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

Friday, January 13, 2012

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

Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

January 13, 2012

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Monday, January 13, 1862.— As commander of the post have charge of the pass business. Have deputized ––– to do the clerkly part, and private Gray, Company I, to do the orderly and department part, an erect, neat, fine old soldier; like him much. . . :,;

The Twenty-sixth preparing to leave. Will take William Smith, a crack shot and well known bushwhacker, to Charleston or Columbus. James Phillips the owner of this cottage was in the habit of going to Miller’s Ferry to shoot at our men. Mr. Mauser opposed it, said the town would be burned. To no purpose. Phillips kept at the business.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

January 13, 2012

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

13th. Principal Fairchild came down. Letters from home and Fannie. Also a book from her—”Sermons on the New Life.”

Post image for Boston.–Woolsey family letters.–Caroline Carson Woolsey to Georgeanna and Eliza.

Boston.–Woolsey family letters.–Caroline Carson Woolsey to Georgeanna and Eliza.

January 13, 2012

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

Boston, January 13th.

Dear Girls: I dare say you will expect a letter from me while I am in Boston. . . . I find it exactly as I left it three years ago, only warmer. It used to be the coldest place imaginable, but the heated term seems to be on, so there is no skating and no talk of it. The Sanitary Commission occupies all the ladies, and in the spare time they work for the contrabands. Mrs. Huntington Wolcott is entirely devoted to it. She keeps thirty poor women in sewing and runs I don’t know how many machines. Mattie Parsons, too, has come out in an entirely new character and fairly slaves for the cause, besides taking care of two families of volunteers in Mr. Stackpole’s regiment, left destitute. They say she recruited a fourth of his company and knows every man in it. They are all devoted to the “Captain’s lady,” and swear to bring him safely home to her. . . . I went out to Cambridge on Saturday to review the scenes of my youth—three years ago—at the Prof. Agassiz’ School. Alas! the former familiar faces that were wont to flatten their noses against the law school windows no longer beam upon my path; they are married and gone, and I am sorry to say the best are in the rebel army. The undergraduates look very small and the college grounds don’t seem as classic as of yore.

Post image for Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

January 13, 2012

Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

January 13 — This morning was rough and blustery. We left camp early, and marched through a hilly country in the direction of Romney. When we had proceeded about five miles Colonel Ashby met us and said, “Boys, you can go back to Martinsburg into winter quarters.” That was welcome news, and gladly received, for this is wretched weather for marching over these snow-clad hills and mountains and camping without tents. We counter-marched instantly, and are now on our way to Martinsburg.

We marched until after dark, and to-night we are camped in a deep ravine in a dense woods. I do not know how far we traveled to-day, nor where we are. I do not believe any one else knows, only that we are somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia, west of the North Mountain.

Post image for Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

January 13, 2012

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

Monday, 13th—Some of the boys have been getting whiskey in this locality and today Lieutenant Compton with Carl Frink and John White went to find where they were getting it, but they returned late in the evening without finding the distilling plant.

Post image for Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

January 13, 2012

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

Monday Jan’y 13th 1862

Colder today. M. this morning down to 34, tonight at 28. Have been in the office all day, moved into another room today on the Land office. A Brother of Geo D Prentice of the Louisville Journal is at the next desk to mine. Mr Rickets & Mr Osgood are also in the same Room, no. 10. The Room I left, no. 9, contained Mr Swan, Mr Darnell, both of Indiana, Mr Georgii (a German, from Minesota), Mr Ostrander of N York City, Mr Barnes of Detroit, and Mr Wheelock of California. It is said tonight that Mr Cameron (the Sec’y of War) has resigned, hope it is true. I called at Mr Pecks this evening. They have a very sick boy, have been at home the rest of the time. It is my Birth day today, fifty six years old. What a rough, smooth, sorrifull, pleasant, up hill, and down hill, road I have trodden for forty years past, such is life. I bear my years extremely well being perfectly healthy and quite active and spicy and walk with as quick a step as I ever did and am usualy taken by strangers for a man of 45 years. My eyes are bright, teeth good and my hair (thanks to Prof Wood) is not much grey. We are living very quietly this Winter, Self, Wife, Julia & the three boys. H N Junior, about 15, rather pale and languid, not very robust, pretty good schollar. Halsey C., 12, all motion and activity, never idle, impatient of restraint, quick to learn when he tries, impetuous, all “go ahead.” Willie, 8, dark hair & eyes, a ceaseless talker, ambitious to know everything, always asking questions, always busy, never sitting still like “Bud.” “Willie” & “Holly” are much alike in their disposition. Julia, 17 in March, is willing to take things as they come, rather inactive, somewhat indolent in her habits, but growing fast, quite handsome, quick tempered naturaly, but kind hearted and governs her spirit quite well, does not like study much, reads & writes most of the time.

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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 The Expedition.–Storm at Hattaras Inlet.–Diary of David L. Day.

The Expedition.–Storm at Hattaras Inlet.–Diary of David L. Day.

January 13, 2012

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

At Anchor.

