CONTENTS.
| VOLUME I. | ||
| [CHAPTER I.] | ||
| My flight from the North and escape into Virginia.—Revolutionary scene at Richmond.—TheUnion Convention passes the Ordinance of Secession.—Great excitement prevails in the South. | [13] | |
| [CHAPTER II.] | ||
| Depart for Montgomery.—Interview with President Davis.—My position in the Government.—Governmentremoved to Richmond.—My family. | [30] | |
| [CHAPTER III.] | ||
| Troops pour into Richmond.—Beginning of hostilities.—Gen. Lee made a full general.—Major-Gen.Polk.—A battle expected at Manassas. | [47] | |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | ||
| My family in North Carolina.—Volunteers daily rejected.—Gen. Winder appears upon the stage.—Toombscommissioned.—Hunter Secretary of State.—Duel prevented.—Col. B. Secretary for a few hours.—Gen. Garnettkilled.—Battle of Manassas.—Great excitement.—Col. Bartow. | [57] | |
| [CHAPTER V.] | ||
| My son Custis appointed clerk in the War Department.—N. Y. Herald contains a pretty correctarmy list of the C. S.—Appearance of the “Plug Uglies.”—President’s rupture with Beauregard.—Presidentsick.—Alien enemies ordered away.—Brief interview with the President.—“Immediate.”—Large numbersof cavalry offering.—Great preparations in the North. | [69] | |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | ||
| Four hundred thousand troops to be raised.—Want of arms.—Yankees offer to sell them tous.—Walker resigns.—Benjamin succeeds.—Col. J. A. Washington killed.—Assigned, temporarily, tothe head of the passport office. | [77] | |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | ||
| An order for the publication of the names of alien enemies.—Some excitement.—Efforts tosecure property.—G. A. Myers, lawyer, actively engaged.—Gen. Price gains a victory in Missouri.—BillyWilson’s cut-throats cut to pieces at Fort Pickens.—A female spy arrives from Washington.—Great success atLeesburg or Ball’s Bluff. | [82] | |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | ||
| Quarrel between Gen. Beauregard and Mr. Benjamin.—Great naval preparations in the North.—Theloss of Port Royal, S. C., takes some prestige.—The affair at Belmont does not compensate for it.—The enemy killsan old hare.—Missouri secedes.—Mason and Slidell captured.—French Consul and the actresses.—Thelieutenant in disguise.—Eastern Shore of Virginia invaded.—Messrs. Breckinridge and Marshall in Richmond. | [89] | |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | ||
| Gen. Lee ordered South.—Gen. Stuart ambuscaded at Drainsville.—W. H. B. Custis returnsto the Eastern Shore.—Winder’s detectives.—Kentucky secedes.—Judge Perkins’s resolution.—Dibblegoes North.—Waiting for Great Britain to do something.—Mr. Ely, the Yankee M. C. | [96] | |
| [CHAPTER X.] | ||
| Seward gives up Mason and Slidell.—Great preparations of the enemy.—Gen. Jacksonbetrayed.—Mr. Memminger’s blunders.—Exaggerated reports of our troops in Kentucky and Tennessee. | [103] | |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | ||
| Fall of Fort Henry.—Of Fort Donelson.—Lugubrious Inauguration of the President in thePermanent Government.—Loss of Roanoke Island. | [108] | |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | ||
| Nashville evacuated.—Martial law.—Passports.—Com. Buchanan’s naval engagement.—Gen.Winder’s blunders.—Mr. Benjamin Secretary of State.—Lee commander-in-chief.—Mr. G. W. Randolph Secretary ofWar. | [112] | |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | ||
| Gen. Beauregard succeeds Gen. Sydney Johnston.—Dibble, the traitor.—Enemy atFredericksburg.—They say we will be subdued by the 15th of June.—Lee rapidly concentrating at Richmond.—Webster,the spy, hung. | [118] | |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | ||
