Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 28.djvu/294

 288 Southern Historical Society Papers.

Norfolk, I should feel like shouting to-night. I am satisfied that General Scott will make no attack on Virginia.

May 10 Would to God that I could infuse some of my restless energy into these executive departments. They move too slowly for me.

Mr. Hunter came last night. He speaks hopefully but urges strongly that we move the government at once to Virginia. He says Letcher is an imbecile with but half a heart in this cause, and this government must be where it can overlook him.

May ii. There are strong anticipations of an attack on Virginia in the next ten days. This we think is one reason of Scott's con- centration of troops at Washington. The points of attack will be Harper's Ferry or Norfolk. He cannot and dare not attack Rich- mond. Congress passed a resolution to day to adjourn on the 2oth and to meet again on July 2oth in Richmond. But this was done in secret session and .you must keep it closely to yourself.

There was no application for the Commissary department so the secretary asked us to make recommendations to him. In view of the breaking up of the college, Howell and I at a venture put in Rutherford's name. To my surprise I hear this morning that he is appointed and his commission sent to Savannah. He ranks as Captain.

May 15. I am more and more satisfied that old Scott is afraid to attack us and is looking for an attack on Washington. Frank Bar- tow leaves to-morrow. Everybody is preparing to take the field.

May 1 6. Governor Brown is interfering again. He refuses to allow any volunteer companies to take their arms out of Georgia unless they are first accepted by him.

Richmond, Va., July 21, 1861. Nobody here fears anything from an approach of the enemy. Beauregard has plenty of men to repe them.

Rumor says President Davis went to Manassas to-day. The sol- diers are pouring in here. I came from Petersburg with 600 and left 2000 waiting for cars to come in.

July 22. The telegraph has informed you of our victory and our loss. For myself the former is swallowed up in the latter. Poor Bartow is gone. In the last interview I had with him he seemed deeply impressed with the conviction that he should fall in the first engagement. I tried to remove it from his mind, but he reiterated it to the last. His wife is in this house, but her brother has concealed the fact from her to this time. We have no particulars of the mode