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

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JUNE 18TH.—Clear and cool.

            To-day, heavy firing is heard on the south side of the river. It is believed a general engagement is in progress. It is the anniversary of the battle of WATERLOO. If we gain the day, it will end the war.

            It is now said Gen. Early (with Ewell’s corps) has reached Lynchburg, where a battle must occur.

            Gen. Ewell has been assigned to the command of this department, Gen. Ransom going West.

            We have advices (4 P.M.) of a terrific battle at Petersburg last evening, which raged until 11 o’clock at night. The slaughter of the enemy is reported as unprecedented. Our troops repulsed the assailants at all points but one, and that, which was carried by the enemy, was soon recovered.

            At 11 P.M. Lee’s reinforcements came up, and it is supposed, from the sounds of cannon, that the battle was recommenced at dawn to-day, and continued all day. The result has not transpired. This tremendous conflict must be followed by decisive results. If Lee and Beauregard gain the day, peace must follow speedily, I think. If they are beaten, Richmond’s fall can hardly be averted. Our shattered army could hardly get back across the Appomattox, with Butler’s army interposed between—if he still has his army at Bermuda Hundred.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JUNE 17TH.—Clear and pleasant.

            A dispatch from Beauregard states that two assaults of the enemy yesterday, at Petersburg, were repulsed with loss; and it is reported that he recovered all lost ground to-day. Yet Beauregard has an enemy in his rear as well as in his front.

            When the battles were fought on the south side of the river in May, it appears that one of Gen. B.’s brigadiers (Colston) stopped some battalions on the way to Richmond, in an emergency, and this has certainly given umbrage to the President, as the following indorsement, which I found on a paper to-day, will show:

            “No officer has a right to stop troops moving under the orders of superior authority. If he assumes such power, he does it at his hazard, and must be justified by subsequent events rather than by good intentions.

            “Gen. Beauregard has, in this case, by approving and continuing the order (Gen. Colston’s) assumed the responsibility of the act. —J. D. June 16th, 1864.”

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JUNE 16TH—Clear and pleasant weather, but dusty.

            The Departmental Battalion marched away, last night, from the Chickahominy (guarding a ford when no enemy was on the other side!) for Chaffin’s Farm, on the James River. They were halted after marching an hour or so, and permitted to rest (sleep) while the rest of the brigade passed on. When Custis awoke he was alone, the battalion having left him; and he was ill, and knew not the road. So he set out for the city, with the intention of going down the river road this morning. But he grew worse after reaching home. Still, he resolved to go; and at 8 A.M., having marched all night nearly, he set out again, and met his sergeant—who had likewise diverged as far as the city—who said if he was really too ill to march, he would deliver the captain a surgeon’s certificate to that effect, which would be a sufficient explanation of his absence. So, Surgeon C. Bell Gibson, upon an examination, pronounced him sick, and certified to the captain that he could not be fit for service for a week or ten days. At 3 P.M. he is in bed with a raging fever.

            There was a fight at Malvern Hill yesterday, the enemy being repulsed.

            There was also another assault on Petersburg, repulsed three times; but the fourth time our forces, two regiments, were forced back by overwhelming numbers from the outer line of defenses. ,

            To-day it is reported that they are fighting again at Petersburg, and great masses of troops are in motion. The war will be determined, perhaps, by the operations of a day or two; and much anxiety is felt by all.

            A letter from Hon. G. A. Henry, on the Danville Railroad, saying only 1000 men were there to defend it, with but two cannon without appropiate (sic) ammunition!

            Soon after a dispatch came from Col. Withers, at Danville, stating it was reported 10,000 of the enemy were approaching the road, and only thirty-two miles distant. He called for reinforcements, but stated his belief that the number of the enemy was exaggerated.

            I delivered these to the Secretary myself, finding him engaged writing a long letter to Gen. Kirby Smith, beyond the Mississippi!

            In this moment of doubt and apprehension, I saw Mr. Randolph, formerly Secretary of War, and Mr. G. A. Myers, his law colleague, at the telegraph office eagerly in quest of news.

            To-day the President decided that Marylanders here are “residents,” or “alien enemies;” if the former, they must fight—if the latter, be expelled. A righteous judgment.

            Last night, as Custis staggered (with debility) upon the pickets at the fortifications of the city, not having a passport, he was refused permission to proceed. He then lay down to rest, when one of the pickets remarked to him that he was not “smart, or he would flank them.” Custis sprang up and thanked him for the hint, and proceeded to put it in practice.

            The Examiner to-day says that Col. Dahlgren, a month before his death, was in Richmond, under an assumed name, with a passport signed by Gen. Winder, to go whithersoever he would. I think this probable.

            At 3 P.M. the wires cease to work between here and Petersburg, and there are many rumors. But from the direction of the wind, we cannot hear any firing.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JUNE 15TH.—Clear and cool; warm late in the day.

            It is rumored now that the enemy got to Westtown yesterday, some ten miles below the point on this side occupied by Butler; and to-day he is leaving, either crossing to the south side (probably to cut the railroad), or embarking in his transports for no one knows whither. So, this attempt to take Richmond is as bad a failure as any. Grant has used up nearly a hundred thousand men—to what purpose? We are not injured, after withstanding this blow of the concentrated power of the enemy. It is true some bridges are burned, some railroads have been cut, and the crops in the line of the enemy’s march have been ruined; but our army is intact: Lee’s losses altogether, in killed and wounded, not exceeding a few thousand.

            A report of an officer states that the James River is not fordable anywhere above for forty miles.

            There is a rumor on the street that the head of Ewell’s corps (commanded by Gen. Early) crossed the Rappahannock, yesterday, at United States Ford. If this be so, there must be consternation in Washington; and the government there will issue embarrassing orders to Grant.

