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

Sunday, January 22, 2012

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

Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

January 22, 2012

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Wednesday, January 22, 1862. — Cold, threatening rain or snow all day. … In the evening reports from Raleigh. Three of Company K, Thirtieth, and young Henderson, scout Company H, captured by the enemy. Report says no fighting except by Henderson. No other fired a gun. Rumor says they were drunk.

A great bushwhacker captured with three others. In the night bushwhacker taken with pains in his bowels — rolled over the floor, etc., etc., suddenly sprang up, seized two muskets and escaped! This is the official (false!) report. The other prisoners report that the sentinels were asleep, and the bushwhacker merely slipped out, taking two muskets with him.

Report says that three thousand milish of Mercer [County] are on or near Flat Top Mountain twenty miles from Raleigh and thirteen hundred cavalry!!

Three prisoners brought down last night. Captain McVey, a bushwhacking captain, armed with sword and rifle, was approaching a Union citizen’s house to capture him, when [the] Union man, hearing of it, hid behind a log, drew a bead on Secesh as he approached, called out to him to lay down his arms, which Secesh prudently did, and thereupon the victor marched [him] to our camp at Raleigh. Another prisoner, a son of General Beckley, aged about sixteen. Why he was taken I don’t understand. He carried dispatches when the militia was out under his father, but seems intelligent and well-disposed. Disliking to see one so young packed into a crowded guardhouse (thinking of Birch and Webb, too), I took him to my own quarters and shared my bed with him last night. He talked in his sleep incoherently, otherwise a good bedfellow.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

January 22, 2012

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

22nd. Second Battalion moved, the distance nineteen miles, over the most lovely country I have yet seen—rolling and beautiful. Took care of Sergeant Dutton and our colonel during the night. First Battalion got to St. Charles. Lost my revolver.

Post image for Burnside Expedition: Hunting a Channel.–Rations.–A Ripple of Excitement.–Old Dan. — Diary of David L. Day.

Burnside Expedition: Hunting a Channel.–Rations.–A Ripple of Excitement.–Old Dan. — Diary of David L. Day.

January 22, 2012

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

Hunting a Channel.

Jan. 22. The light-draught boats are engaged in finding and making a channel across the bar, or swash as it is called, of sufficient depth of water to enable the large steamers to cross into the sound. One great trouble about that is if they find one today it will all be filled up tomorrow We shall have to wait till calmer weather before we can cross.

Rations.

A schooner came alongside today and left us rations of steamed pork, hardtack and condensed sea water. This was a very timely arrival as we have been very short of water for two or three days and pretty much everything else. Rattlesnake pork will taste pretty good again after a few days’ fast. Condensed sea water is rather a disagreeable beverage, but still is a little ahead of no water at all. I think, however, it might be made palatable by adding about nine parts whiskey to one of water. This water and pork is all manufactured here on the spot. They have a sort of rendering establishment where they make it, but I cannot believe that the pork would take a premium in any fair in the country unless it was for meanness.

A Ripple of Excitement.

Another rebel steamer came down the sound to-day to take a look at us and see how we are getting along. One of our boats gave chase and I reckon got a shot at her, as we heard reports of artillery. Those fellows are just smart enough to keep out of our way; I hope they will always be so. I have no great desire to shoot the cusses, but still if they get in my way, and I think they ought to be shot, I suppose I shall do it.

The theatre up in the saloon is a great success. They have just got out a new play, a kind of burlesque, entitled the Rasper Brothers, and large posters are sent over the boat announcing the unprecedented success of the Rasper Brothers; playing nightly to crowded houses and hundreds turned away; none should fail of witnessing this highly moral drama.

Old Dan.

Old Dan is having a terrible fit of the blues. He cannot understand why we were sent to this God-forsaken place. I tell him that God has not forsaken it but has sent us here to save it; and Dan, with a big oath, swore that it was not worth saving. I said to him: “You are seeing it at its worst. This is a famous watering-place; a great summer resort.” He thinks it might do first rate for a watering place; but cannot conceive of anyone who would want to resort here. He thinks the greatest mistake he has made in this whole business was in not running away as I advised him to, while at Annapolis.

Post image for Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

January 22, 2012

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

Wednesday Jan’y 22d 1862

Nothing new today. Saw two of “Shorts & Smith” “Greek fire Bomb” burnt south of the Presidents House. It was (or appeared to be) quite a success. The Streets and crossings are worse than I have ever seen them before in this City. Called at Mr Hartleys for Julia on my return from the Prests, staid there an hour. On reaching home we found Ed Dickerson, who spent an hour or two here. He made my wife a present of a Bll of fine apples today, sent up by a cartman. They were very acceptable, and very fine quality “Baldwins.”

