never meet in this world again, God grant that we may meet in the next.
The boat containing the two aides and also Roger A. Pryor, of Virginia, and A. R. Chisolm, of South Carolina, who were also
Confederate mortar-battery on Morris Island, commen 4 A. M. Captain James at once aroused his command, and arranged to carry out the order.
He was a great admirer of Roger A. Pryor, and said to him, You are the only man to whom I would give up the honor of firing the first gun of the war ; and he offered to allow him to fire it. Pryor, on receiving the offer, was very much agitated.
With a husky voice he said, I could not fire the first gun of the war.
His manner was almost similar to that of Major Anderson as we left him a few moments befon as General Beauregard heard that the flag was no longer flying, he sent three of his aides, William Porcher Miles, Roger A. Pryor, and myself, to offer, and also to see if Major Anderson would receive or needed, assistance, in subduing the flames
d so again he would open his fire on our batteries.
Under our instructions this reply admitted of no other answer than the one dated April 12th, 1861, 3:20 A. M. [see page 76], which was dictated by Chesnut, written by Lee, and copied by me. Roger A. Pryor was with us on the second visit, but did not enter the fort, giving me as a reason that his State, Virginia, had not yet seceded.
For the same reason he declined to fire the signal shot.
Moreover, I believe he was then a member of Congress,re, and, assuming authority from General Beauregard, called upon Major Anderson to surrender.
Major Anderson did not realize the unauthorized nature of Wigfall's mission until the arrival of Captain Stephen D. Lee, William Porcher Miles, and Roger A. Pryor with an offer direct from General Beauregard, similar to the one General Simons was authorized to make.
Major Anderson was about to renew the action, when Major David R. Jones arrived with the offer of terms for the surrender of the fort, wh
t and revised from the North American review for January and February, 1886.-editors. G. T. Beauregard, General, C. S. A.
On the 22d of January, 1862, Colonel Roger A. Pryor, a member of the Military Committee of the lower branch of the Confederate Congress, visited my headquarters at Centreville, Virginia, and in his own nameand men of all arms, which, though widely scattered, might, by virtue of the possession of the interior lines, be concentrated and operated offensively, I gave Colonel Pryor authority to inform Mr. Davis of my readiness to be thus transferred.
Upon the return of Colonel Pryor to Richmond, I was, on the 26th of January, ordered to Colonel Pryor to Richmond, I was, on the 26th of January, ordered to proceed at once to report to General A. S. Johnston at Bowling Green, Kentucky, and thence as promptly as possible to assume my new command at Columbus, which, said my orders, is threatened by a powerful force, and the defense of which is of vital importance.
Dispatching Colonel Thomas Jordan, my chief of staff, to Richmond, wi
ns of Fort Moultrie.
In this state of preparation the night of the 11th of April closed upon the harbor.
Toward midnight the officers of the garrison were aroused by the report of the officer of the day, that a boat under a white flag had arrived, and that two messengers from the Confederate authorities had again come to the work.
It was now one and a half o'clock in the morning, when the aides of the military commandant of the Confederate forces, accompanied by Colonel Chisholm and Mr. Roger A. Pryor, of Virginia, entered the work.
They bore a letter from Brigadier General Beaureguard, commanding Provisional Army Confederate States of America, to Major Anderson, to the effect, that in consequence of the verbal observation made to his aides in relation to the condition of his supplies, and that he would soon be starved out, he had communicated the same to his government.
The proposition was then made to him, that if he would state the time at which he would evacuate the fort, and
of observation, taking care to make as great display of our force as possible, but when night closed in we retired to the rear.
These tactics were repeated the next day, and the next.
There was a barn which stood outside the Federal lines, equi-distant between us, which contained a supply of forage.
The Federals would occupy it by day, but would be withdrawn at night, when my men would visit it to procure food for their animals.
When we first came in sight of the enemy's pickets, General Roger A. Pryor, now a brilliant advocate of the New York bar, who was at that time in Petersburg, and had joined us as a volunteer, was very solicitous that we should engage them.
But I would not allow it to be done.
I did not explain to him General Pickett's orders, and he retired from what appeared to be so purposely and inglorious a service.
