.OTc.MTA0

No 5

Diary continued.  October 4th, Saturday 1861.
There is intelligence to-day of the capture of the
transport steamer Fanny near Roanoke
Island by Capt. Lynch (of Dead Sea Expedition
with 3 small steamers.  The Fanny had on board
2 rifled cannon, 1000 overcoats & other supplies.
43 prisoners were captured. A report that
the enemy had crossed the Potomac 10.000
in number to attack the battery at Occoquan
turns out to be unfounded.  The weather
is very warm.  Mrs Davis wife of the President
& Mrs Johnston wife of General Johnston
were thrown hurt by the upsetting of
a carriage on a declivity near Richmond.
Mrs Johnston had her wrist broken. Mrs
Davis was bruised:  she is enceinte.  Pres.
Davis has returned to Richmond.  Mr Benjamin
is now acting Secy of War & it is thought
will be appointed to fill the place.  Bishop
Polk, Gen Adjutant General Cooper are
also spoken of as suitable.  Some of the
admirers of Govr. Wise are recommending
him for the post.  There is only one Lithographer
in Richmond.  Besides it is almost impossible to
obtain lithographic stones or presses, or paper
for that sort of printing.
Oct. 7th(.Monday) 1861.  A company of Alabama
cavalry quartered at the Poplar Camp
it is said is going to remain here for 2 or
3 weeks.  A carpenter engaged in raising a
flag staff on the Lawn fell from it about
half way up & remains insensible: his name is
Ryder & it is probable that he will die
from the fall.  The weather continues warm
uncommonly so for this season of the year.
A passenger from Richmond reports that
500 sick soldiers arrived there to-day
from Manassas: the most of them conva-
-lescent: no new cases in the camp.
The sending away the sick may be an
indication of an approaching battle.  The
delay of the Confederate army from July 21st
to the present time may have been for the
[p??poned] effectually blockading the Potomac
river.  This it is said has now been effected.
If the Confederates cross the Potomac, besides the
difficulty & danger of crossing a river in the
face of a formidable enemy, it would be
necessary to divide the army of N taking
part across & leaving part to prevent an
onward movement to Richmond.  In that
case there would be a danger of the
enemy’s whole army thinking at a part
of ours.  But should the Confederates
march upon Baltimore A there can be
no doubt but that the Federals would
march a part of the Washington army
in defence of Baltimore, so that both
armies would then be divided.  In case
the Confederates should invade Maryland
how many Marylanders would join
them?  & how many could find arms?
In the meanwhile the bulk of the federal
forces are kept at Washington on the
defensive at enormous expense & the
confederates are making headway by
vigorous movements in Missouri & Kentucky.
      In North West Virginia, Lee, Loring & Floyd
have combined their forces & are within
a mile of Rosecranzs camp.  It appears
a close-matched game.  It is probable
that Lee will beat the enemy back
eventually. Genl Jackson a Georgian has repulsed
Reynolds in that region.  A letter of Prince
Napoleon says that Beauregards fr ancestors
removing 150 years ago from Canada
to [Lorins?] and abjured the Protestant faith
& have been he & his family are now of the
Romish church.  The Prince speaks very
favorably of Beauregard & Joseph Johnston,
& of the Southern cavalry as numerous &
admirable in men &  horses.  Mr L--
this afternoon conducted me through
the apartments of his large tobacco
factory with its costly [?umes], water &
gas fixtures, ovens, sweating room &c &c.
He is about discharging all his hands
& shutting up the factory.  He has on hand
a large quantity of manufactured tobo. in
boxes & ships in hogsheads.  He had $12000
dollars worth of tobo captured in the
Hiawatha: $8000 dollars worth of it bound
destined for C Australia.
Oct. 8th. 1861.  Tuesday.  Last night it rained
very hard, with high winds.  To-day the
streets are muddy & the air much cooler.
There is a dispatch to-day giving an
account of the driving the Yankees from
Roanoke Island or somewhere in that
neighbourhood.  One of the pursuers fell
dead from exhaustion.  The man who
fell from the flag-staff—some 30 feet
high—remains still insensible. This
afternoon the Confederate flag was raised
on a flag-staff about 100 feet high
of a [hickory?]. The companies present were
the Alabama Cane—broke Legion
of cavalry without swords, the Petersburg
Home Guard cavalry: the cockade cadets
& Independent Guard Capt. Platt.
N[?] Capt. P delivered a short speech
on the occasion. It was a fine evening
no dust, cool air, plenty of breeze to
expand the new flag: there was quite
a crowd present but mostly of the
females & children. The bulk of the
men of Petersburg are in the army.
There are about 40 patients at
the Fair Grounds Hospital. The Alabama
cavalry company is ordered to leave here
tomorrow morning for Richmond. They
say that the horses had had nothing
to eat for 24 hours when they reached
Petersburg. Some of the men were
are said to have behaved in a disorderly
manner. There are doubtless lewd
fellows of the baser sort in most
companies. According to the papers
to-day, Fremont is ordered to Washington
to be tried by a court martial on charges
made by Blair. Wool is to go to attend the
court martial. Mansfield meantime
takes command at Fortress Monroe.
