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

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

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

Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

January 11, 2012

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Fayetteville, Camp Union, January 11. Saturday. — Pleasant weather — warm and very muddy. A soldier of Company C died last night. Few cases of sickness but very fatal; calls for great care. Must see to clean livers at once. Made the commander of the post vice Colonel Eckley who is to leave with the Twenty-sixth (he to command the Eightieth) in a day or two. Sergeant McKinley brings me a letter from Lucy, the first since her confinement. She says she is well again; calls, as she speaks of him, the little fourth “Joe.” Well, Joe it shall be — a good name, after the best of brothers and uncles.

Reports of preparations southward to meet and cut off our expedition to the railroad and the impassable roads have fast bound our intended enterprise.

Post image for Vaccinated against smallpox.–Alexander G. Downing.

Vaccinated against smallpox.–Alexander G. Downing.

January 11, 2012

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

Saturday, 11th—Our company were all vaccinated today as a protection against smallpox. The regimental surgeon came down from California to do the work. Our captain called the company up in line, and every man had to take his medicine.

Post image for Still at Fortress Monroe.–Description of area and a little history.–Diary of David L. Day.

Still at Fortress Monroe.–Description of area and a little history.–Diary of David L. Day.

January 11, 2012

David L Day–My diary of rambles with the 25th Mass,The American Civil War

Jan. 11. As I look out on the Old Dominion, the Mother of presidents, statesmen and heroes, my mind is filled with historical reminiscences of its past greatness and glory. Alas! that Virginia, a state that bore such a proud record in the history of our country, a state that has done so much and sacrificed so much to gain our independence and establish our government, should now be sunk in the mire and slough of rebellion.

There is no appearance of leaving here today; many of the officers are going ashore to look around, and the boys are amusing themselves as best they can. Many and various are the speculations and conjectures as to our destination. Some think we are to make an attack on Yorktown, others that Norfolk is the point of attack. Some prophesy that we shall go up the James river, others that we are going far down the coast. I have not bothered myself much about it, but conclude we shall fetch up somewhere. As one looks on “old glory” proudly waving over the frowning battlements of Fortress Monroe and the rip raps, he would naturally conclude that this part of Virginia had not passed the ordinance of secession. Fortress Monroe is built of granite and earthworks, and is calculated, I believe, to mount some 400 or 500 guns. It is the largest and strongest fort on the coast and the only complete work in this country; hence it is called a fortress. The rip raps is an unfinished work, built on an artificial island, and situated about a mile east of Fortress Monroe. When completed, it will be a powerful work, and all vessels going to Norfolk or up the James river will have to pass between the two forts.

Looking west we can see the ruins of Hampton, burned last fall by order of Gen. Magruder. Speaking of Magruder reminds me of an anecdote I have somewhere read of him. While serving in Mexico, he ranked as captain of infantry in the regular army. While there he was in the habit of spreeing it pretty hard, and early one morning, alter he had been out on a pretty rough time, his regiment received orders to march. By some strange oversight, the captain failed to replenish his canteen, and in a little while he began to experience an intolerable thirst. In this dilemma he called on one of his privates, whom he supposed might have something, and asked him what he had in his canteen. He was told that it contained a certain kind of Mexican liquor, of which the captain was very fond. After taking a pretty good bumper, he said, “Private Jones, you will hereafter rank as corporal, and be obeyed and respected as such.” After a while, his thirst again coming on, he goes and calls for some more of the liquor. This time he about found the bottom of the canteen, and thanking the corporal for his politeness, said to him, “Corporal .Jones, you will hereafter rank as sergeant, and be obeyed and respected as such.” And, as the story went, if the canteen had held out a while longer, private Jones might have ranked as brigadier general.

Post image for Horatio Nelson Taft. — War gossip. –His 3 boys have 2nd dinner with the president and his family (after eating at home.)

Horatio Nelson Taft. — War gossip. –His 3 boys have 2nd dinner with the president and his family (after eating at home.)