A collision with my loose array I knew might spoil the plan, and disclose the sham we were attempting to impose on the enemy.
Thus things continued til
e-field say that our loss in killed and wounded is 3000.
It is all conjecture.
There was heavy skirmishing all day yesterday, and until to-day at noon, when the telegraph operator reports that the firing had ceased.
We know not (yet) what this means.
We are still sending artillery ammunition to Gen. Lee.
Gen. Evans dispatches from Kinston, N. C., that on the 14th, yesterday, he repulsed the enemy, 15,000 strong, and drove them back to their boats in Neuse River.
A portion of Gen. R. A. Pryor's command, in Isle of Wight County, was engaged with the enemy's advance the same day. They have also landed at Gloucester Point.
This is pronounced a simultaneous attack on our harbors and cities in Virginia and North Carolina.
Perhaps we shall have more before night.
Our people seem prepared for any event.
Another long train of negroes have just passed through the city, singing, to work on the fortifications.
December 16
To-day the city is exalted to the skies!
Gen. Lee
nt-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 3
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 shelling and infantry firing, Gen. P. retired some eight miles, and was not pursued.
Our loss was only fifty; it is said the enemy had 5ion can beat the army corps of Hooker, supposed to be sent to the Peninsula.
It has 12,000 men — an army corps 40,000. Brig.-Gen. Hood's division is near the city, on the Chickahominy.
Gen. Lee warns the government to see that Gens. French and Pryor be vigilant, and to have their scouts closely watching the enemy at Suffolk.
He thinks, however, the main object of the enemy is to take Charleston ; and he suggests that every available man be sent thither.
The rest of his army he will keep on
e now fine March weather; but the floods of late have damaged the railroad bridges between this and Fredericksburg.
The Secretary of War requested the editors, yesterday, to say nothing of this.
We have no news from the West or from the Southeast-but we shall soon have enough.
The United States Congress has passed the Conscription Act. We shall see the effect of it in the North; I predict civil war there; and that will be our aid and comfort.
Gen. Toombs has resigned; and it is said Pryor has been made a major-general.
Thus we go up and down.
The President has issued a proclamation for prayer, fasting, etc., on the twentyseventh of this month.
There will certainly be fasting-and prayer also.
And God has helped us, or we should have been destroyed ere this.
March 4
The enemy bombarded Fort McAlister again yesterday, several gun-boats opening fire on it. It lasted all day; during which one of the iron-clads retired, perhaps injured.
We had only two men wounded and on
thanks to God for a great victory; and he never misleads, never exaggerates.
My son Custis got a musket and marched in one of the companies — I have not learned which — for the defense of the city.
It is a sultry day, and he will suffer.
The President was driven out in a light open carriage after the reception of Gen. Lee's dispatch, and exhibited the finest spirits.
He was even diverted at the zeal of the old men and boys marching out with heavy muskets to the batteries.
Brig.-Gen. Pryor, who has been under arrest (I know not for what offense), volunteered in a company of horse, and galloped away with the rest in pursuit of the enemy.
May 5
To-day the excitement was quite as great as ever, for bodies of the enemy are still in the vicinity.
They are like frightened quails when the hawks are after them, skurrying about the country in battalions and regiments.
Fitzhugh Lee defeated one of their parties, and reports that the entire calvary force of Hooker, in antici
never forgive him!
The signal officers report that three large ocean steamers passed down the Potomac day before yesterday, having on board 1000 men each; and that many large steamers are constantly going up --perhaps for more.
Brig.-Gen. Roger A. Pryor, after dancing attendance in the ante-rooms for six months, waiting assignment to a command, has resigned, and his resignation has been accepted.
He says he can at least serve in the ranks as a private.
The government don't like aspiring political generals.
Yet Pryor was first a colonel, and member of Congress — resigned his seat-resigned his brigadier-generalship, and is now a private.
Our cause is dim in Europe, if it be true, as the Northern papers report, that the Confederate loan has sunken from par to 35 per cent. discount since the fall of Vicksburg.
Friday, August 21
This is a day appointed by the President for humiliation, fasting, and prayer.
Yet the Marylanders in possession of the passport office rep