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

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

January 22, 2012

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

Wednesday, 22d—Orderly Clark, Sergeants Spencer, Sweet and White went out on a scouting expedition and brought in a pair of ponies and some things to eat.

Post image for Reminiscences of the Civil War by William and Adelia Lyon.

Reminiscences of the Civil War by William and Adelia Lyon.

January 22, 2012

Reminiscences of the Civil War, William and Adelia Lyon

To Mrs. Lyon

Cairo, Wednesday p. m., Jan. 22, 1862.—The boys are all in good health and spirits. The mud has dried up so that it is comfortable getting about on foot. A steamer that passed Sulphur Springs the next evening after you left there, with a regiment, the 55th Illinois, on board, has just arrived here. Wouldn’t we have had a nice time had we got off on a steamboat?

We are very well situated. The boys have fixed up the barracks (each company has a building by itself) so that they are very comfortable. Our quarters at one end are almost as good as a parlor. We have three coal stoves, one in the quarters and two in the barracks, and have no difficulty in keeping dry and warm.

We are gratified with the victory at Somerset, Ky., over Zollicoffer. It shows how western men fight. We shall whip them every time we meet them on anything like equal terms—up west here. Deserters from below say that the rebels fear and dread the Northwestern troops. When the grand expedition starts down the Mississippi the blows will fall thick and fast and most effectually on secession.

Post image for “These nations, France probably first, will raise the blockade.”–Adams Family Letters, Henry Adams, private secretary of the US Minister to the UK, to his brother, Charles.

“These nations, France probably first, will raise the blockade.”–Adams Family Letters, Henry Adams, private secretary of the US Minister to the UK, to his brother, Charles.

January 22, 2012

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

London, January 22, 1862

For life here is by no means what it is cracked up to be. The Trent business coming first destroyed all our country visits, for people have given up inviting us, on the just supposition that we would n’t care to go into society now. The small list of friends that we have are not always so American as one would like. So we generally dodge “exposure” as much as possible. But I am personally flabbergasted by the explosion of my Manchester bomb, or more properly, the return of the boomerang which has made me too notorious to be pleasant. The Times gently skinned me and the Examiner scalped me with considerable savageness. For myself I care about as much for the Times or the Examiner as I do for the Pekin Gazette; but, unfortunately, the American Minister in London is at this time an object of considerable prominence; an eyesore to an influential and somewhat unscrupulous portion of the community. Accordingly I form a convenient head to punch when people feel vicious and pugnacious. I have, therefore, to change the metaphor, found it necessary to take in every spare inch of canvas and to run (on a lee-shore) under double-close-reefed mizzen to’ gallant skysails, before a tremendous gale. In other words I have made myself as little an object of attack as possible. This reduces my means of usefulness to almost nothing and I might just as well be anywhere as here, except that I can’t leave the parent birds thus afloat on the raging tide.

 

We are sometimes anxious still and are likely to be more so. The truth is, we are now in a corner. There is but one way out of it and that is by a decisive victory. If there’s not a great success, and a success followed up, within six weeks, we may better give up the game than blunder any more over it. These nations, France probably first, will raise the blockade.

Such is the fact of our position. I am ready for it anyway, but I do say now that McClellan must do something within six weeks or we are done. This war has lasted long enough, to my mind.

There is precious little to tell you about here. France has again renewed her proposal to raise the blockade and there has been a discussion, or a battle about it. Prince Albert was strongly for peace with us, and now that he is dead it is understood that the Queen continues to favor his policy. Besides her, the King of Belgium has come over and is pressing earnestly for peace. His great object always is to counteract French influence when it points to war. We have a majority (probably) in the Cabinet of neutrality men, nor do I know whom to call the leader of the war-party in the Ministry. You must not misunderstand Palmerston. He means disunion, but not war unless under special influences.

We gave a dinner last week to Bishop Mcllvaine, and I went with mamma another day to breakfast with Mr. Senior. Met there the chief man of the Times, Lowe. He never speaks to any of us, and I certainly should n’t care to seem to make up to him. . . .

Post image for Hospital Work.–Isn’t it like some old ballad?–Prison bill. — Woolsey family letter; Eliza Woolsey Howland to her husband, Joe.

Hospital Work.–Isn’t it like some old ballad?–Prison bill. — Woolsey family letter; Eliza Woolsey Howland to her husband, Joe.