| Disloyalists entrapped.—Norfolk abandoned.—Merrimac blown up.—Army falling back.—Mrs.Davis leaves Richmond.—Preparing to burn the tobacco.—Secretary of War trembles for Richmond.—Richmond to bedefended.—The tobacco.—Winking and blinking.—Johnston’s great battle.—Wounded himself.—Thewounded.—The hospitals. | [122] | |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | ||
| Huger fails again.—A wounded boy.—The killed and wounded.—Lee assumes command.—Leeprepares to attack McClellan.—Beauregard watches the gold.—Our generals scattered.—Hasty letter from Gen.Lee.—Opening of grand battle.—First day, 26th June.—Second, etc.—Lee’s consummate skill.—Everyday for a week it rages.—Streets crowded with Blue Jackets.—McClellan retires. | [131] | |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | ||
| Terrific fighting.—Anxiety to visit the battle-field.—Lee prepares for other battles.—Hope forthe Union extinct.—Gen. Lee brings forward conscripts.—Gen. Cobb appointed to arrange exchange of prisoners.—Mr. Ouldas agent.—Pope, the braggart, comes upon the stage.—Meets a braggart’s fate.—The war transferred to Northern Virginia. | [140] | |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | ||
| Vicksburg shelled.—Lee looks toward Washington.—Much manœuvring in Orange County.—Abrigade of the enemy annihilated.—McClellan flies to Washington.—Cretans.—Lee has a mighty army.—Missouririsings.—Pope’s coat and papers captured.—Cut up at Manassas.—Clothing captured of the enemy. | [147] | |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | ||
| Lee announces a victory.—Crosses the Potomac.—Battle of Sharpsburg.—McClellan pauses atthe Potomac.—Lee moves mysteriously.—The campaign a doubtful one in its material results.—Horrible scene nearWashington.—Conscription enlarged.—Heavy loss at Sharpsburg.—10,000 in the hospitals here. | [151] | |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] | ||
| McClellan has crossed the Potomac.—Another battle anticipated.—I am assured here that Leehad but 40,000 men engaged at Sharpsburg.—He has more now, as he is defending Virginia.—Radicals of the Northwant McClellan removed.—Our President has never taken the field.—Lee makes demonstrations against McClellan.—AJew store robbed last night.—We have 40,000 prisoners excess over the enemy.— My family arrived from Raleigh.—Mywife’s substitute for coffee.—Foul passports.—My friend Brooks dines and wines with members of Congress.—TheHerald and Tribune tempt us to return to the Union.—Lee writes, no immediate advance of McClellan.—Still a rumor ofBragg’s victory in Kentucky.—Enemy getting large reinforcements.—Diabolical order of Governor Baylor.—Secretary’sestimate of conscripts and all others, 500,000.—Bragg retreating from Kentucky.—Bickering between Bragg andBeauregard.—Lee wants Confederate notes made a legal tender.—There will be no second Washington. | [160] | |
| [CHAPTER XX.] | ||
| Gen. Lee in Richmond: beard white.—First proposition to trade cotton to the enemy.—Secretaryin favor of it.—All the letters come through my hands again.—Lee falling back.—5000 negroes at work on thefortifications.—Active operations looked for.—Beauregard advises non-combatants to leave the city.—Semmes’soperations.—Making a nation.—Salt works lost in Virginia.—-Barefooted soldiers.— Intrigues of Butlerin New Orleans.—Northern army advancing everywhere.—Breach between the President and Secretary of War.—President’sservant arrested for robbing the Treasury.—Gen. J. E. Johnston in town.—Secretary has resigned.—Hon. J. A. Seddonappointed Secretary of War.—The enemy marching on Fredericksburg.—Lee writes that he will be ready forthem.—Kentuckians will not be hog drivers.—Womenand children flying from the vicinity of Fredericksburg.—Fears for Wilmington.—No beggars.—Quiet on theRappahannock.—M. Paul, French Consul, saved the French tobacco.—Gen. Johnston goes West.—President givesGov. Pettit full authority to trade cotton to France. | [179] | |
