18th.—I am disappointed to-night, and feel sadly. I had almost no letters from home lately. None yesterday, to-day none. To-morrow I hope I shall hear from home, and get news of the returning health of my family, and then feel better. It is very hard to be shut up here, hundreds of miles from those we love most dearly, and during their sickness, can have no hope of getting to see them. I suppose the “necessities of war” demands the sacrifice, and we must submit.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1861.
The weather continues delightful but there are today indications of rain. We have heard all day heavy guns. Some in the distance are the rebel guns at Centreville. They are practicing too. Troops have been moveing about the City a good deal today. We are expecting important news from various quarters, and the public mind is considerably agitated just now. Our forces now appear to be nearly ready to Strike at various points, in Missouri, Kentuckey, and at the South. I have been at home all the evening.
______
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.
A Look through the Camps.
Dec. 18. I have been looking through the camp around here and am astonished at the amount of offal and swill that is buried up and lost instead of being turned to a valuable account. An enterprising farmer could collect from these camps, manure and swill to the value of $100 a day, costing nothing but simply carting it off, thus enriching his land and fattening hundreds of hogs and cattle; but this lack of energy and enterprise prevents these people from turning anything to account. They content themselves with sitting down and finding fault with the government and their more enterprising and energetic neighbors of the north.
December 18 — General Carson, who has command of a militia brigade, came to the battery to-day and stated that he had a picket of twelve men in a mill down the river near Falling Waters, and that the Yankees had placed some artillery in position on the opposite side of the river, and were firing on the mill, and his men were afraid to venture out. He seemed to be very anxious about their safety in their, what he deemed, perilous predicament, and asked Captain Chew to take his battery down and drive the Yankee battery away, and let his picket out.
A few moments after General Carson requested our services found us on the way to Falling Waters, which is about five miles from Dam No. 5. Before we got to the mill that held the captive picket we saw the Yankee artillery in position. They had but one piece in a large field that slopes toward the mill, about half a mile from the river. We opened at a mile distance, with one gun, and fired six rounds. These were the first shots I helped to fire; Heaven only knows where the last ones will be. The enemy hastily left the field after we opened, without making any pretension to return our fire. General Carson came riding up to the field where we were in position, and thanked Captain Chew for the service rendered in rescuing his pickets, and said that his men were certainly very glad to make their escape from what they considered a dangerous situation. This evening we came back to Dam No. 5 and arrived at seven o’clock.
Camp Union, Fayetteville, Virginia, December 18, 1861.
Dearest : — You will think I have nothing to do but to write to you. I can’t let a good chance slip without sending you word that “I am well and doing well and hope, etc.” Sergeant McKinley, an old soldier, or rather I ought to say an experienced soldier, offers so generously to go and see you that I must let him. Birch ought to hear him talk. He has many scars received in battle, and Birt would like to hear about them. He is trusty.
Love to all the boys and ever so much for yourself. I suspect I am getting more anxious about you than the people at home. You must keep up good heart. We shall be together pretty soon again. If we have another little boy, we will have enough for a file in four ranks — which Birtie knows, I suppose, is requisite for a march by the flank. “Companions in battle” they are called. If it is a daughter, why bless you darling, won’t we have a nice family? . . .
This is our fourteenth beautiful day and prospects of more, tell Joe. — Love to all.
Affectionately, dearest, your
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
Fayetteville, Virginia, Camp Union. Wednesday, December 18. — Another fine day. Sergeant John McKinley, Company G, left for Mount Vernon this morning; took a letter to Lucy and a watch to be repaired. He is a character, an erect, neat, prompt old soldier. English of Lancaster, or rather Irish of England, he talks the most profuse flattery, but it does win, fulsome as it is. He does his whole duty. As he left me he said “I want to see that ‘Lieutenant’ from before your name. Every good man should go up.”
Drilled as usual. Weather very warm at evening. “Jeff Davis,” a boy who came into Camp Chase with Company A and who drilled like an old sergeant, though aged but thirteen, returned yesterday from Cleveland.
“The Briars,” December 18.—Sadly negligent of my diary lately. Nothing new has occurred. We pleasantly pursue the even tenor of our way, but are now preparing to go to my brother’s, in Hanover, next week. We have been to “Mountain View” for a couple of days, on a farewell visit to the family. The Bishop has sent his study-carpet to the camp, along with every thing he could possibly spare, for the soldiers’ comfort. He looks cheerfully upon our prospects, and is now listening to “Motley’s Dutch Republic” with “infinite zest.” It is read to him by his daughter-in-law, on these long winter nights. His manner of life is certainly most amiable, as well a^ pleasant to himself and instructive to others.
Newspapers have just come, giving an account of a fight at Cheat Mountain, on the 13th of December, in which we were successful. Rumours also of a fight on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal; and another rumour that England has demanded the restoration of “Mason and Slidell,” and in case of non-compliance with the demand, that Lord Lyons should demand his passports. How ardently I do wish that England would break up the blockade!
