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(CONFEDERATE SPY REPORT)

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156. (CONFEDERATE SPY REPORT) JOHN BEAUCHAMP JONES (1810 - 1866) American author who served as the chief clerk for the Confederate Department of War and was the author of A Rebel War Clerk's Diary (1866). A historically significant 2pp. 8vo. A.L.S. "Passport Office", Richmond, Oct.15, 1861 in which J.B. Jones, noted writer of the Civil War classic, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary, informs Jefferson Davis of spy reports of Union movements towards Ball's Bluff! This unusual letter reads, in part: "...I enclose a memorandum furnished by a lady who arrived in this city last night direct from Baltimore...Her information is derived from...a secessionist...whose family is intimate with General Dix's and others in high position...Mrs. C. was entrusted with verbal intelligence, besides the written, which she committed to memory as follows: "It is the purpose of the enemy...to attack the points indicated as nearly simultaneously as possible...the plan is to advance from Washington by throwing General Banks column against Snickersville, not far from Leesburg. At the same time there will be a general advance from Arlington, Alexandria, etc., but the assault from these places is designed to be merely a feint, the serious one at Snickersville..." Six days later, the Battle of Ball's Bluff, also known as the Battle of Leesburg, took place exactly where the spy had predicted it would. Previously it was believed that the Battle of Ball's Bluff, which resulted in a Confederate victory, took place through an accidental meeting of the two armies. However, the intelligence provided here by an unidentified female Confederate spy clearly demonstrates that President Davis knew ahead of time where the Union Army would be concentrating its forces. It is extremely odd that Jones, who was otherwise a stickler for accuracy, wrote in his diary that he had received the spy's report on the 20th of October instead of the 15th...It is possible that Jones made a habit of entering important information in his diary in a manner that would limit its usefulness to the enemy. Jones died almost immediately after the war, having little time to edit or explain his diary entries. His close relationship with President Davis, whose office was directly across from his, and his unique insider's perspective on important decisions in the Confederate government meant that Jones had much to keep secret, inviting speculation that many other entries in his diary conceal the importance of other events of a similar nature. Very good to near fine condition. $1,000-1,500

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