January 22, 2012

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

January, ‘62.

To-day we are going out to look up some nurses for Will Winthrop’s regiment, and then to the Senate. I forgot to tell you a pretty story we heard the other day from Mrs. Gibbons, our Quaker lady friend. She is a very sweet, kind old lady, and she and her daughter have been out at Fall’s Church getting the hospital there into working order, and showing them how to nurse and cook for the sick, and, thanks to them, one poor fellow who was dying was nursed back into the right road and is now nearly well enough to go home with his father, who, meantime, had been sent for. He, a plain well-to-do farmer from Western New York, was so overcome with gratitude to Mrs. G. and her daughter, that he entreated the young girl to go home with him and be his daughter! “He would do all in the world for her and she should be an equal sharer with his son in the farm of 300 acres,” and it was said (Mrs. Gibbons told us) in the most delicate, genuine way, without any allusion to the young Lieutenant and probably without the least idea of “making a match.” Of course the young girl declined, and then he went to the mother to ask if she hadn’t other daughters like herself for whom he could do something to show his gratitude. Isn’t it like some old ballad? . . .

The management of the jail was before the Senate yesterday and we heard the discussion, and left just before the bill was passed, requiring the release of all persons not committed for crime, which means, principally, the contrabands. Mr. Grimes, the chairman of the Committee on District affairs, abused Marshal Lamon roundly for his bad management and his insolent exclusion of congressmen from one of the institutions which it is their duty to supervise. Georgeanna sent Senator Dixon a note asking if, while the subject is before Congress, something can’t be done about separating children committed for petty crimes, from hardened criminals. . . . There ought to be a reformatory school attached to every jail.

Post image for Rebel War Clerk

Rebel War Clerk

January 22, 2012

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

JANUARY 22D.—Some of the letter-carriers’ passports from Mr. Benjamin, which have the countenance of Gen. Winder, are now going into Tennessee. What is this for? We shall see.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

January 22, 2012

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

January 22. — The Memphis Argus of this date holds the following language: “We are every day called upon to record the farcical freaks of Federal legislation, that transpire in the Lincoln Congress, as a part of the extraordinary history of the times. The bills proposing the indiscriminate confiscation of Southern property, and the disfranchisement of Southern citizens, have been already alluded to by us as measures of atrocity such as no truly civilized and Christian nation could endorse. We notice from the late Northern papers, that this pretended right of legislation for the Confederate States is still claimed by the Washington Parliament, and that we are to have a happy exemplification of it in a bill which one Mr. Hutchins, of Ohio, has announced that he will soon introduce into the lower house of that august body.

“This measure very humanely proposes that the enlightened and Christian North shall assume complete control over the ignorant and barbarous South, reducing all her States to the condition of a territorial or provincial government, and then immediately abolish slavery within their limits. This is another specimen of that wild and ferocious fanaticism which has seized on the Northern mind since the war began—a fanaticism which neither thinks, nor hears, nor sees, but feels, and raves, and burns. If Congress passes the measure, which is a more violent form of the bill introduced by Senator Baker, last fall, in the upper house of that body, the world may well regard it as an imitation of the vile and unmitigated iron despotism which Russia once maintained over Poland, and Austria over Hungary. But, happily for the South, the issue is not now one of legislation, but of the sword—not one of the ballot, but of the bayonet The more violent and ultra the measures introduced into the Lincoln Congress, the deeper the gulf between the Northern and Southern people for all future time.”

—The Ninth German regiment, Wisconsin Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Solomon, who so greatly distinguished himself under General Sigel at Springfield, Mo., left Milwaukee to-day for Fort Leavenworth, well armed and equipped.

—A Proclamation was issued to-day at Hatteras, N. C, by Marble Nash Taylor, loyal Provisional Governor of North-Carolina, congratulating the people of his State upon their deliverance from rebel thraldom by the “invincible arms of the Republic,” He calls upon all well-disposed persons to cooperate with this friendly army in restoring to their commonwealth the “ancient and inalienable rights” so recently lost. For this purpose, he announces the establishment of a Provisional Government for North Carolina, and appoints the 22d of February, an anniversary so sacred, as the day on which the ordinances of the Convention of November 18, 1861, will be submitted to the people for ratification or rejection. In order, also, that the State may resume her participation in the councils of the Union, he directs that, “upon the same day aforesaid, the polls be opened for the election of representatives in the Congress of the United States to fill existing vacancies.”—(Doc. 18.)