A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 33

Mr. Adams, the United States Minister at London, writes to Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, dated 17th of October, 1862, that if the Federal army shall not achieve decisive successes by the month of February ensuing, it is probable the British Parliament will recognize the Confederate States. To-morrow is the last day of January.

I cut the following from yesterday's _Dispatch_:

"_The Results of Extortion and Speculation._--The state of affairs brought about by the speculating and extortion practiced upon the public cannot be better ill.u.s.trated than by the following grocery bill for one week for a small family, in which the prices before the war and those of the present are compared:

1860. 1863.

Bacon, 10 lbs. at 12-1/2c $1 25 Bacon, 10 lbs. at $1 $10 00 Flour, 30 lbs. at 5c 1 50 Flour, 30 lbs. at 12-1/2c 3 75 Sugar, 5 lbs. at 8c 40 Sugar, 5 lbs. at $1 15 5 75 Coffee, 4 lbs. at 12-1/2c 50 Coffee, 4 lbs. at $5 20 00 Tea (green), 1/2 lb. at $1 50 Tea (green), 1/2 lb. at $16 8 00 Lard, 4 lbs. at 12-1/2c 50 Lard, 4 lbs. at $1 4 00 b.u.t.ter, 3 lbs. at 25c 75 b.u.t.ter, 3 lbs. at $1 75 5 25 Meal, 1 pk. at 25c 25 Meal, 1 pk. at $1 1 00 Candles, 2 lbs. at 15c 30 Candles, 2 lbs. at $1 25 2 50 Soap, 5 lbs. at 10c 50 Soap, 5 lbs. at $1 10 5 50 Pepper and salt (about) 10 Pepper and salt (about) 2 50 ---- ---- Total $6 55 Total $68 25

"So much we owe the speculators, who have stayed at home to prey upon the necessities of their fellow-citizens."

We have just learned that a British steamer, with cannon and other valuable cargo, was captured by the enemy, two days ago, while trying to get in the harbor. Another, similarly laden, got safely in yesterday. We can afford to lose one s.h.i.+p out of three--that is, the owners can, and then make money.

Cotton sells at _seventy-five cents_ per pound in the United States. So the blockade must be felt by the enemy as well as ourselves. War is a two-edged sword.

JANUARY 31ST.--We have dispatches from Charleston, to-day, which reconcile us to the loss of the cargo captured by the blockading squadron early in the week. An artillery company captured a fine gun-boat in Stone River (near Charleston) yesterday evening. She had eleven guns and 200 men.

But this morning we did better still. Our little fleet of two iron-clads steamed out of Charleston harbor, and boldly attacked the blockading fleet. We crippled two of their s.h.i.+ps, and sunk one, completely raising the blockade, for the time being. This will frustrate some of their plans, and may relieve Wilmington.

The attack on Fort McAlister was a failure. The monitor which a.s.saulted the fort sustained so much injury, that it had to retire for repairs.

Several blockade-runners between this and Williamsburg were arrested and sent to Gen. Winder to-day by Lieut. G. D. Wise. Gen. W. sent them to Gen. Rains. Mr. Pet.i.t and Mr. James Custis (from Williamsburg) came with them to endeavor to procure their liberation. Gen. Rains sent them back to Gen. W., with a note that he had no time to attend to such matters.

Such business does not pertain to his bureau. I suppose they will be released.

Major Lear, of Texas, who was at the capture of the Harriet Lane, met on the captured steamer his mortally-wounded son, the lieutenant.

A few days ago, Lieut. Buchanan was killed on a United States gun-boat by our sharpshooters. He was the son of Admiral Buchanan, in the Confederate service, now at Mobile. Thus we are reminded of the wars of the roses--father against son, and brother against brother. G.o.d speed the growth of the Peace Party, North and South; but we must have independence.

Mr. Hunter was in our office to-day, getting the release of a son of the Hon. Jackson Morton, who escaped from Was.h.i.+ngton, where he had resided, and was arrested here as a conscript. The a.s.sistant Secretary of War ruled him ent.i.tled to exemption, although yesterday others, in the same predicament, were ruled into the service.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Proposed fixture of prices.--Depreciation in the North.--Gen. Hooker in command of the U. S. forces.--Lee thinks Charleston will be attacked.--Congress does nothing.--Some fears for Vicksburg.-- Pemberton commands.--Wise dashes into Williamsburg.--Rats take food from my daughter's hand.--Lee wants the meat sent from Georgia to Virginia, where the fighting will be.--Gen. Winder uneasy about my Diary.--Gen. Johnston asks to be relieved in the West.

FEBRUARY 1ST.--The Virginia Legislature, now in session, has a bill under discussion for the suppression of extortion. One of the members, Mr. Anderson, read the following table of the prices of

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE.

