December 17th.–Warm and cloudy.
Quiet below.
The President was reported better, yesterday, to my wife, who called.
It is said Gen. Cooper, R. Ould, etc. etc. have never taken their compensation in Confederate States Treasury notes, hoping at a future day (which may not come) to draw specie or its equivalent!
It was reported on the streets, to-day, that the President was dead. He is much better; and will probably be at his office today.
The following telegram was sent over by the President this morning:
“Savannah, Ga., December 16th, 1864.–Sherman has secured a water base, and Foster, who is already nearly on my communications, can be safely and expeditiously reinforced. Unless assured that force sufficient to keep open my communications can be sent me, I shall be compelled to evacuate Savannah.–W. J. Harder, Lieut.-Gen.”
Alas for President Davis’s government! It is now in a painful strait. If reinforcements be sent from here, both Savannah and Richmond may fall. Gen. Bragg will be crucified by the enemies of the President, for staying at Augusta while Sherman made his triumphant march through Georgia; and the President’s party will make Beauregard the scape-goat, for staying at Charleston– for sending Hood North–which I am inclined to think he did not do, but the government itself.
Capt. Weiniger (government clothing warehouse) employs about 4000 females on soldiers’ clothes.
Some people still believe the President is dead, and that it is attempted to conceal his death by saying he is better, etc. I saw his indorsements on papers, to-day, dated the 15th, day before yesterday, and it was a bold hand. I am inclined almost to believe he has not been sick at all! His death would excite sympathy: and now his enemies are assailing him bitterly, attributing all our misfortunes to his incompetence, etc. etc.