| [CHAPTER XXI.] | ||
| The great crisis at hand.—The rage for speculation raises its head.—Great battle ofFredericksburg.—The States called on for supplies.—Randolph resigns as brigadier-general.—South Carolinahonor.—Loss at Fredericksburg.—Great contracts.—Lee’s ammunition bad.—Small-pox here. | [199] | |
| [CHAPTER XXII.] | ||
| Lee in winter quarters.—Bragg’s victory in the Southwest.—The President at Mobile.—Enemywithdraw from Vicksburg.—Bragg retreats as usual.—Bureau of Conscription.—High rents.—Flour contractsin Congress.—Efforts to escape conscription.—Ships coming in freely.— Sneers at negro troops.—Hopes ofFrench intervention.—Gen. Rains blows himself up.—Davis would be the last to give up.—Gov. Vance protestsagainst Col. August’s appointment as commandant of conscripts.—Financial difficulties in the United States. | [228] | |
| [CHAPTER XXIII.] | ||
| Proposed fixture of prices.—Depreciation in the North.—Gen. Hooker in command of the U. S.forces.—Lee thinks Charleston will be attacked.—Congress does nothing.—Some fears for Vicksburg.—Pembertoncommands.—Wise dashes into Williamsburg.—Rats take food from my daughter’s hand.—Lee wants the meat sent fromGeorgia to Virginia, where the fighting will be.—Gen. Winder uneasy about my Diary.—Gen. Johnston asks to be relievedin the West. | [252] | |
| [CHAPTER XXIV.] | ||
| Removed into Clay Street.—Gen. Toombs resigned.—Lincoln dictator.—He can call 3,000,000of men.—President is sick.—His office is not a bed of roses.—Col. Gorgas sends in his oath ofallegiance.—Confederate gold $5 for $1.—Explosion of a laboratory.—Bad weather everywhere.— Fightingon the Mississippi River.—Conflict of views in the Conscription Bureau.—Confederate States currency $10 for$1.—Snow a foot deep, but melting.—We have no negro regiments in our service.—Only 6000 conscripts fromEast Tennessee.—How seven were paroled by one.—This is to be the crisis campaign.—Lee announces the campaignopen. | [265] | |
| [CHAPTER XXV.] | ||
| Symptoms of bread riots.—Lee forming depots of provisions near the Rappahannock.—Beauregardready to defend Charleston.—He has rebuffed the enemy severely.—French and British advancing money on cotton.—TheYankees can beat us in bargaining.—Gen. Lee anxious for new supplies.—The President appeals to the people to raise foodfor man and beast.—Federal and Confederate troops serenading each other on the Rappahannock.—Cobbler’s wages $3000 perannum.—Wrangling in the Indian country.—Only 700 conscripts permonthfrom Virginia.—Longstreet at Suffolk.—The President’s well eye said to be failing.—A “reconnoissance!”—We areplanting much grain.—Picking up pins.—Beautiful season.—Gen. Johnston in Tennessee.—Longstreet’s successesin that State.—Lee complains that his army is not fed.—We fear for Vicksburg now.—Enemy giving up plunder inMississippi.—Beauregard is busy at Charleston.—Gen. Marshall, of Kentucky, fails to get stock and hogs.—Gen. Leecalls for Longstreet’s corps.—The enemy demonstrating on the Rappahannock. | [284] | |
| [CHAPTER XXVI.] | ||