DECEMBER 18Th.—Men escaped from the Eastern Shore of Virginia report that Mr. Custis had landed there, and remains quiet.
December 18.—Three companies of the Cameron Dragoons, under Major S. E. Smith, commanded respectively by Capt. Wilson, Company F; Lieut. Stetson, Company H; and Lieut. Hess, Company C, went on a scout on the roads leading to Fairfax Court House and Hunter’s Mills, Va. When within a mile and a half of Fairfax, these three officers, with eight privates, as an advance guard, encountered an equal number of the rebel cavalry. Instantly they gave chase, but the rebels fled, seeking the cover of a wood near by. In the chase they passed through an orchard, when one of the rebels dismounted under an apple tree, and, with his carbine, a five-shooter, rested against a tree and fired three shots at Major Smith. Fortunately none of them took effect. After vainly endeavoring to draw the rebels from the wood, the party rejoined the main body under the direction of the major, and rode to Vienna, and thence to Hunter’s Mills. When near the latter place, Capt. Wilson and Lieut. Stetson discovered a rebel who was endeavoring to make his escape. They dashed off after him and soon returned into camp with him as a prisoner. When introduced to Gen. Hancock, the latter said: “Ah! Vollin, I am glad to see you—we have been looking for you for some time past.” He is said to be a spy, and a most notorious picket murderer.—Philadelphia Press, December 20.
—The United States Marshal Hiram Dunn arrested at St. Albans, Vt., Mrs. Meyer, the wife of a German Jew residing in New York, who had been acting as a messenger between the rebels who congregate in Montreal and the South. She was extremely violent for a few minutes, but found it best to put up with what could not be avoided, and submitted to an examination of her person and trunk by some ladies. The result was the discovery of a package of letters containing important treasonable correspondence.—Burlington Free Press.
—The English journals of this day contain comments upon the Message of President Lincoln to Congress. The document is generally attacked, and comparisons are drawn between it and the one lately emanating from Jeff. Davis—much to its disadvantage, the English newspapers contend. The point made of the President’s silence relative to the Trent affair is that it is indicative of immediate war—-the exceptions to this view being few. It appears to be difficult for the English press to accept any other solution of the Trent difficulty but that of war. The Observer, the Ministerial organ, says that England wishes for peace, but that she will gain by war, as it will enable her to rectify her American frontiers, open the ports of the South, and give a lesson to the United States. A rumor was current that the blocking up of Charleston harbor with stone was likely to lead to difficulty; that England’s warlike preparations would continue in view thereof, and that her demands did not end with the surrender of Mason and Slidell. The war preparations in England continue unabated.
In France the view of the President’s Message was somewhat similar to that held in England. The general opinion appeared to be that war was inevitable. A circular has been, sent by the Emperor to the European Powers, declaring that the arrest of Mason and Slidell is contrary to principles regarded as essential to the security of neutral flags, and stating that the French Government deemed it necessary to submit this opinion to the Cabinet at Washington, in order to determine it to make concessions which the French Government deemed indispensable.
—A Detachment of Gen. Pope’s forces, under command of Col. J. C. Davis and Major Marshall, surprised a rebel camp at Millford, a little north of Warrensburgh, Mo., this afternoon, and, surrounding the enemy, forced them to surrender. Thirteen hundred prisoners, including three colonels, seventeen captains, one thousand stand of arms, one thousand horses, sixty-five wagons, and a large quantity of tents, baggage, and supplies were captured. The Nationals lost two killed and eight wounded.— (Doc. 231.)
—A Reconnoitring expedition, under command of Commander Drayton, U. S. N., left Port Royal, S. C., on the 16th inst., and the next day sailed up the North Edisto River, S. C. On Edisto Island fortifications were discovered, which, on landing, were found to be deserted. The expedition then sailed up a small creek to the town of Rockville, S. C., from which, at about a mile’s distance, was a rebel camp. This camp was unoccupied, and over forty tents were taken possession of, the most valuable part of the camp equipage having been removed by negroes. This morning the expedition ran down to the South Edisto, S. C., and, proceeding up the river, found on Edisto Island some deserted fortifications—the guns having been removed. The expedition then anchored in the North Edisto again.—(Doc. 232.)
—The Common Council of New Haven, Ct, this evening passed resolutions requesting the Governor of the State to cause the immediate construction of fortifications at New Haven harbor. The Governor had authority from the Legislature to establish a depot of arms and ammunition at New Haven.
Wednesday, 18th—The four companies of cavalry that accompanied us up the river (also by boat) went on a scouting expedition yesterday toward the town of Glasgow. They captured and brought in this morning one hundred and fifty-five kegs of powder which they found hid in haystacks. We stored the powder in the hull of our boat, and at 2 p. m. left this place for an all-night run on our return to Jefferson City. But we are quite uneasy for fear of an explosion from our cargo of powder.
