Produced by Suzanne Shell, Stephanie Eason, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. A REBEL WAR CLERK'S DIARY AT THE CONFEDERATE STATES CAPITAL. BY J. B. JONES, CLERK IN THE WAR DEPARTMENT OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES GOVERNMENT; AUTHOR OF "WILD WESTERN SCENES," ETC. ETC. VOLS. I and II. PHILADELPHIA: J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO. 1866. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. PREFACE. This Diary was written with the knowledge of the President and the Secretary of War. I informed them of it by note. They did not deprecate criticism on their official conduct; for they allowed me still to execute the functions of a very important position in the Government until the end of its career. My discriminating friends will understand why I accepted the poor title of a clerkship, after having declined the _Chargeship_ to Naples, tendered by Mr. Calhoun during the administration of President Polk. J. B. J. ONANCOCK, Accomac Co., Va., _March_, 1866. CONTENTS. VOLUME I. 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. 13 CHAPTER II. Depart for Montgomery.--Interview with President Davis.-- My position in the Government.--Government removed 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.--Toombs commissioned.-- Hunter Secretary of State.--Duel prevented.--Col. B. Secretary for a few hours.--Gen. Garnett killed.--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 correct army list of the C. S.-- Appearance of the "Plug Uglies."--President's rupture with Beauregard.--President sick.--Alien enemies ordered away.-- Brief interview with the President.--"Immediate."--Large numbers of 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 to us.--Walker resigns.-- Benjamin succeeds.--Col. J. A. Washington killed.--Assigned, temporarily, to the head of the passport office. 77 CHAPTER VII.