| Lee snuffs a battle in the breeze.—Hooker’s army supposed to be 100,000 men.—Lee’s perhaps55,000 efficient.—I am planting potatoes.—Part of Longstreet’s army gone up.—Enemy makes a raid.—Greatvictory at Chancellorville.— Hot weather.—Our poor wounded coming in streams, in ambulances and on foot.—Hookerhas lost the game.—Message from the enemy.—They ask of Lee permission to bury their dead.—Granted, ofcourse.—Hooker fortifying.—Food getting scarce again.—Gen. Lee’s thanks to the army.—Crowds of prisonerscoming in.—Lieut.-Gen. Jackson dead.—Hooker’s raiders “hooked” a great many horses.—Enemy demand 500,000 moremen.—Beauregard complains that so many of his troops are taken to Mississippi.—Enemy at Jackson,Miss.—Strawberries.—R. Tyler.—My cherries are coming on finely.—Ewell and Hill appointedlieutenant-generals.—President seems to doubt Beauregard’s veracity.—Hon. D. M. Lewis cuts his wheat to-morrow,May 28th.—Johnston says our troops are in fine spirits around Vicksburg.—Grant thunders on.—Plan of servileinsurrection. | [303] | |
| [CHAPTER XXVII.] | ||
| Vicksburg refuses to surrender to Grant.—Spiritualism at the White House.—Lee is pushing alittle northward.—It is said Grant has lost 40,000 men.—He is still pounding Vicksburg.—Petty militaryorganizations.—Mr. Randolph busy.—Foolish passport rules.—Great battle imminent, but speculation may defeatboth sides.—Early’s victory.—We have only supplies of corn from day to day.—Chambersburg struck.—Col.Whiting complains of blockade-running at Wilmington.—False alarm.—Grant still before Vicksburg. | [338] | |
| [CHAPTER XXVIII.] | ||
| Enemy threatening Richmond.—The city is safe.—Battle of Gettysburg.—Great excitement.—Yankeesin great trouble.— Alas! Vicksburg has fallen.—President is sick.—Grant marching against Johnston at Jackson.—Fightingat that place.—Yankees repulsed at Charleston.—Lee and Meade facing each other.—Pemberton surrenders his whole army.—Fallof Port Hudson.—Second class conscripts called for.—Lee has got back across the Potomac.—Lincoln getting fresh troops.—Leewrites that he cannot be responsible if the soldiers fail for want of food.—Rumors of Grant coming East.—Pemberton in badodor.—Hon. W. L. Yancey is dead. | [366] | |
| VOLUME II. | ||
| [CHAPTER XXIX.] | ||
| Some desertion.—Lee falling back.—Men still foolishly look for foreign aid.—Speculatorsswarming.—God helps me to-day.—Conscripts.—Memminger shipping gold to Europe.—Our women and children makingstraw bonnets.—Attack on Charleston.—Robert Tyler as a financier.—Enemy throw large shells into Charleston, fiveand a half miles.—Diabolical scheme.—Gen. Lee has returned to the army. | [3] | |
| [CHAPTER XXX.] | ||
| Situation at Wilmington.—Situation at Charleston.—Lincoln thinks there is hope of oursubmission.—Market prices.—Ammunition turned over to the enemy at Vicksburg.—Attack on Sumter.—Stringentconscription order.—Disaffection in North Carolina.—Victory announced by Gen. Bragg.—Peril of Gen.Rosecrans.—Surrender of Cumberland Gap.—Rosecrans fortifying Chattanooga.—Mr. Seward on flag of truceboat.—Burnside evacuating East Tennessee.—The trans-Mississippi army.—Meade sending troops toRosecrans.—Pemberton in Richmond.—A suggestion concerning perishable tithes. | [30] | |
| [CHAPTER XXXI.] | ||
| Suffering of our wounded at Gettysburg.—Prisoners from the battle of Chickamauga.—Charleston.—Policyin the Southwest.—From Gen. Bragg.—Letter from President Davis.—Religious revival.—Departure of the Presidentfor the Southwest.—About General Bragg.—Movement of mechanics and non-producers.—About “French” tobacco.—Themarkets.—Outrage in Missouri.—Speculations of government agents.—From Gen. Lee.—Judge Hastings’s scheme.—Visitto our prisons.—Letter from Gen. Kirby Smith.—President Davis at Selma.—Gen. Winder’s passports.—Themarkets.—Campbellites and Methodists.—From Gen. Lee.—From the Southwest. | [57] | |
