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

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JULY 18TH.—Clear and dry.

            It is believed that a battery sent down opposite to Harrison’s Bar in theJames River sank two of the enemy’s transports, Saturday, and drove back five others to Grant.

            It is rumored that Gen. Johnston has been relieved atAtlanta, and Lieut.-Gen. Hood placed in command. I doubt.

            It is said Mr. Trenholm, firm of Fraser, Trenholm d Co., bankers,Charleston, has been appointed Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Seddon holds on to the office he occupies.

            A letter from Gen. Lee (“Headquarters Army Northern Virginia”) says Gen. Early has recrossed thePotomac, and is at Leesburg, safe, —I hope with his captured supplies.

            The following is a synopsis of Gen. Kirby Smith’s brilliant campaign of 1864; official report. Enemy’s losses.

            InLouisiana, 5000 killed and wounded, 4000 prisoners, 21 pieces artillery, 200 wagons, 1 gun-boat, 3 transports.

            InArkansas, 1400 killed, 2000 wounded, 1500 prisoners, 13 pieces of artillery, 900 wagons,

            Confederate losses, 3000 killed, wounded, and missing.

            Enemy’s losses, 14,000.

            Confederate strength, 15,000.

            Enemy’s strength, 47,000.

            InGeorgia, 35,000. InArkansas, 12,000.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JULY 17TH.—Dry—the sky bright and brassy—the gardens almost ruined.

            Last evening definite news came in the Washington Chronicle of the 14th. Gen. Early was recrossing the Potomac with an immense amount of stores levied in the enemy’s country, including thousands of horses, etc. This, the Chronicle thinks, will be beneficial to theUnited States, as recruiting will be stimulated, to punish us for making prize of provisions, etc. in the enemy’s country, after the enemy had despoiled us of everything in their power!

            Troops are still going up towardWashington from our army, as well as from the enemy’s beforePetersburg; and Early, after bestowing his prizes in a place of safety, may return toMaryland andPennsylvania for another supply. That may be the best policy to get the enemy off our soil. His cutting off communications with the South will not signify much, if we can derive supplies from the North.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JUNE 16TH.—Bright and cool—the canopy assuming a brassy aspect from the drought.

            Alack! all the rejoicings are checked, and the public seems to have been hoaxed by the officer who reported that aWashington paper of the 13th inst. contained an account of the surrender ofBaltimore to the Confederate States forces! The paper of that date, it appears, contains nothing of the kind, or else the account has been suppressed, to subserve some military purpose. But our people bear the disappointment well, not doubting but success will ultimately come.

            There is a rumor that we sank two of the enemy’s transports today inJames River.

            An immense mass of letters, etc.-175 bags—has just come in; the first mail matter that has arrived from beyond the breaks in the Danville Railroad, perpetrated by Wilson’s raiders.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JULY 15TH.—Clear and cool; subsequently cloudy.

            The Washington Chronicle of the 12th, received yesterday, indicates that Washington or Baltimore, or both, were in danger of falling into our possession.

            Lieut.-Col. G. W. Lay said, this morning, in my office, that Grant would not leave—that he held a most important position—that he would not fail in his campaign; that our operations beyond the Potomac were not of sufficient magnitude to produce important results; and, finally, that Germany and Ireland would replenish the armies of the United States, while our last reserves were now in the field. The colonel had come into my office more than a month ago and said Grant had outgeneraled Pemberton, and would captureVicksburg. I reminded him of this to-day, and asked his opinion on the present aspect of affairs. He has been recently on Gen. Beauregard’s staff, and is irritated at the supposed hard treatment which that general receives from the President. He is a little bitter against the President, and is no special admirer of Lee, who, he thinks, committed a blunder in not fighting Grant at Hanover Junction. And he thinks, if Gen. Johnston forbears to fightSherman, in pursuance of orders fromRichmond, disaster will ensue. But neither he nor any one is capable of sounding the profound plans of Lee. Grant’s forces are now far away fromWashington.

            2½ o’clock P.M. An officer just fromPetersburg, arrived at the War Department with the intelligence that aWashington paper of the 13th inst. had been received at headquarters, announcing the capture of BALTIMORE by our troops! The inhabitants within, or a large proportion of them, co-operated with our army! Our people are in ecstasies! This is the realization of the grand conception of a great general, and Lee is immortalized—if it only be true.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JULY 14TH.—The drought continues here; but at some other places there has fallen heavy rain.

