Friday, 6th—Very warm and pleasant. There are soldiers drilling almost all the time. Our drill ground is level but well drained, so that even after a heavy rain it is soon dry again.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Letter from Captain Lyon to Mrs. Lyon.
“Sulphur Springs, Mo., Dec. 6, 1861.—I fear I shall be unable to come home. General Halleck has issued orders that all officers be with their regiments. See Mrs. Eartlett and tell her to hold herself in readiness to come here with you on two days’ notice. The weather is as warm as June.”
6th.—Have received to-day a box of delicacies from the good people of Middletown, Connecticut, for my hospital. It is a great comfort to us to feel that the _____ Regiment is remembered in so many places and by so many good people. The contents are generally in fine order, except that a few of the eatables became saturated by some brandy—the corks in some manner having got out of place. This, however, has not injured them. Indeed, many of the sick boys think thatthe contact of the ” spiritual essence” has rather improved them.
All the talk now is of moving, and if we should not be “put forward” next week, I fear our General will lose prestige with this part of the army.
I have had to forbid one of the female nurses admission to the hospital on account of her improper interference with matters under my supervision. I regret this. She is a capable good nurse, but sometimes some things are just as contagious as others, and she meddled and made trouble. I begin to doubt very much the expediency of having female nurses in field hospitals. They are absolutely necessary in the general hospital, but in the field they are out of place.
We have had time to read and deliberate on the President’s Message. It is not what the soldiers expected, or wished. They had prepared their minds for a real sharp-shooter message, but they think this is a “smooth bore,” and carries neither powder nor ball. They like Secretary Cameron’s talk much better, But new beginners are always impatient to be at it. We may become sobered down before long.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1861.
Pleasant day, fine as could be. The City all alive with people. Penn Ave is thronged from morning till late at night. I was in the office all day. At night went down to the Hotels. Called upon Judge Granger at the “Washington House.” At the “National” met W F Aldrich from Palmyra. Great crowds at all the Hotels. Miss Hartly spent the evening with Julia, her Father called for her at 9 o’clock. No news of importance afloat. Congress adjourned till Monday.
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The three diary manuscript volumes, Washington during the Civil War: The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865, are available online at The Library of Congress.
December 6th.—Mr. Riggs says the paper currency scheme will produce money, and make every man richer. He is a banker, and ought to know; but to my ignorant eye it seems likely to prove most destructive, and I confess, that whatever be the result of this war, I have no desire for the ruin of so many happy communities as have sprung up in the United States. Had it been possible for human beings to employ popular institutions without intrigue and miserable self-seeking, and to be superior to faction and party passion, the condition of parts of the United States must cause regret that an exemption from the usual laws which regulate human nature was not made in America; but the strength of the United States—directed by violent passions, by party interest, and by selfish intrigues—was becoming dangerous to the peace of other nations, and therefore there is an utter want of sympathy with them in their time of trouble. Terrapin soup and canvas-backs, speeches, orations, music, and song, carried the company onwards among the small hours.
I dined with Mr. Gait, at Willard’s, where we had a very pleasant party, in spite of financial dangers.
Friday, December 6. — A warm, bright day. The chaplain returned today; not an agreeable or useful person. He has been absent over two months. I wish he had not returned.
Colonel Scammon gave me a good, long confidential talk. Like all men having some trifling peculiarities which are not pleasant but who are sterling in all important things, he is best liked when best known. He is a gentleman by instinct as well as breeding and is a most warm-hearted, kindly gentleman; and yet many of the men think him the opposite of all this. I must take more pains than I have [taken] to give them just ideas of him.
DECEMBER 6TH.—It is rumored to-day, I know not on what authority, that the President mentioned the matter of the Drainsville disaster to the Secretary of War, and intimated that it was attributed to the machinations of the Union men discharged from prison here. It is said Mr. Benjamin denied it—denied that any such men had been discharged by Gen. Winder, or had been concerned in the affair at all. Of course the President had no alternative but to credit the solemn assertions of his confidential adviser. But my books, and the register of the prisons, would show that the Drainsville prisoners sent hither by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston were discharged by Gen, Winder, and that their expenses home were paid by the government; and officers of unimpeachable veracity are ready to testify that Gen. Stuart was misled by these very men.
Abby Howland Woolsey to Georgeanna and Eliza.
December 6th.
If Mr. Craney thought the bundle of hair was a feather-bed, he will certainly think that the stocking box, when it arrives, is the bedstead following on. . . . Let me describe its contents. In the first place, E’s cheque bought seven dozen and a half pairs of socks. . . . We have added as many more dozen as our own purchase, and friends sent in nearly two dozen knitted ones, so that the whole number is sixteen dozen. The pair of Mackinaw blankets looked like very heavy and handsome ones, from one of Robert’s parishioners. We added two pairs more of less expensive ones, and in the folds of one are a couple of little framed pictures, out of a lot Charley brought down to be sent, but I thought two were enough to run the risk of breakage. . . . Of woolen gloves there are five dozen—Jane’s purchase, etc., etc. . . . Lastly, after the box was all nailed up, came Dorus with a dozen of “country-knit socks” from the store in Friendsville, near where Annie Woolsey lives. We had the middle plank of the box taken off and stuffed them in. . . . It is unpardonable that Wrage’s men, or any men, should be badly off for socks. The dishonest quartermasters are a curse to our army and our cause. . . . Mother thinks the best part of all this is to be able to put the pillows yourselves under the sick men’s heads. What a scene your room must be with its boxes and bags! . . . We are amused to think that you admire the President’s message. . . . What do you think of his muddle about the slavery question? about Government taking slaves at so much a lump for taxes? expatriating a man from the soil he was born on and loves, because he is loyal to the government and of dark complexion.
December 6.—At noon to-day, the Fifth New York regiment, (Zouaves,) under command of Col. Warren, from Federal Hill, made a beautiful parade on the streets of Baltimore, Md. They had returned from Accomac and Westmoreland counties, Va., bringing with them, as aa trophy of their bloodless victory in that section of Virginia, a large rebel flag. The purpose of their parade was to present this flag to General Dix, and they bore it with them in line, Union down. On reaching the vicinity of the head-quarters, on Fayette street, they formed in line, when the flag was delivered to one of General Dix’s aids. At the command of Col. Warren, three cheers were given for General Dix and the Federal Union, with a “tiger,” and in less than three minute the whole ceremonies were over, and the regiment on its way to camp again. The men looked well, and marched well, and evinced that enthusiasm for the National Muse which has always distinguished them.— Baltimore American, December 6.
—A foraging expedition, under command of Gen. George F. Meade, consisting of the Second brigade of Gen. McCall’s division, left Camp Pierpont, Fairfax County, Va., to-day, with a large number of transportation wagons. They saw nothing of the enemy, but obtained from a farm about three miles from Dranseville, on the Leesburg turnpike, Va., a large quantity of wheat, oats, corn, potatoes, brick, and lumber; twenty-seven fat hogs, a pair of fat oxen, a wagon, and seven horses; with all of which they reached their quarters near Langley, Va., about sundown.—Forney’s (Phil.) War Press, December 14.
—A riot occurred at Nashville, Tenn., occasioned by the authorities resorting to drafting for soldiers to supply the rebel army. The boxes used for the purpose were broken up, and during the excitement two persons were killed and several wounded. Governor Harris was forced to keep his room, and was protected from injury by a strong guard.
—This morning, the Seventy-fifth regiment N. Y. S. V., under command of Col. John A. Dodge, left New York for Fort Pickens, Fla., in the steamship Baltic. The regiment was raised and organized in Auburn.