            The spirits of the people here are buoyant with the Western news, as well as with the result of Lee’s campaign.

            The death of Gen. Polk, however, is lamented by a good many. The operations of Forrest and Morgan are inspiring.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JUNE 14TH.—Clear and cool.

            Gen. Grant has changed his base—disappearing from the front of Lee in the night. He is supposed to be endeavoring to get his army below the city, and in communication withButler on the south side.

            A dispatch from Gen. Lee says Gen. Hampton has defeated Sheridan.

            Forrest has gained a victory in the West.

            Lincoln has been nominated—Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, for Vice-President.

            Gen. Whiting writes that supplies from abroad are coming in abundantly at Wilmington, N. C.

            If we can only preserve our communications with the South, I regard the campaign, if not the war, pretty nearly at an end and Richmond safe! Grant has failed, after doing his utmost to take Richmond. He has shattered a great army to no purpose; while Lee’s army is as strong as ever. This is true generalship in Lee. But Grant can get more men.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JUNE 13TH—Clear and cool.

            Gen. Bragg sent to the Secretary of War to-day a copy of a letter from him to the President, yesterday, proposing to send 6000 more troops to Western Virginia, as-Breckinridge has only 9000 and the enemy 18,000.

            Lieut.-Gen Holmes sends from Raleigh, N. C., a letter from Hon. T. Bragg, revealing the existence of a secret organization in communication with the enemy, styled the “H. 0. A.;” and asking authority to arrest certain men supposed to be implicated.

            A letter was received from G. W. Lay, his son-in-law, by the Assistant Secretary of War, Judge Campbell, dated near Petersburg, stating that the Southern Express Company would bring articles from Charleston for him. That company seems to be more potential than ever.

            Cannonading was heard far down the Chickahominy this morning. And yet Lieut.-Gen. Ewell marched his corps to-day out the Brooke Road, just in the opposite direction! It is rumored that he is marching away for Washington! If he had transportation, and could march in that direction, no doubt it would be the speediest way of relieving Richmond. Gen. Lee, however, knows best.

            At the conclave of dignitaries, Hunter, Wigfall, and Secretary Seddon, yesterday, it is reported that when Mr. Seddon explained Grant’s zigzag fortifications, Senator Hunter exclaimed he was afraid we could never beat him; when Senator Wigfall said nothing was easier—the President would put the old folks and children to praying at 6 o’clock A.M. Now if any one were to tell these things to the President, he would not believe him.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JUNE 12TH.—Cold and cloudy.

            Some firing again this morning, supposed to be merely an artillery duel.

            Heard from Custis, in pencil mark on the back of envelope; and he has applied for and obtained a transfer from ordnance duty in the rear, back to his company in the front.

            It is rumored that Sheridan has cut the road between Gordonsville and Charlottesville, and between that place and Lynchburg. If this be true, he will probably strike south for the Danville Road. Then we shall have confusion here, and the famine intensified. There seems to be no concert among the military commanders, and no unity of purpose among civil functionaries. They mistrust one another, and the people begin to mistrust them all. Meantime the President remains inflexible.

            All has been quiet to-day. I suppose the enemy is fortifying, with an intention to move half his army to the south side of the river—distracting us by menacing the city and threatening our communications at the same time.

            It is believed here by the croakers that Gen. Lee has lost much of his influence, from the moment Mr. Foote named him as Dictator in the event of one being declared.

            Now, it would seem, if the plan of Beauregard, rejected by Bragg, had been adopted, our condition would have been better. It is the curse of Republics to be torn by the dissensions of rival chieftains in moments of public danger!

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JUNE 11TH.—Sunshine and cloudy—warmer.

            There is a calm in military matters, but a storm is gathering in theValley ofVirginia. Both sides are concentrating for a battle. If we should be defeated (not likely), then our communications may be cut, and Grant be under no necessity of fighting again to get possession ofRichmond. Meantime it is possible Grant will retire, and come again on the south side of the James River.

            Congress is debating a measure increasing the President’s compensation—he cannot subsist on his present salary. Nor can any of us. Mr. Seddon has a large private income, and could well afford to set the patriotic example of working “for nothing.”

            We have heard to-day that Lincoln was nominated for re-election at Baltimore on the 7th inst., and gold rose to $196. Fremont is now pledged to run also, thus dividing the Republican party, and giving an opportunity for the Democrats to elect a President. If we can only subsist till then, we may have peace, and must have independence at all events.

            But there is discontent, in the Army of the West, with Gen. Johnston, and in the East with Bragg, and among the croakers with the President.

            New potatoes sold to-day for $5 per quart, $160 per bushel!

            Mr. Rhodes, Commissioner of Patents, told me to-day that Gen. Forrest, at last accounts, was at Tupelo, Miss., doing nothing,—Gen. Wheeler, his junior in years, superior in rank, to whom he is again subordinated by the potency of Gen. Cooper’s red tape, having most of his men.

            Robert Tyler has been with the Departmental Battalion at Bottom’s Bridge, doing service as a private, though the head of a bureau.

            This evening at 7 o’clock we heard artillery in the direction of Lee’s army.

by John Beauchamp Jones

            JUNE 10TH.—Clear and cool.

            All quiet round the city; but Petersburg was assaulted yesterday and successfully defended.

            The battalion of clerks still remains at Bottom’s Bridge, on the Chickahominy. The pickets hold familiar conversation every day with the pickets of the enemy, the stream being narrow, and crossed by a log. For tobacco and the city papers our boys get sugar, coffee, etc. This intercourse is wrong. Some of the clerks were compelled to volunteer to retain their offices, and may desert, giving important information to the enemy.

            I had snap beans to-day from my garden. I have seen none in market.