The frequent changes among the
U. S. officers argue an unstable government
internal dissensions & a sinking desparate
condition of affairs. A Prussian prince
with a queer name has joined the U.S.
army. Russell the correspondent of the
London Times has been fined $30 in Illinois
for shooting (probably at Hairichens) on
Sunday. Price the general who has captured
Mulligan's forces at Lexington was is
a Virginian by birth, was distinguished
in the Mexican War: has been in ˆthe Congress,
govr of Missouri &c. Major General and
commander-in-chief of all the forces
of Missouri: fought bravely in the battle
of Oak-hill. He appears to be carrying
every thing before him in Missouri:
vires acquirit eundo. At Lexington
he made use of moveable breast-works
of bales of hemp, which they pushed
on before them: Gen. Price says that
they answered as good a purpose as the
cotton bales at N. Orleans: but there
were no breast-works of cotton bales in
the battle of N. Orleans. J. C. Breckenridge
has made a speech at Knowville East. Tennessee.
Wednesday Oct. 9th, 1861. A cloudy drizly
day: cool enough for fire. Ryder who fell
from the flag-staff on Poplar Lawn after lying
insensible from the time of the fall died this
morning. He undertook to climb the staff &
when about 30 feet from the base
cried out "I must come down" and
immediately fell – no bone was broken.
He leaves a widow who has several children
by a former marriage. The Fanny lately captured
on coast of Nth Carolina is a fine boat.
She had on board 3 rifled cannon, several
thousand blankets, besides arms, ammunition
& a large quantity of provisions. The Indiana
next encamped on Roanoke Island
was pursued by our people for 22 miles,
& made their escape to Fort Hatteras losing
their camp equipage & about 40 prisoners.
Nobody hurt on either side. The Richmond
Dispatch has a sensible editorial on the
folly & impolicy of calling the enemy cowards
on all occasions thereby taking away all
credit from our soldiers in defeating
them. The truth is they fight well &
would fight far better in a better cause.
It is said that our people are preparing
Some new kind of rockets to frighten
cavalry horses & do other damage. N A
Norfolk letter-writer in the Express says
that old Wool was taken from Fortress
Monroe on a litter – So drunk that he
knew not what was going on. Mansfield
who succeeds him temporarily is said
to be an excellent officer. He is of the
Engineer Corps. His "Life of Scott" is
rather a poor work. Nearly one half of
the Confederate regiments are Said to be
without repr chaplains—not very
creditable to the new government. The
demoralization of camp life is deplorable
Thursday Oct. 10th, 1861. Another cloudy
drizly day: it has turned warmer. The
paper this morning gave an account
of a succesful attack made by the Confed-
-erates at the Pensacola upon a rgt of
Zonares encamped on St Rose Island:
near Pensacola. Saw this evening at the
Southern depot several coffins containing
dead bodies of soldiers. The Richmond
"Whig" speaks of Gen. Price of Missouri as
"the coming man" of the day—the general
who comes up best to the exigency of the
times: it looks upon the general commanding
in Virginia as too slow & "mathematical".
Beauregard has a great reputation: but in
the battle of Manassas—the only one in
which he has figured he appears to have
been out-genˆer-alled & out-flanked: & the
victory was gained not by any profound
combination or skilfull plan, but by
sheer hard fighting. Such, at the least,
appears to be the case; to a superficial
observer. Friday Oct. 11th. Mr George. E. Taylor
State Agent appointed by Gov. Letcher for
collecting arms is in Petersburg on that
business. He has collected a good. The
cockade cadets have to give up their muskets.
All the Home guard companies have to
give them up. The Richmond editors
have nominated a conp??sion an electoral
ticket. It would be better for each
district to nominate it's own elector
& have no ticket. This was doubtless
the original intention of the framers of
the Constitution & the state state
ticket system has been of very bad
effect. The intention of the Constitution
was that the electors should vote
in their discretion for President &
Vice President but according to the
State ticket system as many deputy
Sheriffs would answer the purpose
as all they have to do is to report
the election of the ticket for that settles
the question as to the candidates.
Fuel is scarce & in great demand both
wood & coal. It is true that the
anthracite coal of the North is now
excluded: but for before the war
bituminous coal was carried from
Virginia to the North – probably enough
to balance the anthracite brought
from the North: & a great dial of
wood was former before the war
shipped to the North from Virginia.
charcoal is now only 6 cents a bushel:
last before the war it was 8 cents.
Saturday Oct. 12th. There is a dispatch
telegraphic to-day from Charleston
of the departing of the Nashville
Steamer from Charleston having on
board Commissioners Mason &
Slidell. Capt. Robert Pegram said to
have command of the Steamer: he
was lately stationed at the Navy-yard
& is a native of Petersburg. The Nash
-ville is said to be a very fleet boat &
well armed. Mr W__ of N.C. says that
the Lincolnites who were surprised on
Roanoke Island were looking for a
place of encampment: it was necessary
to attack them on a Sudden: there was
little time for preparation-: but he thinks
it might have been managed better.
