by John Beauchamp Jones
JUNE 4TH—Showers and sunshine. It is believed Grant has lost 40,000 within the last week!
To-day there has been more or less cannonading along the line; but it is not known if any infantry were engaged.
The battalion to which Custis (my son) belongs is at Bottom’s Bridge, some sixteen miles distant on the Chickahominy; and I learn that the enemy shelled it yesterday and last night, without injury, shells falling short.
It is suspected that Sherman will be ordered from Georgia to reinforce Grant! It seems Lincoln would give up his hopes of heaven, and plunge into hell, for the PRESIDENCY.
The Commissary-General says Lee must beat Grant before the latter is reinforced, “or we are gone;” for their destruction of the railroads, north and northwest, will ruin us—the southern roads being insufficient to transport stores for the army.
My nephew, Col. R. H. Musser, trans-Mississippi, I am told by Senator Clark, was complimented on the field of victory by Gen. Taylor. His brigadier-general having fallen, Col. M. commanded the brigade.
Last evening, about 6 P.M., a cloud nearly overhead assumed the shape of a section of our fortifications, the segment of a circle, with the triangle penetrating through from the north. These shapes were distinctly defined. Could the operations beneath have produced this phenomenon? was it accidental? or a portent of the future? God knows!
