Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Post image for “a skillful retrograde movement.” — John B. Jones

“a skillful retrograde movement.” — John B. Jones

March 2, 2012

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

MARCH 2D.—Gen. Jos. E. Johnston has certainly made a skillful retrograde movement in the face of the enemy at Manassas. He has been keeping McClellan and his 210,000 men at bay for a long time with about 40,000. After the abandonment of his works it was a long time before the enemy knew he had retrograded. They approached very cautiously, and found that they had been awed by a few Quaker guns—logs of wood in position, and so painted as to resemble cannon. Lord, how the Yankee press will quiz McClellan!

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