| [CHAPTER XXXII.] | ||
| Letters from various sections.—The President and Gen. Bragg.—State of the markets.—Causesof the President’s tour.—Gen. Duff Green.—Return of the President.—Loss of Hoke’s and Haye’s brigades.—Letterfrom Gen. Howell Cobb.—Dispatch from Gen. Lee.—State of the markets.—Letter from A. Moseley.—Mrs. Todd inRichmond.—Vice-President Stephens on furloughs.—About Gen. Bragg and the battle of Lookout Mountain. | [85] | |
| [CHAPTER XXXIII.] | ||
| Assembling of Congress.—President’s message.—The markets.—No hope for the Confederatecurrency.—Averill’s raid.—Letter from Gov. Vance.—Christmas.—Persons having furnished substitutes stillliable to military duty. | [110] | |
| [CHAPTER XXXIV.] | ||
| Hospitalities of the city to Gen. Morgan.—Call for a Dictator.—Letter from Gen. Lee.—Lettersfrom Gov. Vance.—Accusation against Gen. Winder.—Treatment of Confederate prisoners (from the Chicago Times).—Changeof Federal policy.—Efforts to remove Col. Northrop.—Breachbetween the President and Congress.—Destitution of our prisoners.—Appeal of Gen. Lee to the army.—New ConscriptionAct.—Letter from Gen. Cobb. | [122] | |
| [CHAPTER XXXV.] | ||
| Gen. Lovell applies for a command.—Auspicious opening of 1864.—Mr. Wright’s resolutions.—Rumoredapproach of Gen. Butler.—Letter from Gov. Brown.—Letter from Gen. Lee.—Dispatches from Gen. Beauregard.—PresidentDavis’s negroes.—Controversy between Gen. Winder and Mr. Ould.—Robbery of Mr. Lewis Hayman.—Promotion of Gen. Bragg,and the Examiner thereon.—Scarcity of provisions in the army.—Congress and the President. | [140] | |
| [CHAPTER XXXVI.] | ||
| Attempt to capture Richmond.—Governor Vance and Judge Pearson.—Preparations to blow up the “Libby”prisoners.—Letter from General Lee.—Proposal to execute Dahlgren’s raiders.—General Butler on the EasternShore.—Colonel Dahlgren’s body.—Destitution of the army.—Strength of the Southwestern army.—Destitution ofmy family.—Protest from South Carolina.—Difficulty with P. Milmo & Co.—Hon. J. W. Wall. | [162] | |
| [CHAPTER XXXVII.] | ||
| Return of Mr. Ould and Capt. Hatch from Fortress Monroe.—Quarrel between Mr. Memminger and Mr.Seddon.—Famine.—A victory in Louisiana.—Vice-President Stephens’s speech.—Victory of Gen. Forrest.—Captureof Plymouth, N. C.—Gen. Lee’s bill of fare. | [179] | |
| [CHAPTER XXXVIII.] | ||
| Dispatch from Gen. J. E. Johnston.—Dispatch from Gen. Lee.—Mr. Saulsbury’s resolution in the U. S.Senate.—Progress of the enemy.—Rumored preparations for the flight of the President.—Wrangling of highofficials.—Position of the armies. | [196] | |
| [CHAPTER XXXIX.] | ||
| Beauregard’s plan.—The battle.—Defeat near Staunton.—Fight at Petersburg.—Decisionabout Marylanders.—Beauregard in disgrace.—Dispatch from Gen. J. E. Johnston. | [223] | |
| [CHAPTER XL.] | ||
| Gen. Lee’s dispatch announcing Gen. Hampton’s victory.—Cost of a cup of coffee.—From Gens.Johnston and S. D. Lee.—Gen. Early in Maryland.—Rumored capture of Baltimore.—Letter from Gen.Lee.—Dispatch from Gen. Hood.—Status of the local troops. | [241] | |
| [CHAPTER XLI.] | ||
| From the Northern papers.—Letter from J. Thompson, Canada.—From Mr. McRae, our foreignagent.—Dispatch from Major-Gen. Maury.—“General Order No. 65.”—Battle of Reams’s Station. | [258] | |
| [CHAPTER XLII.] | ||
| The Federal Presidency.—The Chicago Convention.—Fall of Atlanta.—Bureau of Conscription.—FromGen. Hood.—Vice-President Stephens on the situation.—Letter from Mrs. Mendenhall.—Dispatch fromGen. Lee.—Defeat of Gen. Early.—From Gov.Vance.—From Gov. Brown, of Georgia.—Gen. Lee’s indorsement of Col. Moseby.—Hon. Mr. Foote.—Attack on FortGilmer.—Indiscriminate arrest of civilians. | [275] | |
