Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Sunday, 15th—We landed at the little town of Providence, Missouri, about sunup and experienced our first day’s march after the “secesh.” It was a delightful day. The few belated grasshoppers and crickets which escaped the cold spells were singing their farewell songs. We were all awake and keyed to the highest pitch, felt prepared to meet ten thousand “secesh” at any moment. A detail of cavalry was leading the way, and when at times our marching was delayed, each man anxiously wanting to know the cause, would peer forward over the shoulder of his file leader; but there was nothing to see.

At noon we stacked arms and ate our first lunch upon a march, and in the “secesh’s” country at that. Here we rested about two hours, until the cavalry returned. They reported that there was not a “secesh” to be seen in that part of the country, and I guess all heaved a sigh of relief in the thought that there would be no fighting today. We were ten miles out from our landing. Hastening our return march, we reached our boat at sundown, and boarding it, proceeded up the river.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1861.

Pleasant as ever today and the nights are now brilliant with a full moon and clear atmosphere. The Military Band in our vicinity performs almost every night an hour or two, discoursing most splendid music last night. They were Seranading Com Wilkes, the Captor of Slidel & Mason. I did not go out to Church, family went. Both the Lincoln boys were here this afternoon looking over the pictures with Bud & Holly. They are evidently not kept on Sundays with puritan Strictness. They like to come here and feel quite “free and easy” with our boys. Went down town this evening, called at Charleys an hour.

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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 15th.—The first echo of the San Jacinto’s guns in England reverberated to the United States, and produced a profound sensation. The people had made up their minds John Bull would acquiesce in the seizure, and not say a word about it; or they affected to think so; and the cry of anger which has resounded through the land, and the unmistakable tone of the British press, at once surprise, and irritate, and disappoint them. The American journals, nevertheless, pretend to think it is a mere vulgar excitement, and that the press is “only indulging in its habitual bluster.”

Camp Union, Fayetteville, Virginia,
December 15, 1861.

Dear Uncle: — I have often wished since I have been in Virginia that you were well enough to come and spend a few weeks with me. I have never wished it more than now. I am quartered alone in a pleasant cottage house, with plenty to run and do whatever I want done. The weather is lovely. We are drilling our men, building forts, etc., etc., and are undisturbed by the world. The people hereabouts, many of them fresh from the Rebel armies, come in, take the oath, and really behave as if they were sick of it, and wanted to stop. Nothing but ill luck, or a great lack of energy, will prevent our wiping out the Rebellion, The common people of this region want to get back to coffee and salt and sugar, etc., etc., none of which articles can now be got through whole extensive districts of country.

If nothing occurs to prevent, I shall come home in January for thirty days. Will visit you at Fremont, if you do not happen to be in Cincinnati or Columbus….

Good-bye,

R. B. Hayes.

S. Birchard.

Camp Union, Fayetteville, Virginia. Sunday, December 15. — Another fine day. Had a review this morning — fine spectacle. Received a letter from Dr. Joe, dated 10th, last night. All well at home. Lucy looking for her troubles to be over soon. Dear Lute! I hope she will get on well. Some fleecy clouds in the sky; the good weather must end soon.

DECEMBER 15TH.—The President’s private secretary, Capt. Josselyn, was in to-day. He had no news.

Winchester, December 15, 1861.

Life in camp is generally dull with me, and I feel especially dull to-day. I have sometimes had a job, such as road-making at Centreville or my late excursion to the Potomac, which kept me busy enough; but these only happen now and then, and but for them my life would be idle enough, I am sure. When here in camp it really seems that I have no way of employing myself. I sometimes think I would prefer a more active campaign, winter as it is. With my stock of bed-clothes I think I could sleep quite comfortably even at this season in a fence corner, but it would not be so comfortable to the soldiers, who are not so well provided with such means of a comfortable night’s rest. If the weather continues open and the cold not too severe, I think it possible we may have some activity in our operations this winter. But of this no one can speak with any certainty but Jackson, and even he with but little, as his operations depend upon contingencies over which he has no control.

I sometimes look to the future with much despondency. I think most of our volunteers will quit the service when their year expires, and the news I get from Rockbridge gives me but little reason to hope that many more will volunteer to fill the places thus made vacant in our army. If they come at all, I fear it will be by compulsion. I fear there are more who are disposed to speculate off our present troubles, and turn them to pecuniary profit, than there are to sacrifice personal comfort and pecuniary interest and risk life itself for the promotion of our cause. My judgment dictates to me to pursue the path which I believe to be right, and to trust that the good deed may meet with its just reward. Nothing else could induce me to bear this sad separation from my darling wife and dear little children. This distresses me. I care nothing for the exposure and hardships of the service. But, Love, I should be more cheerful, and if sometimes oppressed with a feeling of sadness, should try to suppress it from you; for I should try and detract nothing from your happiness, which I fear I do in writing in so sad a strain.

And now, Love, good-bye. I shall be glad indeed to hear that you are out of your bed, and happier still to know, by a letter in your familiar hand, that you are nearly well and out of danger. When the winter sets in so cold that there can be no possible use for my services here, I shall try and get leave to spend a week with you at home. I don’t think that snow can keep off much longer.

December 15.—This morning before daylight, a group attached to the pickets of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania regiment wanting to come over from the Virginia shore, opposite Berlin, Md., thirteen men of Company N were sent over in a boat, when two companies of rebels, in all about one hundred and twenty strong, sprang from an ambush and surrounded them. The men fought gallantly and cut their way through to their boat, while many of their comrades gathered on the opposite bank and caused the rebels to retreat. The Nationals killed two of the enemy and wounded five, and had one wounded and two taken prisoners.—Baltimore American, December 17.

—A despatch from Rolla, Mo., of this date, says: Several citizens of Arkansas have reached here during the past week, and enlisted in the Arkansas Company, under Captain Ware, late member of the Legislature from that State. These men say there was a Union society in Izard, Fulton, Independent, and Searcey counties, numbering two thousand five hundred men, which could have made an organized stand in two weeks more, but it was betrayed by a recreant member and broken up and scattered. Many of these Union men have been arrested and taken to Little Rock; some have been hanged, and a large number are now in the woods trying to effect their escape from the State.

—A portion of the town of Platte City, Mo., including the Court House and Post-office, was destroyed by fire. It was set on fire about one o’clock by some rebels, but suppressed by the troops under Col. Morgan. At four o’clock it was again successfully fired. The county records were saved, but the contents and office were destroyed. Many arrests were made, including some of Si. Gordon’s guerilla band and one of Price’s captains. — Cincinnati Gazette, December 18.

—The Forty-second regiment of Ohio Volunteers, commanded by Col. J. A. Garfield, left Damp Chase, at Columbus, for the seat of war n Kentucky.—Louisville Journal, Dec. 17.