9th.—On Monday saw B. removed from the bed of suffering, on which he had been lying four months, put on a stretcher, and carried to the canal-boat. His countenance was full of joyful anticipations of home. His arm, which should have been amputated on the field, hangs lifeless by his side; and yet fit expects to return to his post, that of Major of artillery, as soon as he is strong enough. Poor fellow, it is well for him to amuse himself with the idea, but he will never again be fit for any duty but that at a post. He has been the recipient of kindnesses from Mr. and Mrs. P. and others, which could only be experienced in this dear, warm-hearted Southern country of ours, and which he can never forget to his dying day. That night I spent with my kind friend Mrs. R., and next morning made such purchases as were absolutely necessary for our; comfort. I gave for bleached cotton, which used to be sold for 12½ cents, $3.50 per yard; towelling $1.25 per yard: cotton 50 cents a spool, etc. Nothing reconciled me to this extravagance but that I had sold my soap for $1 per pound!!
The enemy has retired from Vicksburg, their canal having proved a failure. Where they will reappear nobody knows. Another ineffectual attempt upon Charleston on the 7th and 8th.
by John Beauchamp Jones
APRIL 9TH—Nothing additional has occurred at Charleston, the enemy not having renewed the attack. At Vicksburg all was quiet, and the enemy abandoning their canal. Such news must have a depressing effect upon the North. They will see that their monitors and iron-clads have lost their terrors. They have lost some twenty war steamers within the last few months; and how many of their merchantmen have been destroyed on the ocean, we have no means of knowing.
British and French capitalists have taken a cotton loan of $15,000,000, which is now selling at a premium of four per cent. in those countries. Our government can, if it will, soon have a navy of Alabamas and Floridas.
But we are in danger of being sold to the enemy by the blockade-runners in this city. High officers, civil and military, are said, perhaps maliciously, to be engaged in the unlawful trade hitherto carried on by the Jews. It is said that the flag of truce boats serve as a medium of negotiations between official dignitaries here and those at Washington; and I have no doubt many of the Federal officers at Washington, for the sake of lucre, make no scruple to participate in the profits of this treasonable traffic. They can beat us at this game: cheat us in bargaining, and excel us in obtaining information as to the number and position of troops, fortifications, etc.
April 9.—Colonel N. U. Daniels, of the Second regiment of Louisiana National volunteers, with one hundred and eighty of his men, left Ship Island on an expedition to Pascagoula, Miss. He reached that place and landed his force at nine o’clock in the morning; took possession of the hotel, and hoisted the National flag. Immediately after this, he was attacked by a body of rebel cavalry, supported by one company of infantry, and after a severe fight, in which twenty of the rebels were killed and a large number wounded, he succeeded in repulsing them, and capturing three prisoners and their colors. Colonel Daniels held the place until two o’clock in the afternoon, when, hearing that large reinforcements for the enemy were coming up the Pascagoula River, he withdrew his men and returned to Ship Island.—(Doc. 165.)
—A large war meeting was held at Chicago, Ill., at which speeches were made by William A. Howard, of Michigan, Senator Trumbull, and others.—A sharp fight took place at Blount’s Mills, N. C.—(Doc. 166.)
April 9. — Day delightful, being a real summer, or rather spring, day. The President reviewed the First Corps to-day. Rode over to see Colonel Eustis in regard to Engineer officers. On my way back, I stopped for Whittier, and went over with him to see Furness on Stoneman’s staff. Had guard-mounting in the afternoon, which passed off quite successfully. The general rode over to Major Spaulding’s in the afternoon, with Lieutenant Van Brocklin.
