Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

August 2, 2014

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones

by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 2D.—Bright and hot. At 4 P.M. a cloud rising. Fear my wife, and daughter Fannie, and Custis (who has a days’ furlough), who went this morning per Fredericksburg Railroad intoHanoverCounty to gather blackberries, will be caught in a rain. Nevertheless, the rain is wanted.

            Assistant Secretary Campbell is again “allowing” doubtful characters to pass out of the Confederate States to theUnited States; among these is Dr. McClure, “the embalmer,” who, too, carried others out for bribes.

            The Signal Bureau gives information to-day of Grant’s purpose to spring the mine already sprung, also of a raid, that was abandoned, north and west ofRichmond. They say Grant has now but 70,000 men, there being only a few men left atWashington. Can the agents paid by the Signal Bureau be relied on?

            Gen. Bragg telegraphs fromColumbus,Ga., that Gen. Roddy has been ordered to reassemble his forces in North Alabama, to cutSherman’s communications.

            The news fromGeorgia is more cheering.

            The commissioners (of prices) have reduced the schedule: it was denounced universally. It is said by the Examiner that the extravagant rates, $30 per bushel for wheat, and $50 for bacon, were suggested by a farmer in office.

            Gen. Lee writes that he had directed Morgan to co-operate with Early, but he was sick.

            The enemy’s account of our loss in the battle before Atlanta is exaggerated greatly. Sherman’s army is doomed, I think.

            Seven P.M. No rain here, but my family were-drenched in a hard shower at Hanover Junction, and what was worse, they got no blackberries, the hot sun having dried the sap in the bushes.

Post image for A Woman’s Wartime Journal.

A Woman’s Wartime Journal.

August 2, 2014

Dolly Sumner Lunt Burge - A Woman's Wartime Journal.

August 2, 1864.

Just as I got out of bed this morning Aunt Julia [a slave] called me to look down the road and see the soldiers. I peeped through the blinds, and there they were, sure enough, the Yankees— the blue coats!

I was not dressed. The servant women came running in. “Mistress, they are coming! They are coming! They are riding into the lot! There are two coming up the steps!”

I bade Rachel [a slave] fasten my room door and go to the front door and ask them what they wanted. They did not wait for that, but came in and asked why my door was fastened. She told them that the white folks were not up. They said they wanted breakfast, and that quick, too.

“Thug” [short for “Sugar,” the nickname of a little girl, Minnie Minerva Glass, now Mrs. Joe Carey Murphy of Charlotte, North Carolina, who had come to pass the night with Sadai] and Sadai, as well as myself, were greatly alarmed. As soon as I could get on my clothing I hastened to the kitchen to hurry up breakfast. Six of them were there talking with my women. They asked about our soldiers and, passing themselves off as Wheeler’s men, said:

“Have you seen any of our men go by?”

“Several of Wheeler’s men passed last evening. Who are you?” said I.

“We are a portion of Wheeler’s men,” said one.

“You look like Yankees,” said I.

“Yes,” said one, stepping up to me; “we are Yankees. Did you ever see one before?”

“Not for a long time,” I replied, “and none such as you.” [These men, Mrs. Burge says further, were raiders, Illinois and Kentucky men of German origin. They left after breakfast, taking three of her best mules, but doing no further injury.]

To-night Captain Smith of an Alabama regiment, and a squad of twenty men, are camped opposite in the field. They have all supped with me, and I shall breakfast with them. We have spent a pleasant evening with music and talk. They have a prisoner along. I can’t help feeling sorry for him.

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