Ne Natteras fort is a bad place for a
winter encampment: the sand blows
about & drifts so as to render tents &
even huts uninhabitable. The soldiers
ought to be furnished with corn bread.
They could not make ˆcorn-dumplings as they
do not boil in camp. Peas will be good
for winter use. Small notes & shinplasters
he thinks were necessary in the depreciated
condition of the currency; because if the
small notes if redeemable in specie would
have been presented & the specie sold
at a premium. The sugar which we
get now is better than formerly – because
the Northern refining process abstracted
much of the Saccharum. The caps which
the soldiers wear are bad for the head:
they ought to wear the felt hats. The
volunteers comprise the flower of the
young men of the country: whereas
regulars are casually composed of foreigners
& men of the lower orders. Gen. Jackson
did not use cotton bales for breast works:
a cannon ball would knock a bale
out of place.
I met at the depot this evening Dr. B—
of Ann Arundel County Maryland who
has lately escaped from there & is about
to join the army on the Potomac.  He
thinks that Maryland is ready to
rise against the U.S. government as
soon as Confederate army crosses the
Potomac.  When the Rich Mountain
prisoners lately passed through Baltimore
they were escorted by a crowd of 10,000
who cheered loudly for Jeff Davis.
Two companies of soldiers passed through
Petersburg to-day: the one which I saw
was small in numbers & had no
guns.  Mr V- gave me plates of
the Uniforms of the Confederate army
uncolored.  The book containing them is
for sale in Richmond.  The colored edition
is to be printed in Tan Tennessee & will
not appear in less than 6 months.  Some
of the leading Canadian papers come out
in the strong-terms against the mob govern-
-ment of the U.S. & say that the Confederate
States have justice on their side.
Sunday October 13th, 1861.  The Synod of Virginia
is to meet in Dr Pryor’s church on Tuesday evening
next.  This body will have before it the business
of forming a new ecclesiastical Constitution
conformable to the revolutionized condition
of the Country: The Presbyterian church (of
the U.S.) that was will be dissevered and
a general Assembly will be cal conooked
for the Confederate States.  The church
funds & property will be divided.  Bishop Meade
Johns & Lay & perhaps are also in Petersburg.
Mr S- told me this evening that news
had arrived from New Orleans that the
floating battery there had broken the blockade.
The Merrimac somewhat on the same plan
may shortly try her hand upon the
blockading ships in Hampton Roads.  Fort
Hatteras appears to be to the U.S. forces
like a wolf that a man has by the
ears: he cannot hold him nor can
he let him go with impunity.  Heard
Rev. Mr Taylor a nephew of Gov.  McDowell
preach on a text in Genesis Jacob said
“all these things are against me”?- the
drift of the discourse was on misconstruing
the ways of Providence: Heard in afternoon
sermon at Grace church: did not learn
the name of the preacher. Rev. Mr Gibson
prayed for some persons that have lately
embarked: it was supposed to refer to
the C.S. commissioners &c. that have gone
from Charleston in the Savannah: Mr
G-- prays every Sunday for Mr Guthrie a
member of th his congregation now a prisoner
in Fort Lafayette.
Monday Oct. 14.th Commander Hollins of Confed. States
Navy in the night of 12th [Inst.?] with some steamers
attacking the Blockading fleet at the Passes
in the Mississippi: drove them around &
sunk a sloop of war--at first reported to be
the Preble now said to be the Vincennes.
It is said that the Turtle or Manassas
floating battery sunk the sloop of war
with her steel prow.  The Turtle’s
machinery was damaged by the enemy’s
fire.  The Convention of the Episcopal church
of the Confederate States is to meet
at H Columbia S.C. on to mo the 16th.
It is reported that a rupture has occurred
between D Lyons & the U.S. government
& that he has left Washington.  5 cent
thinplasters have appeared.  The Petersburg
cotton factories h are doing very well:
the tobacco factories are closing up.  Wheat
is from 70 cents to 1.10: Corn 60-65: Cotton
8 ½: shoe thread [3?]. pr lb.  Rio coffee 50¢
adamantine candles. 45-55.
Tuesday Oct. 16th.  It is reported that Seward has
opened D Lyons’ dispatches for England &
on that account his lordship has gone
to Baltimore.  The Enquirer says that
the Nashville is still at Charleston & that
the Commissioners have not sailed from
that port:  but it does day whether they
have sailed from any other port: perhaps
the r report of the Sailing of the Nashville
has a [????] de guerre.  The Synod of Va.
met in Petersburg this evening.  School books
  are very scarce & the prices exhorbitant.
Thursday Oct. 17th. Warm & rainy: Col. Ransom’s
rept. of N.C. cavalry arrived to-day at about
1.o’clock: they went down town & returned
to Poplar Lawn.  There they dismounted and
unsaddled on the East side of the Lawn
& laid their saddles &c on the ground.