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

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 16TH.—Bright and pleasant—the weather.

            Gen. Hood telegraphs that his army is so much mortified at the feeble resistance it made toSherman, that he is certain it will fight better the next time.

            Mr. Benjamin asks a passport and transportation for Mrs. Jane L. Brant, who goes toEurope in the employment of the government.

            Gen. Morgan’s funeral took place to-day. None were allowed to see him; for the coffin was not opened. On the way toHollywoodCemetery, Gen. Ewell received a dispatch that our pickets were driven in at Chaffin’s Farm. This demonstration of the enemy compelled him to withdraw the military portion of the procession, and they were hurried off to the battle-field.

            The local troops (clerks, etc.) are ordered to assemble at 5 P.M. to day. What does Grant mean? He chooses a good time, if he means anything serious; for our people, and many of the troops, are a little despondent. They are censuring the President again, whose popularity ebbs and flows.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 15TH.—Bright and pleasant.

            The firing was from our gun-boats and two batteries, on Gen. Butler’s canal to turn the channel of the river.

            Our fondly-cherished visions of peace have vanished like a mirage of the desert; and there is general despondency among the croakers.

            Mr. Burt, of South Carolina (late member of Congress), writes from Abbeville that Vice-President A. H. Stephens crossed the Savannah River, when Sherman’s raiders were galloping through the country, in great alarm. To the people near him he spoke freely on public affairs, and criticised the President’s policy severely, and the conduct of the war generally. He said the enemy might now go where he pleased, our strength and resources were exhausted, and that we ought to make peace. That we could elect any one we might choose President of theUnited States, and intimated that this would enable us to secure terms, etc., which was understood to mean reconstruction of theUnion.

            A dispatch from Gen. Hood, dated yesterday, says Wheeler has been forced, by superior numbers, south of theTennessee River; and he now proposes that he (W.) shall retreat south along the railroad, which he is to destroy. This is the very route and the very work I and others have been hoping would engage Wheeler’s attention, for weeks. For one, I am rejoiced that the enemy “forced” him there, else, it seems,Sherman’s communications never would have been seriously interrupted. And he proposes sending Forrest to operate with Wheeler. Forrest is inMobile

            Gen. Morgan’s remains are looked for this evening, and will have a great funeral. And yet I saw a communication to the President to-day, from a friend of his in high position, a Kentuckian, saying Morgan did not die too soon; and his reputation and character were saved by his timely death! The charges, of course, will be dropped. His command is reduced to 280 men; he was required to raise all his recruits inKentucky.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 14TH.—Bright and cold.

            Gen. Lee is in the city, looking after recruits, details, etc.

            Mr. Secretary Seddon appears to be in very high spirits to-day, and says our affairs are by no means so desperate as they seem on the surface. I hope the good coming will come soon.

            Gen. Beauregard has been sent toNorth Carolina on a tour of inspection.

            No news of our wheat and molasses yet; and we have hardly money enough to live until the next pay-day. We have no coal yet.

            Four o’clock P.M. A brisk cannonade down the river is distinctly heard. It is not supposed to be a serious matter,—perhaps we are shelling Gen. Butler’s observatory, erected within his lines to overlook ours.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 13TH.-A bright, cool morning.

            Dispatches from Lieut.-Gen. R. Taylor indicate that Federal troops are passing up the Mississippi River, and that the attack onMobile has been delayed or abandoned.

            Gen. Lee writes urgently for more men, and asks the Secretary to direct an inquiry into alleged charges that the bureaus are getting able-bodied details that should be in the army. And he complains that rich young men are elected magistrates, etc., just to avoid service in the field.

            Gen. McClellan’s letter accepting the nomination pledges a restoration of theUnion “at all hazards.” This casts a deeper gloom over our croakers.

            “Everybody” is now abusing the President for removing Gen. Johnston, and demand his restoration, etc.

            Our agent has returned, without wheat or flour. He says he has bought some wheat, and some molasses, and they will be on soon. I hope Gen. Grant will remain quiet, and not cut our only remaining railroad (south), until we get a month’s supply of provisions I hear of speculators getting everything they want, to oppress us with extortionate prices, while we can get nothing through on the railroads for our famishing families, even when we have an order of the government for transportation. The companies are bribed by speculators, while the government pays more moderate rates. And the quartermasters on the roads are bribed, and, although the Quartermaster-General is apprised of these corruptions, nothing is done to correct them.

            And Mr. Seward has promised, for President Lincoln, that slavery will not be disturbed in any State that returns to the Union; and McClellan pledges States rights, and all the constitutional guarantees, when theUnion is re-established. A few more disasters, and many of our croakers would listen to these promises. The rich are looking for security, and their victims, the poor and oppressed, murmur at the Confederate States Government for its failure to protect them.

            In this hour of dullness, many are reflecting on the repose and abundance they enjoyed once in theUnion. But there are more acts in this drama! And the bell may ring any moment for the curtain to rise again.

            Dr. Powell brought us some apples to-day, which were fried for dinner—a scanty repast.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 12TH.—Clear, and quite cold.

