Aug

6

Diary of a Rebel War Clerk—August 6, 1864

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by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 6TH.—Hot and dry.

            The booming of cannon heard yesterday evening was from one of our batteries below Drewry’s Bluff. The enemy answered from their batteries, the existence of which we had no knowledge of before. No one was hurt.

            About the same time Gen. Beauregard sprung a mine under the enemy’s mine, and blew it up, no doubt destroying many lives. This was succeeded by heavy, but, perhaps, harmless shelling along the lines.

            Another raiding party has been defeated and dispersed at Madison, Ga.

            But we have been unfortunate in a naval engagement in the lower bay, at Mobile. We have lost Admiral Buchanan’s ram “Tennessee,” and several other steamers. One of the enemy’s monitors was sunk. They had five vessels to our one.

            Battles are momentarily expected at Atlanta and Winchester. We have nothing additional from the North.

Aug

5

Diary of a Rebel War Clerk—August 5, 1864

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by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 5TH.—Hot and dry. I hope there will be a rain-cloud this evening.

            No war news, except a letter from Gen. Lee, indicating that Gen. Morgan is probably on a raid in Northwest Virginia and in Pennsylvania. Morgan proposed going into Georgia (rear of Sherman), but the Secretary indorsed that perhaps the matter had as well be left to Gen. Lee. The President quietly indorsed that he “concurred in the conclusion that all the movements of troops in Virginia had best be left to the discretion of Gen Lee.”

            Gen. Hood telegraphs that no important change has occurred in front of Atlanta. There was some skirmishing yesterday, and shell thrown into Atlanta.

            My daughter Anne, after ten months’ residence in the country, returned to-day (with Miss Randolph, of Loudon Co.) in perfect health. She brought apples, eggs, a watermelon, cucumbers, etc.

            Mr. Davies sold my reel (German silver) to-day for $75, or about $3.20 in gold—enough to buy a cord of wood. I parted with it reluctantly, as I hope to catch fish yet.

Aug

4

Diary of a Rebel War Clerk—August 4, 1864

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by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 4TH.—Clear and hot.

            All quiet at Petersburg. President Lincoln was at Fortress Monroe on Sunday last, after the explosion and its failure.

            The Northern papers acknowledge that Grant sustained a terrible disaster at Petersburg, losing in killed, wounded, and missing 5000. They say the negro troops caused the failure, by running back and breaking the lines of the whites. The blacks were pushed forward in front, and suffered most.

            From the same source we learn that our troops have penetrated Pennsylvania, and laid the city of Chambersburg in ashes. This may be so, as they have burned some half dozen of our towns, and are now daily throwing shell into Charleston, Atlanta, and Petersburg.

            A letter to the Secretary from J. Thompson, in Canada (per Capt. Hines), was received to-day. He says the work will not probably begin before the middle of August. I know not what sort of work. But he says much caution is necessary. I suppose it to be the destruction of the Federal army depots, etc. in the United States.

            Public meetings and the public press continue to denounce in unmeasured terms the high schedule of prices recently sanctioned by the Commissary and Quartermaster’s bureaus. And, although the schedule has been modified, much odium will attach to all concerned in it. A large farmer, at the rates fixed for his products, would realize, perhaps, $200,000 per annum.

Aug

3

Diary of a Rebel War Clerk—August 3, 1864

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by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 3D.—Cloudy, but no rain.

            The press dispatches last night assert that still another raiding party, besides Stoneman’s, was dispersed or captured.

            It is rumored to-day that Beauregard has sprung a mine under Grant’s fortifications. This may be so. Later. It was not so.

Aug

2

Diary of a Rebel War Clerk—August 2, 1864

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by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 2D.—Bright and hot. At 4 P.M. a cloud rising. Fear my wife, and daughter Fannie, and Custis (who has a days’ furlough), who went this morning per Fredericksburg Railroad into Hanover County to gather blackberries, will be caught in a rain. Nevertheless, the rain is wanted.

            Assistant Secretary Campbell is again “allowing” doubtful characters to pass out of the Confederate States to the United States; among these is Dr. McClure, “the embalmer,” who, too, carried others out for bribes.

            The Signal Bureau gives information to-day of Grant’s purpose to spring the mine already sprung, also of a raid, that was abandoned, north and west of Richmond. They say Grant has now but 70,000 men, there being only a few men left at Washington. Can the agents paid by the Signal Bureau be relied on?

            Gen. Bragg telegraphs from Columbus, Ga., that Gen. Roddy has been ordered to reassemble his forces in North Alabama, to cut Sherman’s communications.

            The news from Georgia is more cheering.

            The commissioners (of prices) have reduced the schedule: it was denounced universally. It is said by the Examiner that the extravagant rates, $30 per bushel for wheat, and $50 for bacon, were suggested by a farmer in office.

            Gen. Lee writes that he had directed Morgan to co-operate with Early, but he was sick.

            The enemy’s account of our loss in the battle before Atlanta is exaggerated greatly. Sherman’s army is doomed, I think.

            Seven P.M. No rain here, but my family were-drenched in a hard shower at Hanover Junction, and what was worse, they got no blackberries, the hot sun having dried the sap in the bushes.

Aug

1

Diary of a Rebel War Clerk—August 1, 1864

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by John Beauchamp Jones

            AUGUST 1ST.—Hot and clear; but it rained yesterday three-quarters of an hour in the afternoon.

            Our loss in the affair at Petersburg is about 800, the enemy’s 3500. We captured 2000 small arms.

            We have nothing yet from Atlanta, but no doubt there has been another battle. I hope no disaster has befallen us there. No doubt the wires have been cut by the raiders, and roads also. It is a critical time in Georgia. But if Virginia triumphs over the assaults of Grant, all will go well.

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