Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-10-05
=. =. .
CURIOUS. CUB! Us DIARY !. OF a
REBEL MAR CLERK.
Frank Fra; Comment by John 3. Jones,
a Former Philadelphia
Tho OEca OF ATS Paper. nc Southern
Monitor. In this CITY. Was sacked
"; by Unionts,s- Extracts From His
Interesting Dn.ry.
(Philadelphia Public Ledger.)

lgi'4f6f NPnliadelph1a Pubic IedEer.)
One of the curious relics Of the Civil
& War is the diary OF one John B. Jones.
who was a clerk in the Confederate
War Department from Its beginning to
the evacuation of Richmond. He was
\ man of some literary talent. and pre-
& ytous to the Rebellion had written a
work called wild Western Scenes"
which had taken we'll with the reading
public. He was a Virginian by birth
s and q vindictive pro-slavery, Southern
rights man.
The career of this Jones is partIcu-
larly interesting to Public Ledger read
Y ers, for the reason that, just prior to
the outbreak Of the Rebellion, he had
been publishing in Philadelphia a rab-
ID secession paper, called the Southern
Monitor Having made himself obnox-
tous to our Union-loving people, the
town became too hot to hold Jones. and
on the 9th of April, 1861, he suddenly
departed for Virginia, leaving his wife
and property to take care of themselves.
Soon after the fall Of Sumter his office
was sacked by an infuriated mob Of
unionists, but his family was permitted
to depart in peace. Jones thus became
q martyr to- the Southern cause, and,
having clerical ability, was soon after
authorities.
AN INSIDE VIEW.
IN this capacity lie came in contact
with all the military officials of the
Rebel government, from the President
down. Fills opportunities for observa-
tion We're, therefore, very great and he
Kept diary covering the entire period
Of the war. 1t is n remarkable colec-
tion of data. which are good, bad and
Indifferent. When free from his sec
tional prejudices he could view passing
events with a discerning eye and cor
rect judgment. The politics of the
bureaus, the perpetual struggle for
place and power, the cabnlngs and con-
IN at,,a ~
commanding generals and other off,
Gals are day by day vividly protrayed
IN this Jones diary. From first to last
Jones appears to have been pretty much
was an envious, jealous man, and many
OF his emanntions are doubtless born
OF Dure malice, which casts n doubt
upon the candor Of the whole. Never
fheless,. much of II is valuable and
truthful. and has been OF great service
to historians.
"A YANKEE Halter.
Every page Of it Is rcplcte with in
terest; his pen was that of n free
lance. and his criticisms caustic and
sometimes racy. III the secret recesscs
of his closet there was nobody to make
him afraid and nothing to restrain his
rancor or hatreds. His dislike of Yam
KEGS Mt the outset was something won
derful, but as the war progressed and
the ultimate" result began to be more
and more plain from day to day,
Jones, by degrees, let up on the Yam
KEGS. at the same time his dlssatis-
faction with the Confederate admins
tration. both civil and military, In
creased In proportionate ratio. In fact,
Jones was something of time server,
IL we do not ymlsread his diary.
THE VERSATILE JONES.
Immediately after the war Jones
diary was printed, under the title, "a
tnf.trt
greedily sought after by the reading
public and Is but little known Strange
TO relate. the irrepressible Jones turned
UP as an Office holder in Washington
afterwards. a ninion OF the tyrannous
Rcpubllcans whom he had so bitterly
denounced before and during the war.
Here are few extracts from this
Jones dairy, which give clear ex-
position Of Confederate affairs during
the last month Of its existence and the
last days in Richmond These extracts.
not continuous but picked out haphaz-
ard are fair indica ton of the scope
OF the entire diary:
March 1.-THE papers contain no war
news Whatever, yet there is great
activity in the army.
The Presidents Message, for the COM
pIetion Of WI ich Congress was desired
tc--enain. has hecn- sent In -sas.s
inc capital was never In such danger
before. and shows that, without pro-
dlg!ous effort and perfect cooperation
of all branches of the Government, the
cause is lost. and we shall have negro
Garrisons to keep us in subjecLion COM
manded by Northern officers
General Hood is here on crutches. at
tracing no attention. for he was not
successful
Judge Campbell. Assistant Secretary
OF War;. said to Mr.. Wattles. clerk,
to-day that we were now arrived at the
last days Of the Confederacy.
March 16-CInuds and enneb;no.
warm. Splendid rainbow last evening.
p. NIT. Is ascertained that Sheri-
dan has Withdrawn to the York river.
and abandoned any attempt on Rich
mord
March live shall have a. negro
army. 1t is the desperate remedy for n
very. desperate case-and may be suc-
cessful.
March 1s.--It Is rumored that Raj
eish has fal1en
The President. it is understood. IA
vors great and decisive battle.
MRS. DAVIS NOT POPULAR.
March 19.-And Mrs. Davis has be-
& come unpopular with the ladies belong
\ Ing to the old families. Her father Mr..
Nt1owell, 1t is said, was of low origin,
and this is quite enough to disgust
others of high BIRTH" but yet occu-
plying less exalted positions
Yesterday bacon was selling at 500
per pound and meal at s10i per bushel.
II Sherman cuts the communications
with North Carolina, no one doubts
that city must be abandoned by Lees
army-and yet 1t may not be SO If dill
gent search be made for food.
March 2O-Cannon heard, quite brisk
ly, south OF the city.
Congress adjourned sine die on Satur-
II day, without .DasSinp tho man c,,roo ~