A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 140

The following official dispatch, from Gen. Lee, was received yesterday:

"HEADQUARTERS ARMIES CONFEDERATE STATES,

"March 20th, 1865.

"HON. JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE, SECRETARY OF WAR.

"Gen. J. E. Johnston reports that about 5 P.M. on the 19th inst. he attacked the enemy near Bentonsville, routed him, capturing three guns. A mile in rear, the enemy rallied upon fresh troops, but was forced back slowly until 6 o'clock P.M., when, receiving more troops, he apparently a.s.sumed the offensive, which movement was resisted without difficulty until dark. This morning he is intrenched.

"Our loss is small. The troops behaved admirably well.

"Dense thickets prevented rapid operations. R. E. LEE."

MARCH 22D.--Rained last night; clear and cool this morning. The report of another battle, since Sunday, in North Carolina, is not confirmed.

The "Bureau of Conscription" still lives, notwithstanding the action of Congress! The President himself, who favored its abolition, yet being displeased with some of the details of the act, seems to have finally withheld his approval; and so Col. G. W. Lay, son-in-law of Judge Campbell, is again acting Superintendent. The great weight (wealth) of Gen. Preston perhaps saved it--and may have lost the cause. However, it is again said Judge Campbell will soon retire from office. He considers the cause already lost--the work quite accomplished.

To-day some of our negro troops will parade in the Capitol Square.

The Texas cavalry in Virginia--originally 5000--now number 180!

Congress adjourned without adopting any plan to reduce the currency, deeming it hopeless, since the discovery of a deficiency, in Mr.

Memminger's accounts, of $400,000,000! So the depreciation will go on, since the collection of taxes is rendered quite impracticable by the operations of the enemy. Yet buying and selling, for what they call "dollars," are still extensively indulged; and although the insecurity of slave property is so manifest, yet a negro man will bring $10,000 at auction. This, however, is only equivalent to about $100. Land, when the price is reduced to the gold standard, is similarly diminished in price.

MARCH 23D.--Clear, with high wind. Nothing further from North Carolina.

A dispatch from Gen. Lee states that he has directed Gen. Cobb to organize an expedition into _Tennessee_, to cut the enemy's communications. Gen. Wafford, of Kentucky, is in Georgia, with 2000 mounted men, etc.

Beef in market this morning sold at $12 to $15 per pound; bacon at $20, and b.u.t.ter at $20.

The parade of a few companies of negro troops yesterday was rather a ridiculous affair. The owners are opposed to it.

Gen. Rains sends in an indors.e.m.e.nt, alleging that owing to the deception of Quartermaster Rhett (not furnis.h.i.+ng transportation), he failed to arrest the approach of the enemy on a narrow causeway; and Columbia, S. C., and his sh.e.l.ls, etc. fell into the hands of the enemy.

A dispatch from Lee states that Gen. Thomas is at Knoxville, and that the enemy has commenced his advance from _that_ direction--is repairing railroads, etc. The same dispatch says Gen. J. E. Johnston is removing his wounded to Smithsville from Bentonville; that the intrenchments of the enemy and greatly superior numbers of Sherman render further offensive operations impracticable.

Grant's grand combination is now developed. Sherman from the Southwest, 70,000; Grant himself from the South, 70,000; Thomas, from the West, 40,000; and Sheridan, with 15,000 cavalry from the North--some 200,000 men converging toward this point. To defend it we shall have 120,000 men, without provisions, and, without some speedy successes, no communications with the regions of supply or transportation! Now is coming the time for the exercise of great generals.h.i.+p!

Gen. Early has been sent to the West--Tennessee.

MARCH 24TH.--Clear and very windy. The fear of utter famine is now a.s.suming form. Those who have the means are laying up stores for the day of siege,--I mean a closer and more rigorous siege,--when all communications with the country shall cease; and this makes the commodities scarcer and the prices higher. There is a project on foot to send away some thousands of useless consumers; but how it is to be effected by the city authorities, and where they will be sent to, are questions I have not heard answered. The population of the city is not less than 100,000, and the markets cannot subsist 70,000. Then there is the army in the vicinity, which _must_ be fed. I suppose the poultry and the sheep will be eaten, and something like a pro rata distribution of flour and meal ordered.

There is a rumor of a great victory by Gen. Johnston in North Carolina, the taking of 4500 prisoners, 70 guns, etc.--merely a rumor, I am sure.

On the contrary, I apprehend that we shall soon have news of the capture of Raleigh by Sherman. Should this be our fate, we shall soon have three or four different armies encompa.s.sing us!

