Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-09

away with Terry. Said God bless you
Letters from home. Showing.
Wednesday. January 4.-Nichols got up
first time he was understanding un-
heard Of before. Very busy all day with
ciphers. Col. Dodge making arrangements
with Col. Webster, quartermaster at Fort
Monroe. In cipher. for Terry's expedition.
Tom Morrison and Loucks, operators, over
from the Petersburg front to see me. We
bunk them for the night. Mail not in yet,
1O.45 pm.
Thursday. January ,5.-Gen. Butler went
to Fort Monroe. Letter from John. He is
tired OF Fort Monroe: has worked there
three times during the war; wants to be at
the front. Beat Nichols at chess. giving him
rock odds. Gave Morrison $245 to send
per express from City Point to Philadelphia
for clothes for operators. Gave Huyck.
one of my operators here, SIS for our mess
making SO have advanced. Application
from D.. He won't suit for the military
telegraph. Wrote John and home.
Rumor Of Richmond's Evacuation.
Friday. January 6.-Raining all day; roads
impossible. The sacred soil'' and water
mixed together make the worst mud on
earth. Fierce cannonadin& toward Peters
burg. The result not yet apparent. Apple
baugh reports to me by wire that IAN
actor just escaped from Richmond says
the confederates are eyacuating that
place" Exceedingly improbable, but not
altogether impossible. Gen. Butler not yet
returned. Wrote Sister Lizzie
Saturday, January Rode over the line
to Fort Burnham. Letter from Chandler
today; very favorable for John. Letter
from John. Answered. inclosing Chambers.
and advising to stay at Fort Monroe. which
is safe II monotonous. Letter from Brother
James at Portsmouth and one from Joe
Wilson. our old mounted messenger of the
18th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Answered
BOTH. Mail late.
hath an end! The feared. the hated, the re-
spected, the renowned Maj Gen. Benjamin
F. Butler is relieved as commander of the
Army Of the James, and is ordered to re-
port by letter from Lowell Mass. He left
today. and thus his play is ended and thus
he is shuffied off the stage. The admins
tration has no further use for him. and Is
forced by the popular voice to depose him.
but he may appear again. l know him
we'll. and can safely say. 1.-The devil Is not
as black as he is painted" He has been
very kind to me. Gen. Ord succeeds him.
Monday, January 9.-Gen. Ord up to see
me. He Is very particular In matter of de-
tall
Received cipher from Gen. Grant, which
may change our base very materially. 1t
is bold idea. but one which have often
thought of. If undertaken it will cost
many a gallant fellow his life. (This re-
ferred to assaulting Fort Fisher and the
impending North Carolina campaign.
Some talk of Rosecrans assuming COM
mand Of this army (of the James,, under
Grant. Ten confederate deserters in to-
day. 8. Holbrook operator. reported for
duty: have ordered him to Point of Rocks
station. He has been in the corps since
November 10, "a. Received letter to go
to Richmond from George B. Cowlam. our
brave boy of the Monitor and Merrimac
day at Newport News. Letter from John.
Rebel ram Just sent shell very close to
US.
Trouble in James River Cable.
Tuesday, January 10.-Raining all day.
Roads impossible. Line down. I fear
trouble in James river cable. Williams left.
M absent without leave: reprimanded
him. Richmond papers say great fire at
Charlotte, N. c., and heavy loss Of their