Jan. 13. Going on deck this morning, I found we were riding at anchor in sight of Hatteras light. Not knowing the meaning of this, I inquired of Mr. Mulligan if people went out to sea and anchored nights? He laughed and said the shoals and the lights being down alongshore, made navigation in these waters rather dangerous, and they thought they had better anchor. I went forward to take in the situation. The wind was blowing fresh from the southeast, with heavy swells running. As they weighed anchor, the boat rose and fell with the swells. I rather enjoyed this and thought it very nice. After a few moments I began to experience a peculiar sensation around the waistbands; and it occurred to me that I had better go and lie down. After a half hour I was all right again, and went on deck. Mr. Mulligan said, “We are going to have a great storm and Hatteras is a bad place to be caught in a storm.” But by way of encouragement he tells us we are safer with him aboard the New York than we should be at home in bed.

The Storm at Hatteras Inlet.

At 1 p. m., we dropped anchor in front of the battery at Hatteras inlet, in the midst of a terrific southeast storm. Our fleet comprising nearly 100 sail are making the inlet as fast as possible; but it is feared that some of them will not be able to get in and will either be lost or have to put back. This is indeed the grandest, wildest scene I ever beheld! As far as the eye can reach, the water is rolling, foaming and dashing over the shoals, throwing its white spray far into the air, as though the sea and sky met. This is no time for man to war against man. The forces of Heaven are loose and in all their fury, the wind howls, the sea rages, the eternal is here in all his majesty. As one looks out on the grand yet terrible scene, he can but exclaim, “Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord, God Almighty!”

A Wreck.

A large steamer, attempting to run in this afternoon, run on the shoals and will probably prove a wreck. As she came in sight and attempted the passage of the inlet, we watched her with breathless anxiety, until she seemed to have passed her greatest danger and all were hopefully looking for her safe arrival, when suddenly she struck the shoal and turned broadside toward us, the sea breaking over her. A shudder ran through the crowd and disappointment was on every countenance. Tugs were immediately dispatched to her assistance, but returned unable to render her any. Capt. Clark thinks if she does not break up during the night, and the wind lulls, that perhaps in the morning she can be got off, or at least those on board of her can. It is not known whether she contains troops or stores. If she should go to pieces during the night, God help those on board of her, as there is no one here that can.

Post image for “Old Bird is a perfect old pirate and a greater does not live.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

“Old Bird is a perfect old pirate and a greater does not live.”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

January 13, 2012

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry),The American Civil War

Bird’s Point, Mo., January 13, 1862.

After all the excitement and promise we have had of a trip into Dixie, we are still here in our cabins, with the prospect of a move further off than ever. The 25,000 troops that are “on their way from St. Louis to Cairo” must have went up in a fog. General Grant must have credit for fooling everybody from the reporters up. He did it beautifully. We all here at this point kept our wagons loaded for two days with five days’ rations, expecting to start every hour. The troops have all left Cairo and gone down opposite Norfolk (where we were a month) and camped. It is cold as the devil, and they must suffer a good deal as none of them have ever been out of Cairo before, and hardly know what rough soldiering is. Charley Cooper’s company is with them. I believe that the whole object of the expedish is to keep the Columbians from sending reinforcements to the Bowling Green folks. The dispatches about the 25,000 forward movement, etc., all work to the same end. Some “damb’d” hounds shot four of our 7th cavalry boys dead a couple of mornings since. It was regular murder. They were on picket and in the evening they went out some seven miles from camp and got their supper and engaged breakfast in the morning. Just before daylight they started out for breakfast and when within two miles of the place three men that were concealed behind a log by the roadside shot them all dead. Their horses wheeled and trotted back to the infantry picket. The infantry sent word to camp and some cavalry went out and found them all dead. They could find tracks of but three men, and it is supposed that they ran as quick as they fired, for our boys’ bodies were not touched. They were only armed with sabers and the 7th refuse to go on any more picket duty untill they are better armed. One of the murdered was Dan Lare, a boy that was in Canton a good while, though I believe he did not belong to Nelson’s company. The others lived near Bushnell, their names I do not know. We have the chap they took supper with. The boys all think him guilty and have tried to get him away from the guard to kill him, but unsuccessfully so far. Last night Nelson’s company went up to old Bird’s and brought him, his three sons and five other men and all Bird’s buck niggers down to camp as prisoners. They also got 10 good guns. His (Bird’s) house is four miles from camp. Some of the boys noticed a long ladder leaning against the house and one of them climbed it and got on the housetop. There he found a splendid ship spy glass with which he could count the tents and see every move in both our camp and Cairo and Fort Holt. Old Bird is a perfect old pirate and a greater does not live.

Post image for Rebel War Clerk

Rebel War Clerk

January 13, 2012

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

JANUARY 13TH.—The department leaves Gen. Wise to his superior officer, Gen. Huger, at Norfolk, who has 15,000 men. But I understand that Huger says Wise has ample means for the defense of the island, and refuses to let him have more men. This looks like a man-trap of the “Red-tapers” to get rid of a popular leader. I hope the President will interfere.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

January 13, 2012

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

January 13.—The New-York State Senate today passed a resolution requesting President Lincoln to make arrangements for the immediate exchange of prisoners. Bills were introduced in the House appropriating twenty-five thousand dollars to furnish the prisoners of the State held by the rebels with provisions, etc., and to support the volunteers’ families by a State tax; also, a resolution asking Congress for an appropriation for harbor and border defences.

—Simon Cameron resigned his position as Secretary of War to-day.—Edwin M. Stanton, of Pennsylvania, was appointed to fill his place.— N. Y.. Tribune, January 14.

—The steamship Constitution with the Maine Twelfth and the Bay State regiments, sailed from Boston, Mass., at seven o’clock this morning for Fortress Monroe.