I tried in vain this morning to buy a small fish-hook; but could not find one in the city. None but coa.r.s.e large ones are in the stores. A friend has promised me one--and I can make _pin-hooks_, that will catch minnows. I am too skillful an angler to starve where water runs; and even minnows can be eaten. Besides, there are eels and catfish in the river. The water is always muddy.

MARCH 25TH.--Clear and cool.

It is reported that Grant is reinforcing Sherman, and that the latter has fallen back upon Goldsborough. This is not yet confirmed by any official statement. A single retrograde movement by Sherman, or even a delay in advancing, would s.n.a.t.c.h some of his laurels away, and enable Lee to obtain supplies. Yet it may be so. He may have been careering the last month on the unexpended momentum of his recent successes, and really operating on a scale something more than commensurate with the forces of his command. Should this be the case, the moral effect on our people and the army will be prodigious, and a series of triumphs on our side may be the consequence.

The Northern papers chronicle the rise in flour here--to $1500 per barrel--a few days ago, and this affords proof of the fact that every occurrence of military importance in Richmond is immediately made known in Was.h.i.+ngton. How can success be possible? But our authorities are confirmed in their madness.

There were some movements yesterday. Pickett's division was ordered from this side of the river to the Petersburg depot, to be transported in haste to that town; but it was countermanded, and the troops now (9 A.M.) are marching back, down Main Street. I have not learned what occasioned all this.

The marching and countermarching of troops on this side of the river very much alarmed some of the people, who believed Lee was about to evacuate the city.

Eleven A.M. Gen. Lee attacked the enemy's fort (Battery No. 5) near Petersburg this morning, the one which has so long been sh.e.l.ling the town, and captured it, with 600 prisoners, and several guns. This may interfere with Gen. Grant's projects on his left wing, against the railroad.

It is rumored that Gen. Grant is moving heavy bodies of troops toward Weldon, to reinforce Sherman.

MARCH 26TH.--Frost last night. Cloudy, cold, and windy to-day.

Suffered much yesterday and last night with disordered bowels--from cold. This, however, may relieve me of the distressing cough I have had for months.

After all, I fear Lee's attempt on the enemy's lines yesterday was a failure. We were compelled to relinquish the fort or battery we had taken, with all the guns we had captured. Our men were exposed to an enfilading fire, not being supported by the divisions intended to co-operate in the movement. The 600 prisoners were completely surprised--their pickets supposing our troops to be merely _deserters_.

This indicates an awful state of things, the enemy being convinced that we are beaten, demoralized, etc.

There was a communication for the Secretary this morning, from "headquarters;" but being marked "confidential," I did not open it, but sent it to Gen. Breckinridge.

Pickett's division has been marching for Petersburg all the morning.

MARCH 27TH.--Bright, calm, but cold,--my disorder keeping me at home.

The dispatch of Gen. Lee, I fear, indicates that our late attempt to break the enemy's lines was at least prematurely undertaken.

The _Dispatch_ newspaper has an article entreating the people not to submit "_too hastily_," as in that event we shall have no benefit of the war between France and the United States--a certain event, the editor thinks.

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY CONFEDERATE STATES,

"March 25th, 1865--11.20 P.M.

"HON. J. C. BRECKINRIDGE, SECRETARY OF WAR.

"At daylight this morning, Gen. Gordon a.s.saulted and carried the enemy's works at Hare's Hill, capturing 9 pieces of artillery, 8 mortars, and between 500 and 600 prisoners, among them one brigadier-general and a number of officers of lower grade.

"The lines were swept for a distance of four or five hundred yards to the right and left, and two efforts made to recover the captured works were handsomely repulsed. But it was found that the inclosed works in rear, commanding the enemy's main line, could only be taken at a great sacrifice, and our troops were withdrawn to their original position.

"It being impracticable to bring off the captured guns, owing to the nature of the ground, they were disabled and left.

"Our loss, as reported, is not heavy. Among the wounded are Brig.

Gen. Terry, flesh wound, and Brig.-Gen. Phil. Cooke, in the arm.

"All the troops engaged, including two brigades under Brig.-Gen.

Ransom, behaved most handsomely. The conduct of the sharpshooters of Gordon's corps, who led the a.s.sault, deserves the highest commendation.

"This afternoon there was skirmis.h.i.+ng on the right, between the picket lines, with varied success. At dark the enemy held a considerable portion of the line farthest in advance of our main work.

"[Signed] R. E. LEE."