January 11, 2012

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

Saturday Jany 11th 1862

Warm pleasant day with muddy crossings. The public mind is now on “tiptoe” to learn news in reference to the two great expeditions, Genl Burnsides which left Annapolis yesterday, and Genl Grants Ironclad Gun Boat Expedition which left Cairo the same day for the south. It is thought that these concerted blows will fall with crushing force when they strike. It is understood that near 80,000 Men move with Genl Grant and some 40,000 with Genl Burnside, both armed and prepared to perfection. No particular news in the City. A woman was killed today on the Ave by her carriage coming in contact with a runaway Govt team, it was a Mrs Sweeny. The young “Lincons” were here to dinner. Our three boys went home with them, and at 5 o’clock took another dinner with the president and his family. Mrs L. sent a servant to call them while they were at play. They sent word that they had been to dinner at home. She sent again, the servt saying “The Madam says you must come with her boys.” They got home about 7.– The Boys are having a nice time on top of the White House. The Roof is copper, flat & with a high stone Ballistrade all round. They have built a cabin there which they call the “Ship of State” or rather the Qutar desk [Quarter deck]. They have a Spy Glass and report all strange sails on the River and objects on the Virginia Shore. They say that Mr Lincoln is Comodore. The Cabinet are officers but they sail “the Ship of State.” I went down to the P.O., got the NY papers, called upon Chas & Sallie. Got home about 8, did not get to bed till 11, raining a little.

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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 Rebel War Clerk

Rebel War Clerk

January 11, 2012

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

JANUARY 11TH.—We have three candidates in the field in this district for Congress: President Tyler, James Lyons, and Wm. H. McFarland. The first will, of course, walk over the track.

Post image for The returned Richmond prisoners of the 27th.

The returned Richmond prisoners of the 27th.

January 11, 2012

The American Civil War,Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

Among these released Richmond prisoners were twenty-one men of the 27th N. Y., a regiment brigaded with our 16th.
Eliza’s Journal, Jan. 11, ’62 says:

Joe told us of the pretty reception they had given the returned Richmond prisoners of the 27th. It was a shockingly muddy day or the whole brigade would have marched down to meet them. As it was, the General and Staff and the 27th marched as far as the Brigade Hospital, where they met the poor fellows trudging up the hill, each with his little bundle. They gave them a grand greeting with band-playing and hand-shaking and then the procession was formed: first the band, then the prisoners at the head of the column, then the rest of the regiment, and the General and Staff bringing up the rear. As they marched through the different camps there was a perfect ovation, friends and strangers alike smothering them with hugs, cheering them, slapping them on the back and “old-fellowing” them. The regimental bands were all out in force and the camp of the 27th was dressed festively for the occasion, the procession entering it by an archway over which hung the words “Welcome, Comrades! Your wounds bleed afresh in our hearts…” They were all more or less wounded but are now in pretty good condition and all are to have a furlough of thirty days.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

January 11, 2012

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

January 11.—The Confederate troops burned two bridges on the Louisville and Nashville railroad, at points between Munfordville and Bowling Green.—Cincinnati Commercial.

—This morning three rebel boats from Columbus, Ky., attacked the gunboats Essex and St. Louis, lying off Fort Jefferson. A brisk engagement ensued for a short time, when the rebels retreated, and the national boats pursued until they reached the batteries of the enemy at Columbus.—(Doc. 13.)

—The First Maryland regiment, Colonel Kenly, are strongly entrenched at Old Fort Frederick, above Hancock, where they are frequently reconnoitered at a distance by small bodies of the enemy. The Colonel has sufficient ordnance to maintain himself there, as well as to command the railroad opposite.—Baltimore American, Jan. 14.

—The Florida Legislature has elected A. E. Maxwell and I. M. Baker to the Confederate Senate. — Sixty rebels, belonging to the regiment of Colonel Alexander, a prisoner in St. Louis, were captured about six miles from Sedalia, Mo.

Picket-shooting existing to a fearful extent in the vicinity of Cairo, Ill., General Grant this day issued the following order to General Paine, commanding the United States forces at Bird’s Point: “I understand that four of our pickets were shot this morning. If this is so, and appearances indicate that the assassins were citizens not regularly organized in the rebel army, the whole country should be cleared out for six miles around, and word given that all citizens making their appearance within these limits are liable to be shot.

“To execute this, patrols should be sent out in all directions, and bring into camp at Bird’s Point all citizens, together with their subsistence, and require them to remain, under penalty of death and destruction of their property, until properly relieved.

“Let no harm befall these people if they quietly submit, but bring them in and place them in camp below the breastwork, and have them properly guarded.

“The intention is not to make political prisoners of these people, but to cut off a dangerous class of spies.

“This applies to all classes and conditions, age and sex. If, however, women and children prefer other protection than we can afford them, they may be allowed to retire beyond the limits indicated—not to return until authorized.”

—The Twenty-eighth regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, under command of Colonel William Monteith, left Boston for New-York, en route for the seat of war.—N. Y. Commercial, Jan. 13.

—Colonel Garfield, having defeated the rebels under Humphrey Marshall, occupied Prestonburg, Ky., to-day.