by John Beauchamp Jones
APRIL 22D —A bright day and warmer. Cherry-trees in blossom. We have the following war news:
“PLYMOUTH, N. C., April 20th.
“To GEN. BRAGG.
“I have stormed and captured this place, capturing 1 brigadier, 1600 men, stores, and 25 pieces of artillery.
“R. F. HOKE, Brig.-General.”
The President has changed his mind since the reception of the news from North Carolina, and has determined that all the government shall not leave Richmond until further orders. All that can be spared will go, however, at once. The War and Navy Departments will remain for the present. The news is said to have had a wonderful effect on the President’s mind; and he hopes we may derive considerable supplies from Eastern North Carolina. So do I.
Gov. Watts writes to the Secretary that commissary agents, who ought to be in the ranks, are making unnecessary impressments, leaving to each negro only four ounces of bacon per day. He says the government has already some 10,000,000 pounds of bacon in Alabama; and that if the other States, east of the Mississippi, furnish a proportional amount, there will be 60,000,000 pounds—enough to feed our armies twelve months.
The Commissary-General’s estimates for the next six months are for 400,000 men.