            Gen. Hood has agreed to a short armistice withSherman, ten days, proposed by the latter. Our people don’t know what to think of this, and the government is acquiescent.

            But there is a mournful gloom upon the brows of many, since Gen. Grant holds theWeldon Road, and is daily receiving reinforcements, while we get but few under the Conscription system and the present organization of the bureau.

            There is a rumor of an intention to abandonPetersburg, and that 20,000 old men and boys, etc. must be put in the trenches on our side immediately to saveRichmond and the cause.

            Over 100,000 landed proprietors, and most of the slaveowners, are now out of the ranks, and soon, I fear, we shall have an army that will not fight, having nothing to fight for. And this is the result of the pernicious policy of partiality and exclusiveness, disintegrating society in such a crisis, and recognizing distinction of ranks, —the higher class staying home and making money, the lower class thrust into the trenches. And then the infamous schedule, to make the fortunes of the farmers of certain counties.

            I bought 30 yards of brown cotton to-day, at $2.50 per yard, from a man who had just returned fromNorth Carolina. The price here is $5. I sold my dear old silver reel some time ago (angling) for $75, the sum paid for this cotton.

            Already the Dispatch is publishing paragraphs in praise of the “Bureau of Conscription,” never dreaming that it strikes both Gen. Bragg and the President. These articles are written probably by Lieut.-Col. Lay or Col. August. And the Examiner is opening all its batteries again on the President and Gen. Bragg. The conscription men seem to have the odds; but the President, with a single eye, can discern his enemies, and when fully aroused is apt to pounce upon them like a relentless lion. The times are critical, however, and the Secretary of War is very reserved, even when under positive orders to act.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 11TH.—Showery.

            No war news, though important events are looked for speedily. It is time. If our coat-tails were off, we should, in nine cases out of ten, be voted a nation of sans cullottes. We are already meager and emaciated. Yet I believe there is abundance of clothing and food, held by the extortioners. The government should wage war upon the speculators—enemies as mischievous as the Yankees.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 10TH.—Slight showers, and warm.

            Gen. J. H. Morgan was betrayed by a woman, a Mrs. Williamson, who was entertaining him.

            Custis made an estimate of the white male population in seven States this side of the Mississippi, leaving out Tennessee, between the ages of fifteen and fifty, for Gen. Kemper, for Gen. Lee, which is 800,000, subject to deduction of those between fifteen and seventeen, disabled, 250,000, leaving 550,000—enough for defense for several years yet, if the Bureau of Conscription were abolished and a better system adopted.

            It is said the draft is postponed or abandoned in theUnited States. I hope so.

            Two 32-pounder guns passed down the river to-day on this side. We shall probably hear from them soon, and then, perhaps—lose them.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 9TH.—Rained last night; clear to-day.

            We hear of great rejoicing in theUnited States over the fall ofAtlanta, and this may be premature. President Lincoln has issued a proclamation for thanksgiving in the churches, etc.

            Mr. Benjamin informs the Secretary of War that the President has agreed to facilitate the emigration of Polish exiles and a few hundred Scotchmen, to come throughMexico, etc. The former will enter our service.

            The “Hope” has arrived atWilmington with Sir Wm. Armstrong’s present of a fine 12-pounder, all its equipments, ammunition, etc. Also (for sale) two 150-pounder rifled guns, with equipments, etc.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 8TH.—Bright and cool; subsequently cloudy and warm.

            Dispatches from Gen. Hood (Sept 7th) state—1st dispatch: thatSherman still holds his works one and a half miles from Jonesborough. 2d dispatch, same date: “Sherman continues his retreat!” He says, in a 3d dispatch, that Sherman visited the hospitals, and said he would rest awhile at Atlanta, and then march away to Andersonville, where we keep the Federal prisoners. Although Hood attaches no importance to declarations from such a source, yet he deems it a matter of first importance to remove the prisoners, which suggestion Gen. Bragg refers to the Secretary of War without remark. Gen. Hood also urges the reinforcing of his army from the trans-Mississippi Department. He is sending a brigade toOpelika, to await a raid.

            Gen. Forrest has been ordered, the President approving, to Middle Tennessee; but, contrary to his desire, he is not allowed to proclaim amnesty to the thousands of deserters expected to join him, so firmly do the President and Gen. Bragg adhere to Gen. Lee’s advice never to proclaim pardon in advance to deserters, even at this critical epoch in our affairs.

            All of us have been made sick by eating red peas, or rather overeating.

            Our cause is in danger of being lost for want of horses and mules, and yet I discovered to-day that the government has been lending horses to men who have but recently suffered some of the calamities of war! I discovered it in a letter from the Hon. R. M. T. Hunter, of Essex County, asking in behalf of himself and neighbors to be permitted to retain the borrowed horses beyond the time specified—Oct. 1st. Mr. Hunter borrowed two horses and four mules. He is worth millions, and only suffered (having a mill burned) his first loss by the enemy a few weeks ago! Better, far better, would it be for the Secretary to borrow or impress one hundred thousand horses, and mount our infantry to cut the communications of the enemy, and hover on his flanks like the Cossacks inRussia.