            The excitement on the news of our successes in Maryland is intense, and a belief prevails that great results will grow out of this invasion of the country held by the enemy.      Twice before but little if any benefit resulted from crossing thePotomac.

            It is rumored to-day that Longstreet’s corps has marched toMaryland, and that Lee is with it.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JULY 13TH.—Bright and pleasant.

            The city is in great excitement and joy. Gen. Early has gained a victory in Maryland, near Frederick, defeating Gen. Wallace, capturing Gen. Tyler and Col. Seward (son of the Secretary), besides many prisoners. The slaughter was great, and the pursuit of the routed army was towardBALTIMORE.

            Grant is certainly sending away troops.

            Gen. Lee writes a particular letter to the Secretary (dated 9th inst.), desiring most specially that the papers be requested to say nothing of his movements for some time to come, and that the department will not publish any communication from him, which might indicate from its date his distance from Richmond. This is mysterious. He may be going toMaryland.

            Gen. Johnston telegraphs from nearAtlanta that the enemy holds several fords above, and a portion of his forces have crossed, and are intrenched. Some cannonading is going on—ineffective aimed at the railroad depot. Some think Lee is going thither. Others that he is going to flank what remains of the Federal army in front ofPetersburg.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JULY 12TH.—Clear and warm—the earth refreshed.

            Gen. Johnston telegraphs to Gen. Bragg to have theUnited States prisoners atAndersonville “distributed immediately.” He does not allege a reason for the necessity. It may be danger of an outbreak—or that the yellow fever has broken out among them.

            I think Grant is about to have a race with Lee forWashington. The news from the Northern frontier is interesting.

            A slight shower in the evening—heavy a few miles distant.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JULY 11TH.—Hot and dry, and the famine continues.

            The Secretary of War intimated on Saturday that if the clerks of the bureaus would raise a fund and send an agent South to buy provisions, he would insure them transportation, etc. To-day he denies that he made the promise, and refuses to aid them.

            The government now proposes to increase its schedule of prices from 300 to 500 per cent., thus depreciating its own credit. Before harvest the impressing agents allowed about $40 per barrel for flour; now, that we have a good harvest, about $130 will be paid, thus raising the price everywhere. The transportation is the expensive item.

            A dispatch from Gen. Johnston, atAtlanta, says the enemy having flanked him with his cavalry, he has fallen back across theChattahoochee.

            Dispatches from Gen. S. D. Lee, Tupelo, state that a column of the enemy, 20,000 strong, is about marching from New Orleans against Mobile, and he fears he cannot spare men to resist them. The reserve class is not ready. Also that 15,000 of the enemy are marching from Lagrange, and he will have to dismount some of Forrest’s cavalry. Gen. E. K. Smith will not cross theMississippi to assist in repelling the foe without orders. Orders have been sent from the Secretary of War—I fear too late!

            Northern papers of the 8th inst. indicate a state of high excitement. Some there believe we have an army of 60,000 pouring intoPennsylvania. Gold was $2.65 for one.

            There is some commotion in Grant’s army, and it is believed by some that he is about to retire down the river.

            It is rumored that the prisoners heretofore confined at Point Lookout have been removed by the Federal Government.

            At 7 P.M. we had a gentle shower, lasting more than an hour.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JULY 10TH. —The drought continues; vegetation wilting and drying up. There is no war news, save some shelling by the enemy atPetersburg.

            The raiders have caused many who were hiding and hoarding their meat and grain to bring them to market, for fear of losing them. This has mitigated the famine, and even produced a slight reduction of prices.

            But the gardens are nearly ruined, and are only kept alive by watering freely. Mine has repaid me. The tomatoes are growing apace, and seem to endure the drought pretty well; also thelima beans. We are now eating the last of the cherries. We began to pull them about one month ago.

            Some of the members of the Tredegar Battalion have been detected endeavoring to pass over to the enemy. It is said (maliciously) Jos. R. Anderson’s works (the Tredegar) would not be destroyed if the enemy were to capture the city, nor Crenshaw’s nor Haxall’s mills, all having an understanding that the party in power shall enjoy the benefits of them. The fall of Richmond would exhibit strange developments among men of wealth. The poor could not get away, and would have no alternative but submission. But Richmond will not be taken.