Feb

29

Diary of a Rebel War Clerk—February 29, 1864

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by John Beauchamp Jones

            FEBRUARY 29TH.—Raining moderately.

            There is a rumor that Frederick’s Hall, between this city and Fredericksburg, was taken to day by a detachment of the enemy’s cavalry, an hour after Gen. Lee passed on his way to the army. This is only rumor, however.

            A dispatch from Gen. Lee’s Chief Commissary, received to-day, says the army has only bread enough to last till the 1st of March, to-morrow! and that meat is getting scarce again. Col. Northrop, the Commissary-General, indorses on this, that he foresaw and frequently foretold that such a crisis would come. He says transportation sufficient cannot be had, and that he has just heard of an accident to the Wilmington Railroad, which will diminish the transportation of corn one-half; and he says a similar accident to the Charlotte Road would be fatal. Comfortable! And when I saw him afterward, his face was lit up with triumph, as if he had gained a victory! He predicted it, because they would not let him impress all the food in the country. And now he has no remedy for the pressing need. But the soldiers won’t starve, in spite of him.

Feb

29

Diary of the Union Secretary of the Navy, February 29, 1864

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by Gideon Welles

            February 29, Monday. A strong effort is on foot by naval officers who have been retired and their friends to set aside the law and the action under which they were retired. Working to an end persistently, without organized opposition, they may, with a weak Congress, effect their object, though to the public detriment. It would be easy for me to yield to my sympathies for these men and their families, who are in many cases most deserving of sympathy, could I disregard my duty and the public interest. To oppose them is to incur unforgiving resentment; to yield will be a disregard of my obligations. I shall not be sustained in standing firm by my friends; nevertheless my course is plain. I have prepared a letter that gives my views, which I will send to the two houses. A call is made for all correspondence that has taken place, as well as the meagre records of the Retiring Board. The correspondence cannot be collected without time, but the argument and record can go in at once.

            Have received the prize law by Dana and Judge Sprague and made suggestions and corrections. On scrutinizing, it appears to need more emendations than I at first supposed.