d here, and it might arrive in time.
Our defenses are strong; but at this moment we have only-Gen. Wise's brigade, and a few battalions at the batteries, to defend the capital — some 5000 in all.
larm subsided about 10 A. M. upon information being received that the enemy were flying before Gen. Wise down the Peninsula.
After this the following dispatch was received from Gen. Lee:
Milfordfailure of the government to make adequate preparations for the defense of the city.
I saw Gen. Wise to-day.
He seems weather-beaten, but hardy.
May 14
We have been beaten in an engagementy be made.
Gen. Dix threatens to hang the citizens of Williamsburg if they co-operate with Gen. Wise in his frequent attacks on the Federals.
Gen. Wise replies, threatening to hang Gen. Dix if hGen. Wise replies, threatening to hang Gen. Dix if he carries his threat into execution, and should fall into his hands, in a more summary manner than John Brown was hung for making his raid in Virginia.
Butter is worth $4 per pound.
A sheep is w
cold blood, and says it is the only mode of dealing with such savages.
The President indorses on it that it is a confession of an infamous crime.
Yesterday the enemy appeared on the Peninsula, in what numbers we know not yet; but just when Gen. Wise was about to attack, with every prospect of success, an order was received from Gen. Arnold Elzey to fall back toward the city, pickets and all.
A letter from Gen. Holmes, containing an account from one of his scouts, shows that the enemy's.
They would believe the cabinet meant soon to follow the gold.
And some of our military commanders have no better opinion of them than the people.
Beauregard once stopped some bullion ordered away by Mr. Memminger.
There is a rumor that Gen. Wise had a combat yesterday on the Peninsula.
But the operations beyond the Rappahannock, and approaching the capital of the United States, must relieve Richmond of all immediate danger.
Mr. Lincoln says he is making history; forgetful of the e
make no movement to-day in pursuit of Dix's army of the Pamunky-or rather the monkey army.
He says that the Brooke Pike outer defenses are so defective in design, that a force there could be driven off in five minutes by the enemy's sharpshooters.
He wants them amended, and a certain grove cut down-and recommends that engineers be put to work, with orders to leave their kid gloves behind.
He thinks more is to be apprehended from an attack on Petersburg than Richmond; and requests that Gen. Wise be ordered to march thither from Chaffin's Bluff, on the first alarm.
He had not heard of the reported victory of Lee.
July 8
I am glad to copy the following order of Gen. Lee:
General orders no. 73.headquarters army of Northern Virginia, Chambersburg, Pa., June 27th, 1863.
The commanding general has observed with marked satisfaction the conduct of the troops on the march, and confidently anticipates results commensurate with the high spirit they have manifested.
No troops c
s to take command of the troops defending the city — that Gen. Elzey may take the field.
Smith would undoubtedly have a strong motive in defending the capital-but then he knows nothing of military affairs, yet I think he will be appointed.
Gen. Wise's batteries crippled and drove off the enemy's monitor and gun-boats day before yesterday.
The monitor was towed down the James River in a disabled condition.
To-day, for the third time since the war began, I derived some money from our f10 men) at Bottom's Bridge, killing, so report says, Lieut. Jetu, of South Carolina, and some twelve or fifteen others.
But I believe the attacking party have recrossed the Chickahominy.
We shall know in a few hours.
Gen. Lee is still here.
Gen. Wise's brigade, with the militia, the department companies, and the convalescents from the hospitals, must number some 8000 men in this vicinity.
If the enemy be in formidable numbers, we shall soon be reinforced.
We have nothing from Charlesto
igaded; armed, and have raised the flag of the United States.
This is bad enough to cause the President some loss of sleep, if any one would show it to him.
Gen. Wise, it is said, is ordered away from the defense of Richmond with his brigade.
I saw him to-day (looking remarkably well), and he said he did not know where he wasnvolves the fall of Charleston.
Still Beauregard is there.
Gen. Pickett's division (decimated at Gettysburg) is to remain in this vicinity — and Jenkins's and Wise's brigades will leave.
The hour now seems a dark one.
But we must conquer or die.
It is said a deserter has already gone over from our lines and given informpular strength to the government, while it would be a death-blow to the speculators and extortioners.
It will be seen what heed the government will give it.
Gen. Wise has his brigade in South Carolina.
