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

Monday, January 30, 2012

Post image for Burnside Expedition. — More “contraband water. — A discovery. — David L. Day’s diary.

Burnside Expedition. — More “contraband water. — A discovery. — David L. Day’s diary.

January 30, 2012

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

Jan. 30. Our canteens are again filled with the contraband water, so we shall be all right today as far as that is concerned. Some of the boys made a raid last night on the sutler’s stuff and appropriated to themselves pretty much what he had. I cannot approve of that, as the sutler is at a good deal of trouble and expense to get a few notions for us and probably sells them as cheap as he can afford. The boys ought not to steal from him, at this time especially, as there are those who would be glad to buy. A schooner came down today to take a look at us, one of our boats gave chase, but a good breeze blowing, the schooner had the advantage and got away. This afternoon a small boat was seen coming down flying a white flag. The boat contained one darkey who had risked the perils of the sound to escape from the land of Jeff, the house of bondage.

A Discovery.

A great discovery has just been made and isn’t there larks now, though. The skipper is foaming with rage. An account of stock has been taken, and a cask or two of water is missing. On inspection it was found tapped at the wrong end. A very mysterious circumstance, but such things are liable to happen. A strong guard has been placed over the other casks.

Post image for War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

January 30, 2012

War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Willard’s Hotel, Washington, Jan. 30, 1862.

Dear Father, — I reached here safely this morning and am now waiting for the arrival of James.[1] I am afraid from what I hear about the time it takes to transport freight, that he will not be here for some two or three days yet.

I spent Tuesday night in New York and called on the Rowlands. Mr. H. is quite sick, but all the rest of the family were well and Miss Helen and Miss Cornelia wished to be remembered to Hannah. I stayed at the Brevoort House, and on Wednesday morning, just before I started for Philadelphia, I met Mr. George Minot and bid him good-bye. I arrived at Philadelphia at about 2 o’clock and went immediately to the Furnesses’, where I dined and took supper. They were very glad to see me, and Mr. Furness spoke quite kindly about you in connection with his son Charles. I took the 11 p.m. train from Philadelphia for Washington, and feel quite sleepy this morning.

The weather here is damp and foggy, and at times a drizzling rain falls, making the streets quite dirty and muddy. There is no snow to be seen around here, but mud can be had in any quantity. I am going to look round the city to-day, and think I shall start for camp to-morrow, if James does not come to-day. . . .

 

[1] James Cowan, my servant.

Post image for Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

January 30, 2012

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

Thursday 30th

Rain again today. The Lyons friends left for home this evening. The boys have staid in the house and attended to their lessons better than usual. I Have not been out tonight, been drawing some and reading the “Star” aloud. No particular war news but a good deal expected soon. The Boys went to bed at 8 o’clock, Julia at 10, it is now near 11. Wife is mending boys clothes, has a great deal of that business to do.

______

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 30, 2012

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

Thursday, 30th—A part of our company went out into the timber to gather persimmons. They are very plentiful in this locality; the trees are quite large and some of them are loaded with the finest fruit.

Post image for An invitation.

An invitation.

January 30, 2012

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

Eliza Woolsey Howland to Joe Howland.

Jan. 30th.

The only thing of interest I have to tell you is of a very nice call we had last evening from General Williams (your friend Seth). He got Miss Wilkes to bring him round and introduce him, and told us he had long wanted to call on us and offer his services. He hoped we would call on him for anything he could do for us, and said if I would send my letters to you up to Army Headquarters he would send them out at once by the orderly who comes in every day. So I will begin to-day by sending this one. They say that General Williams is as good as gold, and as modest as he is good. Miss Wilkes, who came with him, asked us all to spend Friday evening with them to meet a small party of Washington people and a few strangers. “Mrs. McClellan would be there and they hoped to see the General too,” and I suppose the Franklins and Porters, and our friend General Williams and other “officers of note.” Don’t you want to come in? We shall go, as it will be a nice chance for Mother and Hatty to see the notabilities and will be pleasant for all. . . . How dismal it is again and how wretched the camp must be!

Our pleasant acquaintance with General Williams—the Adjutant-General of the Army of the Potomac throughout the war—lasted all his life. A year later than this first call Charley was assigned to duty on his staff as his personal aide, at Headquarters of the Army. General Williams held a position of immense responsibility through all the fearful years of the war, and died insane, at its close.
Post image for “No employment, poor pay, etc., etc., is driving the laboring white people from the slave States.” — Rutherford B. Hayes.

“No employment, poor pay, etc., etc., is driving the laboring white people from the slave States.” — Rutherford B. Hayes.

January 30, 2012

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes,The American Civil War

Thursday, January 30, 1862. — Rained heavily last night, nearly all night; cloudy this morning. Received permission for twenty-one days to go home, from headquarters, seven days additional from Colonel Scammon, and an assurance of three days’ grace. Total thirty-one.

People constantly come who are on their way to Ohio, Indiana, or other Western States. Many of them young men who are foot-loose, tired of the war. No employment, poor pay, etc., etc., is driving the laboring white people from the slave States.

Mr. Ellison and his wife and little boy are here to see their son John R, who is a prisoner in our guardhouse; to be sent to the government prison at Columbus as a prisoner of war. They seem glad to find their son safe out of the Rebel ranks and not at all averse to his going to Columbus as a prisoner of war. Their only fear seems to be that he will be exchanged into the Rebel army again.

Spent the evening in a jolly way at headquarters with Avery, Kennedy, Hunter, etc. Colonel Scammon gone to Raleigh; expected his return but didn’t come. Read the “Island,” in “Lady of the Lake,” to Avery.

Post image for Rebel War Clerk

Rebel War Clerk

January 30, 2012

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

JANUARY 30TH.—Some of the mysterious letter-carriers, who have just returned from their jaunt into Tennessee, are applying again for passports to Baltimore, Washington, etc. I refuse them, though they are recommended by Gen. Winder’s men; but they will obtain what they want from the Secretary himself, or his Assistant Secretary.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

January 30, 2012

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

January 30.—The Senate of the United States confirmed the nomination of Major Frederick Steele, of the Eleventh regiment Infantry, as Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

—Captain Ericsson’s iron-plated steam battery, the Monitor, that for some months past has attracted no small share of attention, was successfully launched to-day from Sneeden’s ship-yard, at Greenpoint, Long Island, N. Y. A large number of people witnessed the launch, and as the strange-looking craft glided swiftly and gracefully into its new element, the assemblage cheered rapturously, and several salutes were fired from vessels in the neighborhood in honor of the event—(Doc 23.)

—A Notorious rebel marauder, Captain John Morgan, seized a party of six Union men at a church near Lebanon, Ky., to-day. Five he allowed to leave with some of their clothing, and setting fire to the church, forced the remaining victim into the building, intending to burn him alive. After some ineffectual attempts to escape, the man finally succeeded, while the attention of his persecutors was drawn off. As soon as the news of the occurrence reached the camp of the First regiment of Ohio Cavalry, not far distant, two companies were despatched in pursuit, but owing to the bad condition of the roads, and impassable streams, the chase had to be abandoned. —Cincinnati Commercial.

—In the United States Senate, n. M. Rice, of Minnesota, offered a joint resolution, which was adopted, that the Secretary of War be authorized to procure from officers and soldiers, now prisoners in the so-called Confederate States, allotment pay for families; the Secretary of War to issue drafts on New-York or Boston, Mass., to families.