| [CHAPTER XLIII.] | ||
| Attempt to retake Fort Harrison.—A false alarm.—Dispatches from Gen. Lee.—Impressments.—Gen.Butler’s generosity.—Matters in and about the city.—Beverly Tucker’s contract with a New York firm for supplies. | [297] | |
| [CHAPTER XLIV.] | ||
| Proclamation for a day of public worship.—Gov. Allen, of Louisiana.—Letter from Gen.Beauregard.—Departure for Europe.—Congress assembles.—Quarrel between Gens. Kemper and Preston.—Gen.Forrest doing wonders.—Tennessee.—Gen. Johnston on his Georgia campaign.—John Mitchel and SenatorFoote.—Progress of Sherman.—From Gov. Brown, of Georgia.—Capture of Gen. Pryor. | [320] | |
| [CHAPTER XLV.] | ||
| Desertions.—Bragg and Kilpatrick.—Rents.—Gen. Winder’s management of prisoners.—Rumoreddisasters in Tennessee.—Prices.—Progress of Sherman.—Around Richmond.—Capture of Fort McAlister.—Rumoreddeath of the President.—Yankee line of spies.—From Wilmington and Charleston.—Evacuation of Savannah. | [343] | |
| [CHAPTER XLVI.] | ||
| Waning confidence in the President.—Blockade-running.—From the South.—Beauregard onSherman.—The expeditions against Wilmington.—Return of Mr. Pollard.—The Blairs in Richmond.—Arrest ofHon. H. S. Foote.—Fall of Fort Fisher.—Views of Gen. Cobb.—Dismal.—Casualties of thewar.—Peace commissioners for Washington. | [371] | |
| [CHAPTER XLVII.] | ||
| Gen. Lee appointed General-in-Chief.—Progress of Sherman.—The markets.—Letter from Gen.Butler.—Return of the peace commissioners.—The situation.—From Gen. Lee.—Use of negroes assoldiers.—Patriotism of the women.—Pardon of deserters.—The passport system.—Oh for peace!—Gen.Lee on negro soldiers.—Conventions in Georgia and Mississippi. | [405] | |
| [CHAPTER XLVIII.] | ||
| From the North.—Rumored defeat of Gen. Early.—Panic among officials.—Moving thearchives.—Lincoln’s inaugural.—Victory in North Carolina.—Rumored treaty with France.—Sheridan’smovements.—Letter from Lord John Russell.—Sherman’s progress.—Desperate condition of the government.—Disagreementbetween the President and Congress.—Development of Grant’s combination.—Assault at Hare’s Hill.—Departure of Mrs.President Davis. | [436] | |
| [CHAPTER XLIX.] | ||
| Rumors of battles.—Excitement in the churches.—The South Side Road captured by the enemy.—Evacuationof Richmond.—Surrender of Gen. Lee.—Occupation of Richmond by Federal forces.—Address to the people of Virginia byJ. A. Campbell and others.—Assassination of President Lincoln. | [464] | |
A REBEL WAR CLERK’S DIARY.
CHAPTER I.
My flight from the North and escape into Virginia.—Revolutionary scene at Richmond.—The Union Convention passes the Ordinance of Secession.—Great excitement prevails in the South.
April 8th, 1861. Burlington, New Jersey.—The expedition sails to-day from New York. Its purpose is to reduce Fort Moultrie, Charleston harbor, and relieve Fort Sumter, invested by the Confederate forces. Southern born, and editor of the Southern Monitor, there seems to be no alternative but to depart immediately. For years the Southern Monitor, Philadelphia, whose motto was “The Union as it was, the Constitution as it is,” has foreseen and foretold the resistance of the Southern States, in the event of the success of a sectional party inimical to the institution of African slavery, upon which the welfare and existence of the Southern people seem to depend. And I must depart immediately; for I well know that the first gun fired at Fort Sumter will be the signal for an outburst of ungovernable fury, and I should be seized and thrown into prison.