The first formal indictment brought against Mr. Jefferson Davis for
incapacity by the Confederates whom he ruled for four years has been published in Harper's Magazine by Colonel Jordan, formerly chief of General Beauregard's staff. It is evidently written in the interests of General Beauregard, and does not produce on the mind,—either from defective statement or more substantial deficiencies,—any profound conviction. No doubt some of the charges are formidable enough,—that he appointed simply from a motive of personal friendship a thoroughly-bad Commissary-General, who kept the army at Bull Run with no more than one day's provisions, so rendering it impossible for its generals to use their victory,—that he interfered, and interfered ignorantly, with military matters, ordering more than once opera- tions on divergent lines by bodies of troops that it was essential to keep together, —that he thwarted the military administration of his generals, and so forth. It may be all true, —it is certain that he made a fearful blunder in substituting Hood for John- ston at Atlanta,—but Colonel Jordan is evidently an advocate for one of the most showy and boastful of the Southern generals, and does not therefore inspire conviction. Did General Lee ever com- plain in like manner of his chief? If so, it would be good evidence. If not, we need not set much store by the complaints of Beauregard.
