camp Pierpont, Va., January 16, 1862.
Every one seems relieved at the change in the War Department,1 though the secret cause is as yet unknown, some putting it on his political faith, others on his want of integrity, etc., etc. camp Pierpont, Va., January 24, 1862.
The mysterious movements of the Burnside expedition puzzle me very much.
It has now been about ten days, and yet we have no reliable information of its whereabouts.
The victory in Kentucky2 was certainly very important in its results, and if the Confederate Army of the Potomac do not fight better than Zollicoffer's army, we ought to be victorious.
For ten thousand men to run as they did, after losing only one hundred and fifty killed, is more disgraceful than the behavior of our troops at Bull Run.
At Ball's Bluff, though we were overpowered by superior numbers, yet our men behaved with great gallantry. camp Pierpont, Va., January 26, 1862.
To-day being Sunday, I had an invitation from General McCall to dine with him, which I accepted, and had a very pleasant time discussing matters and things in general.
McCall thinks France and England will recognize the Southern Confederacy and interfere in their behalf.
I am not of this opinion, unless we should fail in the next six months to make any further progress in suppressing the revolution than we have as yet done.
I cannot believe that eight millions of people, however great their spirit and individual gallantry may be, can hold at bay twenty millions, unless the latter are dastards and ignoramuses.
If our men will fight, as men ought to do who pretend to be soldiers, and our resources are properly managed and directed, we must whip them so badly and distress them so much that they will be compelled to accept terms of peace dictated by us, provided we ask nothing of them but what we have a right to do, viz., to return to their allegiance under the old Constitution, and agree that the will of the majority shall govern.
Here, however, is our great danger, and it lies in the effort that the ultras are making to give a character to the war which will forbid any hope of the 