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

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Post image for “The game now seems to be with the Govt troops and they have only to move to meet with Success, as our soldiers are now up to the fighting pitch.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

“The game now seems to be with the Govt troops and they have only to move to meet with Success, as our soldiers are now up to the fighting pitch.”—Horatio Nelson Taft

December 27, 2011

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.,The American Civil War

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1861.

Rather cooler today and windy this evening. Col Mirrick has been in bed all day and complains of his head very much. I think it originates from a billious stomach, it may be congestion. A fire last night destroyed some Govt Stables and burned up some 150 230 horses. Genl Scott has arrived at N York from France, will be here tomorrow. Nothing new from the army but news expected all the time. The game now seems to be with the Govt troops and they have only to move to meet with Success, as our soldiers are now up to the fighting pitch. They have made up their minds that the War is no holiday affair, and that it is necessary that “somebody” should be “hurt.”

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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.

Post image for Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

December 27, 2011

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Friday, December 27. — A cold and windy but clear morning — good winter weather. It was warm last night until 2 [A. M.], wind veered around from south to north and [it was] cold as blazes (why blazes?). Rode with Major Comly down to Captain McIlrath’s. He preferred remaining in his quarters to a trip to Raleigh. Five companies to be sent to Raleigh to occupy it, — to push further if best to do so.

Drilled in a clear, brisk air. Colonel Scammon is preparing to send to Raleigh in the hope that a party of the enemy at Princeton may be surprised; also that railroad bridges near Newbern may be destroyed.

Harvey Carrington and T. S. Dickson, Company C, complain of Sergeant Keen and Thomas Mason for keeping two hundred and ten dollars won at “Honest John.” They say the agreement was that whatever was lost or won was to be returned and that they played merely to induce others to play. I told them that as they, by their own stories, were stool-pigeons, they were entitled to no sympathy. They admitted that much of the money had been won gaming. I declined to order the money returned to them. I sent for Sergeant Keen and Mason, who denied the story of Carrington and Dickson, but admitted winning the money. I ordered them to pay the money into the company fund of Company C where it will be used to buy gloves and such other comforts as the Government does not furnish for all the company.

Post image for Guarding the railroad.–Alexander G. Downing.

Guarding the railroad.–Alexander G. Downing.

December 27, 2011

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry

Friday, 27th—We went into winter quarters here, and that with the intention of cleaning the “secesh” out of this part of the country. Our company is the only one here, and our captain is in command of the post. There are but few houses in this place, and we are quartered in a vacant storeroom, one-half the company upstairs, the other below. We who are below built our bunks on the counters, one on each side of the room. We keep two picket posts at night, ten men at each post, on the sides where the railroad enters. We also have a day patrol on the railroad.

Post image for The Trent Affair: Seward’s Dispatch to Lord Russell—William Howard Russell’s Diary.

The Trent Affair: Seward’s Dispatch to Lord Russell—William Howard Russell’s Diary.

December 27, 2011

My Diary North and South - William Howard Russell,The American Civil War

December 27th.—This morning Mr. Seward sent in his reply to Lord Russell’s despatch—”grandis et verbosa epistola.” The result destroys my prophecies, for, after all, the Southern Commissioners or Ambassadors are to be given up. Yesterday, indeed, in an under-current of whispers among the desponding friends of the South, there went a rumour that the Government had resolved to yield. What a collapse! What a bitter mortification! I had scarcely finished the perusal of an article in a Washington paper,—which, let it be understood, is an organ of Mr. Lincoln, —stating that “Mason and Slidell would not be surrendered, and assuring the people they need entertain no apprehension of such a dishonourable concession,” when I learned beyond all possibility of doubt, that Mr. Seward had handed in his despatch, placing the Commissioners at the disposal of the British Minister. A copy of the despatch will be published in the National Intelligencer to-morrow morning at an early hour, in time to go to Europe by the steamer which leaves New York.

After dinner, those who were in the secret were amused by hearing the arguments which were started between one or two Americans and some English in the company, in consequence of a positive statement from a gentleman who came in, that Mason and Slidell had been surrendered. I have resolved to go to Boston, being satisfied that a great popular excitement and uprising will, in all probability, take place on the discharge of the Commissioners from Fort Warren. What will my friend, the general, say, who told me yesterday “he would snap his sword, and throw the pieces into the White House, if they were given up?”

Post image for Rebel War Clerk

Rebel War Clerk

December 27, 2011

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 27TH.—Notwithstanding the severe strictures, and the resolution of Congress, there is an increase rather than a diminution of the number of persons going North. Some of our officials seem to think the war is over, or that England will do the balance of our fighting!

