A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital Part 87

Third, four steamers have arrived at Wilmington laden with quartermaster and ordnance stores. Col. Gorgas, Chief of Ordnance, says we now have arms and ammunition enough.

A letter from Gen. Lee indicates the propriety of Gen. Imboden retaining his recruits (which the Secretary wanted to take from him, because they were liable to conscription) in the Shenandoah Valley. This does not look like a purpose of an advance on Lee's part. He will probably await the attack.

The President, in an indors.e.m.e.nt, intimates to the Secretary of War that Gen. Pryor might be a.s.signed to a brigade of the Reserve cla.s.s.

About 5 o'clock this afternoon we had a tornado from the southwest which I fear has done mischief in the country. It blew off half a dozen planks from my garden fence, and I had difficulty in nailing them on again with such rusty nails as I could find. Nails are worth almost their weight in silver.

The gardeners sell tomato-plants for $10 per dozen, and cabbage-plants for 50 cts. each! But I am independent, having my own little hot-beds.

MAY 3D.--A cold, windy day, with suns.h.i.+ne and clouds.

It is rumored that Grant's army is in motion, and the great battle is eagerly looked for. The collision of mighty armies, upon the issue of which the fate of empire depends, is now imminent.

The following dispatch was received to-day from Gen. Johnston:

"DALTON, May 2d, 1864.

"Two scouts, who went by Outawah and Cleveland, report the enemy sending all Southern people and heavy baggage to the rear, stopping rations to the inhabitants, collecting a large supply of trains at Graysville, and bringing their cavalry from Middle Tennessee. An officer just from Columbia reports 13,000 had been collected there.

All scouts report Hooker's troops in position here. J. E. JOHNSTON, _General_."

MAY 4TH.--Bright, beautiful, and warmer; but fire in the morning.

The following dispatch from Gen. Lee was received by Gen. Bragg to-day and sent to the Secretary.

"ORANGE C. H., May 4th, 1864.

"Reports from our lookouts seem to indicate that the enemy is in motion. The present direction of his column is to our right.

"Gen. Imboden reports the enemy advancing from Winchester, up the Valley, with wagons, beef cattle, etc. R. E. LEE."

There is a rumor of fighting at Chancellorville, and this is the anniversary, I believe, of the battle there. May we be as successful this time! But the report is not authentic. Firing is heard now in the direction of York River.

MAY 5TH.--We have many rumors to-day, and nothing authentic, except that some of the enemy's transports are in the James River, and landing some troops, a puerile demonstration, perhaps. The number landed at West Point, it seems, was insignificant. It may be the armies of the United States are demoralized, and if so, if Grant be beaten, I shall look for a speedy end of the invasion. It is said some of the advanced forces of Grant were at Spottsylvania C. H. last night, and the great battle may occur any hour.

Gov. Smith is calling for more exemptions (firemen, etc.) than all the governors together.

Col. Preston asks authority to organize a company of conscripts, Reserve cla.s.ses, in each congressional district, the President having a.s.signed a general officer to each State to command these cla.s.ses. The colonel wants to command something.

The Commissary-General, Col. Northrop, being called on, reports that he can feed the army until fall with the means on hand and attainable. So, troops didn't starve in thirty days several months ago!

A Mr. Pond has made a proposition which Mr. Memminger is in favor of accepting, viz.: the government to give him a bill of sale of 10,000 bales of cotton lying in the most exposed places in the West, he to take it away and to take all risks, except destruction by our troops, to s.h.i.+p it from New Orleans to Antwerp, and he will pay, upon receiving said bill of sale, 10 pence sterling per pound. The whole operation will be consummated by the Belgian Consul in New Orleans, and the Danish Vice-Consul in Mobile. It is probable the United States Government, or some members of it, are interested in the speculation. But it will be advantageous to us.

"A PERTINENT RESOLUTION.--The following was offered recently in the United States Senate, by Mr. Saulsbury, of Delaware:

"'_Resolved_, That the Chaplain of the Senate be respectfully requested hereafter to pray and supplicate Almighty G.o.d in our behalf, and not to lecture Him, informing Him, under pretense of prayer, his, said chaplain's, opinion in reference to His duty as the Almighty; and that the said Chaplain be further requested, as aforesaid, not, under the form of prayer, to lecture the Senate in relation to questions before the body.'"

MAY 6TH.--Bright, warm, beautiful.

We have a sensation to-day, but really no excitement. A dispatch from Gen. Lee (dated last night) says the _enemy_ opened the battle yesterday, and the conflict continued until night put an end to the carnage. He says we have many prisoners, captured four guns, etc., losing two generals killed, one, Gen. J. M. Jones. But our position was maintained, and the enemy repulsed. Doubtless the battle was renewed this morning.

Some _fifty-nine_ transports and several iron-clad gun-boats, monitors, etc., came up the James River yesterday and last night. A heavy force was landed at Bermuda Hundred, within a few miles of the railroad between Richmond and Petersburg.

And the enemy likewise came up the Peninsula, and there was fighting this morning on the Chickahominy.

Thus the plan of the enemy is distinctly p.r.o.nounced, and the a.s.saults were designed to be made simultaneously. Yet there is no undue excitement.

A dispatch from Gen. Pickett at Petersburg, this morning, to Gen. Bragg, asked if he (Bragg) intended to defend the railroad between Richmond and Petersburg. He said, "the enemy will attack the road to-day, marching from Bermuda Hundred, I think."

At 3 P.M. we are waiting with anxiety for news from all quarters.

Both my sons marched out in the Department Battalion. Two Tennessee regiments marched down to Drewry's Bluff yesterday, and Hunton's brigade, that left there yesterday, were ordered back again last night.

It is said troops were pa.s.sing south through the city all night. And I know heavy forces are on the way from North Carolina. Gen. Pickett likewise has the greater part of his division in supporting distance.

So, if the enemy have not cut the road by this time, it is probably safe, and the expedition will be a failure. If Lee defeats Grant, the city will certainly be saved. All the local troops are out.

Gen. Beauregard is expected to-day, but it is reported he is sick at Weldon. On the 3d inst. the following dispatch was received from him:

"KINSTON, N. C.

"GEN. COOPER.

"Orders should be given for the immediate re-establishment of fisheries at Plymouth and Was.h.i.+ngton, also to get large supplies of pork in Hyde County and vicinity.

"G. T. BEAUREGARD, _General_."

On this the Commissary-General indorsed that the matter had been attended to--had, indeed, been antic.i.p.ated.

The best indication of the day (to me) was the smiling face of Mr.

Hunter as he came from the Secretary's office. He said to me, "The ball is opening well."

The President and his aids rode over the river to-day: what direction they took I know not; but this I know, he has no idea of being taken by the enemy. And he cannot think the city will be taken, for in that event it would be difficult for him to escape.

MAY 7TH.--Bright and warm. The following is Gen. Lee's dispatch, received yesterday morning--the _italics_ not his.

"HEADQUARTERS ARMY NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

"May 5th, 1864.

"HON. SECRETARY OF WAR.

"The enemy crossed the Rapidan at Ely's and Germania fords. Two corps of this army moved to oppose him--Ewell by the old turnpike, and Hill by the plank-road.

"They arrived this morning in close proximity to the enemy's line of march.

"A strong attack was made upon Ewell, who repulsed it, _capturing many prisoners and four pieces of artillery_.

"The enemy subsequently concentrated upon Gen. Hill, who, with Heth's and Wilc.o.x's divisions, _successfully resisted repeated and desperate a.s.saults_.

"A large force of cavalry and artillery on our right was _driven back_ by Rosser's brigade.