to destruction rather than independence.
March 23.—The treaty between the United States and Liberia was officially promulgated.— The schooner Charm was captured at the mouth of Indian River Inlet, Fla., by a boat expedition from the National steamer Sagamore.—The expeditionary force of National troops, under the command of Col. John D. Rust, which left Beaufort, S. C, on the nineteenth instant, arrived at Jacksonville, Florida, to-day.—(Doc. 148.)
