Thursday, [January] 23. — A pretty fair day, warm and no rain. Dr. Joe arrived.
Monday, January 23, 2012
23rd. Rode a little while about town. The boys better.
Jan. 23. Another great storm. The wind is blowing a gale and the sea is dashing, foaming and threatening everything with destruction. The camps on shore are flooded, the soldiers driven into the fort or up the island; more vessels ashore and the fleet going to the devil. A great many of the men are beginning to despond, and in fact the success of the expedition begins to look gloomy enough. Nothing but hardship and disaster has attended us since we left Fortress Monroe, and God only knows when it will end. Almost any other man but Gen. Burnside would be ready to give it up as a failure; but he is everywhere to be seen, looking cheerful and confident, and encouraging his men. He is a man of indomitable energy, perseverance and courage. He knows no such word as fail, and is bound to overcome all obstacles and dangers.
If the general, by the blessing of God, gets the expedition out of this scrape, and is successful where he strikes, it will give him great prestige, and he will be thought competent for any command. Our engine is slowly working, helping the anchor cable, and Mr. Mulligan says if the other boats will stick to their mudhooks and keep clear of us we shall ride it out all safe. I really hope they will for I am tired of these cathead drills. I have always had rather of a desire for a sea voyage, but I am willing to confess that that wish is fully gratified. This being “rocked in the cradle of the deep” sounds all very pretty in song and romance, but the romance is played out with me, and I think the person who wrote the song, “A Life on the Ocean Wave,” must have been a proper subject for a lunatic asylum.
23rd.—The whole atmosphere to-night vibrates with the sounds of preparation to advance. The new Secretary of War says “advance.” We are getting daily dispatches from. Gen. McClellan, asking, “Are you ready?” I have no faith. We have received too many dumb-watches, which “will run when they get older.”
Thursday, 23d—It is warm today. Nothing of importance. The land around Lookout Station is heavily timbered and there are no large farms. Negroes are very scarce here. The war has put a blight on this part of the State.
Thursday 23d 1862
In the office as usual. No rain today and a little cooler, but does not freeze. Geo W Prentice was an hour in our room today, quite sociable. Thinks Schoepf did the fighting at “Somerset” whether he gets the credit of it or not, and I think so too. I must call upon Mis Schoepf tomorrow. A Senatorial Committee visited the rooms of the Land office today, in company with the Comr. I have spent the evening at home. Put a stove in Julias room, fixed a lock for Buds Box, and put a lock on a cupboard door for the better preservation of the barrel of apples. They will undoubtedly keep better under lock and key with three boys about the house. Troops are moveing about in the mud and Expeditions are now on the move in all directions and “Secesh” is getting into a “tight place.” A great deal is expected of the force now in the field the month to come, and I think that a great deal will be done towards quelling this infernal rebellion.
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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.
JANUARY 23D.—Again the Northern papers give the most extravagant numbers to our army in Kentucky. Some estimates are as high as 150,000. I know, and Mr. Benjamin knows, that Gen. Johnston has not exceeding 29,000 effective men. And the Secretary knows that Gen. J. has given him timely notice of the inadequacy of his force to hold the position at Bowling Green. The Yankees are well aware of our weakness, but they intend to claim the astounding feat of routing 150,000 men with 100,000! And they suppose that by giving us credit for such a vast army, we shall not deem it necessary to send reinforcements. Well, reinforcements are not sent.
January 23.—The rebel steamer Calhoun was captured off the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River. Previous to leaving her the rebels set her on fire, which was with difficulty extinguished.—Philadelphia Ledger.
—A force of one hundred rebel cavalry entered Blandville, Ky., and carried off the books and records of the county. The captain of the band made a speech to the inhabitants, in which he said that the rebel citizens who shall or have suffered from the incursions of a Union army, shall be reimbursed by levies upon Union men.
—Several of the Secessionists of St. Louis, Mo., who were assessed for the benefit of the southwestern fugitives, by order of Major-General Halleck, having failed to pay their assessments, their property has been seized under an execution to satisfy the assessment, with twenty-five per cent additional, according to General Order No. 24.
To-day Samuel Engler, a prominent merchant, and one of these assessed, had a writ of replevin served on the Provost-Marshal, for the property seized from him, whereupon he and his attorney, Nathaniel Cox, were arrested and lodged in the military prison.
General Halleck issued a special order, directing the Provost-Marshal General to send Mr. Engler beyond the lines of the Department of Missouri, and to notify him not to return without permission from the commanding General, under the penalty of being punished according to the laws of war.
General Halleck adds: Martial law having been declared in this city by authority of the President of the United States, all the civil authorities, of whatever name or office, are hereby notified that any attempt on their part to interfere with the execution of any order from these headquarters, or impede, molest, or trouble any officer duly appointed to carry such order into effect, will be regarded as a military offence and punished accordingly.
The Provost-Marshal General will arrest each and every person, of whatever rank or office, who attempts in any way to prevent or interfere with the execution of any order issued from these headquarters. He will call upon the commanding officer of the Department of St Louis for any military assistance he may require.
—The second stone-fleet was sunk in Maffit’s Channel, Charleston, S. C, harbor.