The markets.-The quantity of produce in our markets continues large, and of good quality, but the prices remain as high
The Secretary, in the absence of the President, sends a copy of this scheme to Lieut.-Gen. E. K. Smith, trans-Mississippi Department, and gives some encouragement to the judge; abstaining, however, for the present, from devoting any money to the project.
October 17
We hear to-day that a battle has taken place near Manassas, and that Lee has taken some 9000 prisoners and many wagons.
At 3 P. M. there was no official intelligence of this event, and it was not generally credited.
Gen. Wise writes from Charleston, that it is understood by the French and Spanish Consuls there that the city will not be bombarded.
In Eastern North Carolina the people have taken the oath of allegiance to the United States, to be binding only so long as they are within the military jurisdiction of the enemy; and they ask to be exempt from the Confederate States tithe tax, for if they pay it, the enemy will despoil them of all that remains.
October 18
No authentic information of a battle
well fed and comfortable.
November 6
The President was to have returned to-day, but did not.
Various conjectures are made as to the object of his month's tour of speech-making.
Some deem the cause very desperate, others that the President's condition is desperate.
If the first, they say his purpose was to reanimate the people by his presence, and to cultivate a renewal of lost friendships, and hence he lingered longest at Charleston, in social intercourse with Gens. Beauregard and Wise, who had become estranged.
The latter is the oldest brigadier-general in the service, and still they have failed to promote him. The President's power is felt in the army, and his patronage being almost unlimited, it was natural, they say, that he should be received with cheers.
From a lieutenant up to a gen. eral, all are dependent on his favor for promotion.
At all events, his austerity and inflexibility have been relaxed, and he has made popular speeches wherever he has gone.
I hope g
idly re-enlisting for the war.
February 13
Bright, beautiful weather, with frosty nights.
The dispatches I cut from the papers to-day are interesting.
Gen. Wise, it appears, has met the enemy at last, and gained a brilliant success-and so has Gen. Finnegan.
But the correspondence between the President and Gen. Johnston,he road.
Losses not yet reported.
(Signed) G. T. Beauregard.
Repulse of the enemy near Charleston: official dispatch. Charleston, February 12th, 1864.
Gen. Wise gallantly repulsed the enemy last evening on John's Island.
He is, to-day, in pursuit.
Our loss very trifling.
The force of the enemy is about 2000; ours abou
Mr. Secretary Seddon, it is now said, is resolved to remain in office.
February 15
We have over forty of the escaped Federal officers.
Nothing more from Gens. Wise and Finnegan.
The enemy have retreated again on the Peninsula.
It is said Meade's army is falling back on Washington.
We have a snow storm to-day.
The
as onty distant shelling, as no wounded men have been brought in.
It is reported that the enemy captured Mr. Seddon's family twenty-five miles distant,--also Gen. Wise's. To-morrow we shall know more; but no uneasiness is felt as to the result.
In a few hours we can muster men enough to defend the city against 25,000.
A leg arms in the field.
March 14
Bright, pleasant day. The city is full of generals-Lee and his son (the one just returned from captivity), Longstreet, Whiting, Wise, Hoke, Morgan (he was ordered by Gen. Cooper to desist from his enterprise in the West), Evans, and many others.
Some fourteen attended St. Paul's (Episcopal) Chconsultation, for all the armies are in the same lamentable predicament — to the great triumph of Col. N., whose prescience is triumphantly vindicated!
But Geen.
Wise, when I mentioned these things to him, said we would starve in the midst of plenty, meaning that Col. N was incompetent to hold the position of Commissary-General.
might have attained that position without the loss of a man at the outset!
On Saturday night Gen. Butler made the following exploit:
On Saturday night the enemy renewed his assault, assailing that portion of our line held principally by Wise's brigade.
In some manner our men had become apprised of the intention of the enemy to make a night attack, and were fully prepared for it. The enemy were allowed to advance, our men deliberately reserving their fire until they were within 20 or disregarded the order and fought the battle, saving Petersburg.
Then Beauregard tendered his resignation, which was not accepted.
It is also said that the order was directed to the commandant of the garrison; but the courier was stopped by Generals Wise and Martin, who gave the paper to Beauregard.
There is another rumor that Bragg's orders caused Lee to fall back; and, of course, the credulous people here are despondent; some in despair.
There may be some design against the President i
