by John Beauchamp Jones
JULY 1ST.—Clear, hot, and dry; my snap beans, corn, etc. burning up.
The papers this morning fail to confirm the capture of as many prisoners, near Petersburg, as were reported yesterday. But the dispatch (subjoined) of Gen. Lee renders it certain that the enemy was routed. There is a suspicion that our exasperated men refused quarter to some hundreds of the raiders, on the plea that they ravish, murder, burn, pillage, etc. It may be so.
“HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
“June 29th, 1864—8.30 P.M. “
HON. SECRETARY OF WAR.
“SIR :—Gen. Hampton reports that he attacked the enemy’s cavalry yesterday afternoon, on their return from Staunton River bridge, this side of Sappony Church, and drove them beyond that point.
“The fight continued during the night, and at daylight this morning he turned their left and routed them.
“When they reached Ream’s Station, they were confronted by a portion of Mahone’s division, who attacked them in front, while their left flank was turned by Gen. Fitz Lee’s cavalry.
“The enemy was completely routed, and several pieces of artillery, with a number of prisoners, wagons, ambulances, etc., captured. The cavalry are in pursuit.
“R. E. LEE, General.”
Gen. Early, with perhaps 10,000 men, is believed to be inWinchester to-day. He will probably be soon playing havoc with the enemy’s railroads, stores, etc., and perhaps may threatenWashington orHarrisburg, or both; and so have Grant called off from his “siege ofRichmond.”
We were paid our salaries yesterday, and Custis, after his campaign and his sickness, resolved on a little indulgence. So he had a couple of small saucers of ice-cream—one for his mother, costing $6; quarter pound of coffee and two pounds of sugar, $25; and to-day a rice pudding, two pounds of rice, $5; one pound of sugar, $10; two quarts of milk, $5; total, $51!
Col. Shields, Commandant of Conscripts, etc., informed me today that he received only yesterday the order to proceed to the enrollment ofMaryland and foreign residents. Thus the express orders of the President are delayed in the execution, and in such an exigency as this! I know Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, more than a year ago, attempted to interpose grave constitutional obstacles; but surely he can hardly have had the temerity to thwart the President’s wishes, so plainly expressed. Nevertheless, the delay has been caused by some one; and Col. S. has apprehensions that some wheel within a wheel will even now embarrass or defeat the effective execution of the order.
Brig.-Gen. Gardner, successor of Brig.-Gen. Winder, has not yet assumed supervision of the passport business, and it remains in the hands of Judge Campbell and Provost Marshal Carrington. Very many persons are going to theUnited States via thePotomac.
