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

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 6TH.—Raining moderately, and cool.

            Gen. Bragg has taken the Bureau of Conscription in hand, sinceCol. August, “acting superintendent,” wrote him a “disrespectful and insubordinate” note. He required a report of the officers in the bureau, from Lieut.-Col. Lay, “Acting Superintendent,”—there have been three “acting superintendents” during the last three days, —and Col. Lay furnished it. On this Gen. B. remarks that one young and able-bodied colonel (August) was here while his regiment was in the field, and recommended that he be permitted to have an opportunity to see some “service” before the war is ended, and military experience, which will teach him to be more respectful to seniors, etc.; and that the able-bodied lieutenant-colonel (Lay), from whom he can get no report of inspections, and who remains here idle most of his time, could render more efficient service in the field.

            And he thought Lieut. Goldthwait, relative of the Assistant Secretary of War, in the bureau, was performing functions that would better pertain to an older and more experienced man. In short, the whole organization required modification.

            These papers, with this indorsement, being sent to the President, that functionary sends them to the Secretary of War, with an indorsement intimating that such remarks from Gen. Bragg required action. Here’s a row! Perhaps the Secretary himself may flare up, and charge Gen. B. with interference, etc.;—but no, he must see that Gen. B. is acting with the concurrence of the President.

            But the Assistant Secretary,Col. August, Lieut.-Col. Lay, etc. will be like so many hornets stirred up with a pole, and no doubt they are rich enough to defy the emoluments of office.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 5TH.—Clear and warm.

            Gen. Lee has called for 2000 negroes (to be impressed) to work on the Petersburg fortifications. Gen. Lee has been here two days, giving his advice, which I hope may be taken. He addresses Gen. Bragg as “commanding armies C. S.” This ought to be an example for others to follow.

            The loss ofAtlanta is a stunning blow.

            I am sick to-day—having been swollen by beans, or rather cow-peas.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 4TH.—Showery.

            Atlanta has fallen, and our army has retreated some thirty miles; such is Hood’s dispatch, received last night.

            The cheering in Grant’s camp yesterday was over that event. We have not had sufficient generalship and enterprise to destroySherman’s communications.

            Some 40,000 landowners, and the owners of slaves, are at their comfortable homes, or in comfortable offices, while the poor and ignorant are relied upon to achieve independence and these, very naturally, disappoint the President’s expectations on momentous occasions.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 3D.—Slight rain in the morning.

            There is an ugly rumor on the streets to-day—disaster to Gen. Hood, and the fall ofAtlanta. I cannot trace it to an authentic source; and, if true, the telegraph operatives must have divulged it.

            A dispatch fromPetersburg states that there is much cheering in Grant’s army for McClellan, the nominee of the Chicago Convention for the Presidency.

            I think the resolutions of the convention amount to a defiance of President Lincoln, and that their ratification meetings will inaugurate civil war.

            The President has called upon the Governor of Alabama for the entire militia of the State, to be mustered into the service for the defense of the States. It is dated September 1st, and will include all exempted by the Conscription Bureau as farmers. Every farm has its exempted or detailed man under bonds to supply meat, etc.

            I incline to the belief that Hood has met with disaster atAtlanta. If so, every able-bodied man in that State will be hunted up for its defense, unless, indeed, the Union party should be revived there.

            There will be a new clamor against the President, for removing Johnston, and for not putting Beauregard in his place.

            But we may get aid from the North, from their civil dissensions. If Lincoln could precipitate 500,000 additional men upon us now, we should be compelled to give back at all points. But this he cannot do. And the convention at Chicago did not adjourn sine die, and may be called again at any time to exercise other functions than the mere nomination of candidates, etc.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 2D.—Bright, and cool, and dry.

            It is reported that a battle has occurred atAtlanta; but I have seen no official confirmation of it.

            It is rumored that Gen. McClellan has been nominated by the Chicago Convention for President, and Fernando Wood for Vice-President. There is some interest felt by our people in the proceedings of this convention, and there is a hope that peace candidates may be nominated and elected.

            Senator Johnson (Missouri) told me to-day that he had seen Mrs. Vaughan (wife of our Gen. V.), just from the United States, where she had been two months; and she declares it as her belief that Gen. McClellan will be elected, if nominated, and that he is decidedly for peace. She says the peace party would take up arms to put an end to Lincoln’s sanguinary career, but that it is thought peace can be soonest restored by the ballot-box.

            The President to-day arrested the rush of staff appointments.

            To-day an old gentleman, after an interview with Mr. Secretary ____, said he might be a good man, an honest man; but he certainly had a “most villainous face.”

by John Beauchamp Jones

            SEPTEMBER 1ST—Clear, bright, and cool.

            The intelligence from the North indicates that Gen. McClellan will be nominated for the Presidency. Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, shakes his head, and says he is not the right man. Our people take a lively interest in the proceedings of the Chicago Convention, hoping for a speedy termination of the war.

            Senator Johnson, ofMissouri, has a project of taxation for the extinguishment of the public debt—a sweeping taxation, amounting to one-half the value of the real and personal estate of the Confederate States. He got me to commit his ideas to writing, which I did, and they will be published.

            Gen. Kemper told me to-day that there were 40,000 able-bodied men inVirginia now detailed.

            There is a project on the tapis of introducing lady clerks into this bureau—all of them otherwise able to subsist themselves—while the poor refugees, who have suffered most, are denied places. Even the President named one to-day, Mrs. Ford, who, of course, will be appointed.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 31ST.—Bright and pleasant.

            The only news to-day was a dispatch from Gen. Hood, stating that the enemy had leftHollySprings,Miss., for the Mississippi River, supposed to reinforceSherman, whose communications are certainly cut. It seems to me thatSherman must be doomed. Forces are gathering from every quarter around him, and it is over 200 miles toMobile, if he has any idea to force his way thither-ward.

            Attended an auction to-day. Prices of furniture, clothing, etc. still mounting higher.

            Common salt herrings are at $10 per dozen; salt shad, $8 a piece. Our agent was heard from to-day. He has no flour yet, but we still have hopes of getting some.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 30TH.—Bright and pleasant.

            Gen. Hood telegraphs Gen Bragg that the enemy has shifted his line somewhat, drawing back his left and extending his right wing. Also that dispatches from Wheeler (August 19th) informs him that Dalton was captured, as stated, with 200 prisoners, 200 mules, a large amount of stores; several train supplies destroyed, as well as twenty-five miles of railroad in Sherman’s rear. If that don’t disturb the equanimity ofSherman, he must be an extraordinary general indeed.

            Gen. Lee says the Bureau of Conscription has ceased to send forward recruits, and suggests that the conscript officers and their tens of thousands of details be now ordered into the ranks themselves. The Secretary does not agree to this, and the Assistant Secretary’s son-in-law is one of “the Bureau.”

            Nine-tenths of the President’s time and labor consist of discriminating between applicants for office and for promotion. They are all politicians still! And the Secretaries of State, Navy, and the Postmaster-General are getting to be as fat as bears, while some of the subordinates I wot of are becoming mere shadows from scarcity of food.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 29TH.—Bright and pleasant morning; another fine shower last night.

            No important intelligence from the armies.