“I am, with great respect,
“Your obed’t servant.”
(Not signed.)
Custis walked with Lieut. Bell last evening a mile from Hanover Junction to the battle-field of last month (just a month ago), and beheld some of the enemy still unburied! They fell very near our breastworks.
July 20th.—Cloudy and warm, but no rain up to 5 p.m. There is no news of importance; but a battle is momentarily expected in Georgia. The Examiner says the President bears malice against Johnston, and embraces an occasion to ruin him at the risk of destroying the country. That he was not allowed the aid of detachments necessary to success, and hence he could not fight; but all aids will he give his successor, Hood, who will be successful. And that this game was played on Johnston in 1862 in Virginia, and when Lee took command, every facility was afforded by the government. In short, Gen. Johnston cannot be vindicated unless our army be destroyed; and if Hood wins a victory, he is ruined. This is an unpleasant predicament for a general.
Planted some cabbage-seeds given me; no plants are for sale.
July 21st.—Clear and warm. Bought fifty cabbage-plants and set them out before breakfast.
Gen. Early met Gen. Hunter at Snicker’s Gap, and whipped him.
All quiet at Petersburg. Grant must be dead, sure enough.
Gen. Bragg left the city some days ago. The following is a verbatim dispatch received from him yesterday:
“Montgomery, Ala., July 19th, 1864.
“Col. J. B. Sale:—The enemy still hold West Point Railroad. Forces are moving forward to dislodge them. Gen. S. D. Lee informs me 5000 (13th Army Corps) passed Vicksburg on the 16th, supposed to be going to White River. Reported Memphis, 19th Army Corps, Franklin left New Orleans on the 4th for Fort Monroe, 13,000 strong. Ought not Taylor’s forces to cross the Mississippi?