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

Monday, February 13, 2012

Post image for Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

February 13, 2012

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

Thursday Feb 13th 1862

A bright pleasant day. No particular news, but many rumors of fighting West. I have been in the office, am there every day filling out Patents or Deeds & recording them. Julia has Miss Hartly and two of the Miss Middletons here tonight. I have been down to the National. Called at Chas on my return from the Ave –. Mr Hartly called for Mat[ty] at 1/2 past 9. Willie coughs a good deal. Bud & Holly went to the Capitol today.

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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 War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

February 13, 2012

War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Thursday, February 13. — Judge Washburn and lady came out here to-day, and met with a very kind reception from the general and staff. They took lunch here, and seemed to enjoy themselves very much. Generals Martindale and Butterfield[1] were present, and also Judge Davis of New York. We had quite a jolly time. Saw Dr. Prince of the 22d Massachusetts this evening. Sent a valentine to Edith.[2]

 

[1] General Daniel Butterfield.

[2] Edith Weld, my sister.

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

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

February 13, 2012

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

Thursday, 13th—It snowed some today, and we all stayed close in our quarters, as the weather was so disagreeable. It is a very cold night.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

February 13, 2012

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

13th. Wrote to Fannie and received a letter from her— dear girl!

Post image for “We have just been drawn to the window by sad strains of martial music. The bodies of Captains Wise and Coles were brought by the cars, under special escort.”—Diary of a Southern Refugee, Judith White McGuire.

“We have just been drawn to the window by sad strains of martial music. The bodies of Captains Wise and Coles were brought by the cars, under special escort.”—Diary of a Southern Refugee, Judith White McGuire.

February 13, 2012

Diary of a Southern Refugee During the War by Judith White McGuire,The American Civil War

13th.—Donelson is holding out bravely. I shudder to think of the loss of life.

Notwithstanding the rain this morning, I renewed my pursuit after lodgings. With over-shoes, cloak and umbrella, I defied the storm, and went over to Grace Street, to an old friend who sometimes takes boarders. Her house was full, but with much interest she entered into my feelings, and advised me to go to Mr. L., who, his large school having declined, was filling his rooms with boarders. His wife was the daughter of a friend, and might find a nook for us. I thought of the “Hare and many friends,” and bent my steps through the storm to the desired haven. To my surprise, Mrs. L. said we could get a room; it is small, but comfortable, the terms suit our limited means, and we will go as soon as they let us know that they are ready for us.

We have just been drawn to the window by sad strains of martial music. The bodies of Captains Wise and Coles were brought by the cars, under special escort. The military met them, and in the dark, cold night, it was melancholy to see the procession by lamplight, as it passed slowly down the street. Captain Wise has been carried to the Capitol, and Captain Coles to the Central Depot, thence to be carried to-morrow to the family burying-ground at Enniscorthy, in Albemarle County. Thus are the bright, glorious young men of the Confederacy passing away. Can their places be supplied in the army? In the hearts and homes of families there must ever be a bleeding blank.

Post image for Good news.—Bad roads.—Cake and candy.—Orphans fund.—Soldier’s Home. — Woolsey Family Letters; Eliza to Joe Howland.

Good news.—Bad roads.—Cake and candy.—Orphans fund.—Soldier’s Home. — Woolsey Family Letters; Eliza to Joe Howland.

February 13, 2012

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

February 13.

I have nothing more than the usual “all right” to tell you, but you must always have that. We ought to congratulate each other on the good news from Roanoke Island and Tennessee, which quite thrilled us all yesterday. We were out at Will Winthrop’s camp when the boys cried the “Star” and the victory, and we heard the particulars first from Mrs. Captain Rodgers, who came here directly from Mrs. General McClellan’s. Mrs. McClellan described to her, her husband’s delight when the news came. He flung his arms over his head, and, fairly radiant with glee, pronounced himself the happiest man in Washington, “and the General, you know,” his wife says, “is such a quiet man usually. I have seldom seen him more excited.” . . .

We managed to get out to Will Winthrop’s camp yesterday without an upset, but (so Mother thought) at the peril of our lives! What will she say to the Virginia roads on the way to your camp? She is overwhelmed with pity for the poor men and officers. When we left, Will tramped some distance through the mud to show us a better way out, and we were immensely entertained at his manifesting his tongue in his cheek (behind Mother’s back) when he found the road worse than he thought, remarking, “Why! this is quite a godsend. I had no idea of finding such a good highway.”

. . . This morning George Carr has been out on horseback to take Will some cake and candy from Mother, to make up for a well meant but bad cake we took him when we went ourselves.

. . . We hear New York is overflowing with cheers and jubilees for the victories, and in Philadelphia the celebration was the best of all, for they took steps at once to raise a fund for the orphans of the soldiers killed in that battle and to found a “Soldiers’ Home” for all maimed and helpless volunteers when the war is over.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

February 13, 2012

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

February 13.—The Constitutional Convention, in session at Wheeling, Va., adopted this morning the following as a section of the article on the fundamental provisions of the constitution of the proposed new State of Western Virginia, with the understanding that this action should be a settlement of the vexed question:

“No slave or free persons of color shall come into this State for permanent residence after this constitution goes into operation.”

—This day an extensive fire occurred at Bowling Green, Ky., which resulted in the destruction of several large establishments. The soldiers worked hard, and finally succeeded in extinguishing the conflagration. Generals Johnston and Hardee, in person, directed the movements of the troops.—Lynchburgh (Va.) Republican, Feb. 16.

—In the United States Senate Mr. Davis introduced a series of resolutions declaring that the Constitution is the fundamental law of the Government, and that any attempt to abrogate the rights guaranteed by it would be inhuman and an outrage upon civilisation; that any rights and privileges suspended by the existence of the war be resumed at its termination; that no State, by any vote of secession, or any other act, can abrogate her rights or obligations, or the obligations of the United States, to preserve her people in all their rights, and guarantee to them a State republican government; that it is the duty of the United States to suppress the rebellion, to carry the “sword” in one hand and the “olive branch” in the other, and to restore the States as they were before the war.

—The Thirteenth regiment, Michigan volunteers, passed through Cincinnati, 0., to-day, en route for Kentucky.—New – York Times, Feb. 14.

—Springfield, Mo., was occupied by the National troops. At about three o’clock in the morning General Curtis’s army advanced in line of battle, and at daybreak the third division, headed by the Fourth Iowa, entered and took peaceful possession of the town. The rebel General Price had left at two o’clock the same morning, leaving over six hundred of his sick behind. Large quantities of forage wagons were also left. He had twelve thousand effective troops and fifty pieces of artillery.

—The Secretary of the Navy returned the thanks of the Department to Lieutenant Phelps, who commanded the recent gunboat expedition up the Tennessee River, destroying or capturing the rebel gunboats and stores, dispersing their forces, and breaking up their encampments.—(Doc. 35.)

—An expedition under command of Lieutenant William N. Jeflfers, U.S.N., left the mouth of North River, near Edenton, N. C., and proceeded to the mouth of the Chesapeake and Albemarle Canal, in North-Carolina, for the purpose of obstructing it, The proposed work was found to have been partially executed by the rebels themselves, some of whom were discovered engaged in sinking vessels across the canal. After driving off the rebels, the work was completed by sinking two schooners in the mouth of the canal and burning all that then remained above water.— (Doc. 41.)

—In the United States Senate the Treasury Note bill, with the legal tender clause, and the clause providing for the payment of the interest of the public debt in coin, was passed by a vote of thirty to seven.