The enemy's gun-boats, Monitor, Galena, etc. are at Drewry's
Bluff, eight miles below the city, shelling our batteries, and our batteries
are bravely shelling them. The President rode down to the vicinity this
morning, and observed the firing.
The guns are heard distinctly in the city, and yet there is
no consternation manifested by the people. If the enemy pass the obstructions,
the city will be, it is true, very much at their mercy. They may shell us out of
it, and this may occur any hour. South of the city the enemy have no forces,
and we can find refuge there. I suppose the government would go to Lynchburg. I
shall remain with the army, and see that the tobacco be burnt, at all
hazards, according to law. I have seen some of our generals, and am
convinced that the Baltimore rabble, and those that direct them, will be
suppressed, or exterminated, if they attempt to throw impediments in the way of
our soldiers in the work of destroying the tobacco, as enjoined by Congress.
Our marksmen will keep up an incessant fire into the
port-holes of the gun-boats; and if it be at all practicable, we will board
them. So hope is by no means extinct. But it is apprehended, if the enemy get
within shelling distance of the city, there will be an attack along our lines
by McClellan. We must beat him there, as we could never save our guns, stores,
etc. retreating across the river. And we will beat him, for we have
80,000 men, and more are coming.
Joyful tidings! the gun-boats have been repulsed! A heavy
shot from one of our batteries ranged through the Galena from stem to stern,
making frightful slaughter, and disabling the ship; and the whole fleet turned
about and steamed down the river! We have not lost a dozen men. We breathe
freely; and the government will lose no time in completing the obstructions and
strengthening the batteries.
SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's
Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 125
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