Post image for Trent affair. News still travels slow abroad: “He [Seward] can have a war, if he wants one.”–Adams Family Letters, Charles Francis Adams, U.S. Minister to the U.K., to his son, Charles.

Trent affair. News still travels slow abroad: “He [Seward] can have a war, if he wants one.”–Adams Family Letters, Charles Francis Adams, U.S. Minister to the U.K., to his son, Charles.

December 27, 2011

Adams Family Civil War letters; US Minister to the UK and his sons.,The American Civil War

London, December 27, 1861

We watch the progress of events in America by the lurid glare of the passions that burn on this side of the ocean. The last news we have brings the Europa to Cape Race. The next will probably shew us your countenances on receiving the details. I have been so often deceived in my calculations of late that I do not pretend to foresee what the picture will be. You took the affair of the Nashville so amiably that perhaps you will laugh now. I have never before met with an instance so striking of provoking simplicity in a nation. You do not even resort to the most ordinary habit of judging of others by yourselves. Here is all Europe from end to end arrayed in opinion against you, and not a shade of suspicion that you may not be right yet rests upon your brows. Lord Stowell carries the day as if he were your legitimate ruler by the grace of God. It is unlucky for me that I was bred up in declared hostility to the arbitrary dogmas against neutral rights of that impersonation of Anglican egotism, so that I have never partaken of your security. A day or two will show whether the government will prove true to its ancient well-established principles, or whether under the paltry inducement of personal pique it will strike into a new path that will lead it neither to glory nor success. My own convictions still are that it will determine right. Thus far it has not shown a false color as I feared under the first popular impulse that it might. Yet I confess I dread the effect of the pressure to which it may be subjected. The result will soon be upon us. . . .

Apropos of this let me say a word about the notion you still seem to entertain that Mr. Seward means to bring on a war. Thus far I have always maintained that this was a mistake founded on a bad joke of his to the Duke of Newcastle at Governor Morgan’s dinner to the Prince of Wales. The Duke has however succeeded in making everybody in authority here believe it. Lord Lyons and Mr. Sumner have helped on the delusion at home. Yet I have no hesitation in my opinion, neither do I find that Mr. Thurlow Weed, with whom I compare notes, entertains any other. Be it as it may, now will be his chance. He can have a war, if he wants one. He has but to do what the Duke says he told him he meant to do, i.e. insult the British government in his answer, and he will have it to his heart’s content. In my opinion he will do no such thing. But if I am right, I trust that from that time no more reliance will be placed upon a poor pleasantry uttered after a hospitable entertainment, to a mischief-making guest. . . .

The people of Great Britain are just beginning to think that the Queen’s husband, though a German, was something of a person, after all. I am inclined to believe that they have not seen a royal personage equal to him since the days of William the Third. Had he lived the country would have felt more and more the influence of his presence. For parties are in process of disintegration, and personal qualities are growing more important. The old Whig dynasty will die out with Lord Palmerston, and the Tories will scarcely outlive Lord Derby. New issues will take the place of the old ones, just as they have done with us, but I hope for their sakes not to be attended with a similar convulsion. Yet just that is the thing they in their inmost hearts dread, and the poor people fancy they are going to avoid it by means of our calamities.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

December 27, 2011

The American Civil War,The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

December 27.—Intelligence was received at Washington that Col. Canby, in command of the military department of New Mexico, had retaken Forts Craig and Stanton, on the Mesilla birder, driving the Texans away, and was on the way to Fort Fillmore to dispossess the rebels at that post, which was traitorously surrendered by Colonel Lynde to an inferior force of Texans. Thence he intended marching into Arizona to drive off the rebels.—The Legislature of New Mexico met on the 2d of December. Governor Connelly, in his message, recommended active measures with reference to the Indians who had been tampered with by Albert Pike, suggesting that they be located on the reservations, and encouraged in agricultural pursuits. The Indians, for the greater part, were peaceable and friendly to the United States Government.—Philadelphia Press, Dec. 28.

—The burning of buildings near New Market Bridge, Va., by order of Brigadier-General Mansfield, called forth the following order from General Wool:

Headquarters Department Virginia
Fort Monroe, Dec. 26, 1861

General Order No. 50.—The Major-General Commanding the Department regrets to learn that some of our troops recently crossed New Market Bridge and fired some buildings in retaliation for similar acts of vandalism committed by the rebels on the side nearest our encampments. Two wrongs do not make one right, and such conduct is in violation of existing orders, and for which, in this case, there does sot exist the slightest excuse. If the insurgents wish to increase the notoriety which they possess for burning villages and frame houses, and destroying property belonging to their own people, as well as others, it affords an opportunity for our opposite policy to stand out in bold relief, and should not be neglected. The Major-General Commanding would again express his decided disapprobation of such proceedings on the part of our troops. By command of

Major-General Wool.