_Before the war._ _Now._

White wheat, per bushel $1 50 White wheat, per bushel $4 50 Flour, per barrel 7 50 Flour, per barrel 22 00 Corn, per bushel 70 Corn, per bushel 3 50 Hay, per hundred 1 00 Hay, per hundred 3 50 Hides, per pound 7 Hides, per pound 40 Beef, per pound 8 Beef, per pound 50 Bacon, per pound 13 Bacon, per pound 60 Lard, per pound 15 Lard, per pound 1 00 b.u.t.ter, per pound 30 b.u.t.ter, per pound 1 50 Irish potatoes 1 00 Irish potatoes 5 00 Sweet potatoes 1 00 Sweet potatoes 6 00 Apple brandy 1 00 Apple brandy 15 00 Wool, per pound 30 Wool, per pound 2 00

MANUFACTURES.

Bar iron, per pound 4 Bar iron, per pound 20 Nails, per pound 4 Nails, per pound 60 Leather, sole, per pound 25 Leather, sole, per pound 2 50 " upper, per pound 33 " upper, per pound 3 50

COTTON GOODS.

Osnaburgs, per yard 10 Osnaburgs, per yard 75 Brown cotton, per yard 10 Brown cotton, per yard 75 Sheeting, per yard 15 Sheeting, per yard 1 25

WOOLEN GOODS.

Coa.r.s.e jeanes 45 Coa.r.s.e jeanes 4 00 Crenshaw's gray 2 00 Crenshaw's gray 28 00

MISCELLANEOUS.

Coa.r.s.e shoes $1 50 Coa.r.s.e shoes $15 00 High-quartered shoes 3 50 High-quartered shoes 25 00 Boots 7 50 Boots 60 00 Wool hats, per dozen 7 00 Wool hats, per dozen 50 00

STOCKS.

Dividends on stocks in cotton companies, worth in May, 1861, $25 to $50 per share, now from $112 to $140.

It is doubtful whether the bill will pa.s.s, as most of the members are agriculturists.

It is said and believed that several citizens from Illinois and Indiana, now in this city, have been sent hither by influential parties, to consult our government on the best means of terminating the war; or, that failing, to propose some mode of adjustment between the Northwestern States and the Confederacy, and new combination against the Yankee States and the Federal administration.

Burnside has at last been removed; and Franklin and Sumner have resigned. Gen. Hooker now commands the Federal Army of the Potomac--if it may be still called an army. Gen. R----, who knows Hooker well, says he is deficient in talent and character; and many years ago gentlemen refused to a.s.sociate with him. He resigned from the army, in California, and worked a potatoe patch, Yankee like, on speculation--and failed.

FEBRUARY 2D.--After the feat at Charleston, Gen. Beauregard and Commodore Ingraham invited the consuls resident to inspect the harbor, and they p.r.o.nounced the blockade raised, no United States s.h.i.+p being seen off the coast. Then the general and the commodore issued a proclamation to the world that the port was open. If this be recognized, then the United States will have to give sixty days' notice before the port can be closed again to neutral powers; and by that time we can get supplies enough to suffice us for a year. Before night, however, some twenty blockaders were in sight of the bar. It is not a question of right, or of might, with France and England--but of inclination.

Whenever they, or either of them, shall be disposed to relieve us, it can be done.

There was a fight near Suffolk yesterday, and it is reported that our troops repulsed the enemy.

The enemy's gun-boats returned to the bombardment of Fort McAlister, and met no success. They were driven off. But still, I fear the fort must succ.u.mb.

Senator Saulsbury, of Delaware, has been arrested by the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate, for his denunciation of Lincoln as an "imbecile." And a Philadelphia editor has been imprisoned for alleged "sympathy with secessionists." These arrests signify more battles--more blood.

FEBRUARY 3D.--It appears that Gen. Pryor's force, 1500 strong, was attacked by the enemy, said to be 5000 in number, on the Blackwater.

After some sh.e.l.ling and infantry firing, Gen. P. retired some eight miles, and was not pursued. Our loss was only fifty; _it is said_ the enemy had 500 killed and wounded; but I know not how this was ascertained.

Gold in the North now brings 58-1/2 cents premium. Exchange sells at $1.75. Cotton at 96 cents per pound!

They are getting up a fine rumpus in the North over the imprisonment of an editor.

To-day, when conversing with Judge Perkins in relation to having a pa.s.sport system established by law, he admitted the necessity, but despaired of its accomplishment. "For," said he, "nothing can be done in Congress which has not the sanction of the Executive." He meant, I thought, from his manner and tone, that the Executive branch of the government was omnipotent, having swallowed up the functions of the other co-ordinate branches. I cannot understand this, for the Executive has but little appointing patronage, the army being completely organized, having supplementary generals, and all officers, under the grade of brigadiers, being promoted as vacancies occur.

FEBRUARY 4TH.--One of the enemy's iron-clad gun-boats has got past our batteries at Vicksburg. Gen. Pemberton says it was struck "three times."

But it is through.