W. D. Whipple, A. A.-G.

This order was sent to Camp Butler, to be read to all the troops under the command of General Mansfield.

—The rebel privateer Isabel succeeded, after several fruitless attempts, in running the blockade off Charleston, S. C., last night. There were eleven war vessels off the harbor at the time. The gunboat Pocahontas was despatched in pursuit, but without success, the Isabel being far the faster of the two.—N. Y. Herald, Jan. 4, 1862.

—This evening the bridges over the Fabius and North Fabius rivers, Mo., on the Palmyra Railroad, were set on fire by the rebels and destroyed.

—Arthur Rankin, member of the Canadian Parliament, and Colonel of the Union Lancers, deeming further connection with the United States service improper, in view of the complications with England, resigned his commission and returned to Canada.—N. Y. Times, Dec. 29.

—In accordance with orders received from Gen. Halleck, the Provost Marshal-General, at St. Louis, directed that sixteen slaves, confined in St. Louis County jail, and advertised for sale under State statute, be released from prison and placed under control of the Chief Quartermaster of the Department for labor till further orders, said slaves being the property of rebels, and having been used for insurrectionary purposes. The legal condition of the negroes is in nowise changed. They are only set free from confinement, imprisonment, and sale, on the presumption that they are the slaves of rebel masters. General Halleck wishes it understood that this order will not debar any one from enforcing his legal rights to the services of these negroes. Such rights, if any exist, can be enforced through the loyal civil tribunals of the State, whose mandates will always be duly respected. The military authorities of the Department, as military officers, cannot decide upon the rights of property or claims to service except so far as they may be authorized by the laws of war or acts of Congress. When not so authorized they will avoid all interference with such questions. —Philadelphia, Press, Dec. 30.

—Capt. Fry, of Company B, Twentieth regiment, started out from Warsaw, Ky., with a file of men for Eagle Creek, about thirteen miles from the village, having been ordered to arrest Capt. Washington R. Sanders, and break up a company of secessionists, who rendezvoused at his house. When they reached the house of Mr. Sanders he was not to be found. Upon searching the premises a six-pound cannon was found buried, together with six kegs of gunpowder, a quantity of rifles, bowie-knives, pistols, swords, and percussion caps. The arms, and other materials, were taken to Warsaw.—Louisville Journal.

—Alfred Ely, United States Representative from the Rochester district of New York, who was captured by a Smith Carolina company of infantry at the battle of Bull Run, arrived at Washington, D. C., having been released in exchange for C. J. Faulkner, former U. S. Minister to France.—(Doc. 239.)

—A Correspondent of the Richmond Examiner, in a letter dated this day, gives the following account of affairs at the rebel camp in the vicinity of Manassas, Va.:

To-day our whole army is engaged in building log-houses for winter quarters, or in moving to sites already selected. Several brigades will remain where they now are, near the fortifications in Centreville, and the remainder will fall back a mile or two upon Bull Run. General Kirby Smith’s brigade is at Camp Wigfall, to the right of the Orange and Alexandria road, near the Run. Near by the whole of Van Dorn’s division are making themselves comfortable in their little cottages, which rise rapidly day by day under the diligent hands of the soldiers. A few brigades are scattered down toward the Occoquan, where wood and water are plenty, the furthest being by Davis’s Ford. The artillery, with the exception of Walton’s battalion, has already been located between Cub Run and Stone Bridge. The cavalry has fallen back a little, and they are now building stables and houses near Centreville.

General Stuart will remain in the advance. It is probable that General Johnston will occupy the Lewis House, on the battle field, and General Beauregard Wier’s, his old head-quarters. Longstreet’s division will occupy the advanced position, and will remain where it is at present. The artillerists, detailed to man the guns in the batteries, will also remain by the fortifications. In case of an attack by the Yankees, it will take about two hours to get the main strength of the army across Bull Run. Information of an approach would be given at least two hours before an enemy could come up, and in that time we could be well prepared to resist any force that can be brought up. That is about the situation of affairs for the winter, and it remains to be seen whether our men are to have an opportunity of a brush with the Yankees, or whether they will be allowed to enjoy their new houses in quietness. When I say all are ready for an attack, I express but feebly the feeling which pervades the army.

Yesterday a Marylander came through our lines, having left Washington the day previous. He brought some noticeable information as to the disposition of the Yankee troops.