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

March 2012

Monday 31st

It has been pleasant today after the thunder shower which we had last night. Got my months Salary today, bought me a new hat, wore my old one a year and a half. Paid Bills “too numerous to mention.” We know but little of what is going on relating to the War as nothing is allowed to be published in the papers but there must be a great Battle soon in Tennessee betwen Buel & Beauregard. It is thought that the “cord” is tightening round Richmond. We shall probably hear soon. The Ladies Fair of the 4[th] Pres[byterian] Ch[urch] commenced tonight. Julia did not get home till after 11.

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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.

Update: As readers have pointed out in the comments, this entry is obviously dated wrong.  The Shiloh is still in the not-to-distant future.

MARCH 31ST.—Gen. Joseph E. Johnston is to command on the Peninsula. The President took an affectionate leave of him the other day; and Gen. Lee held his hand a long time, and admonished him to take care of his life. There was no necessity for him to endanger it—as had just been done by the brave Sydney Johnston at Shiloh, whose fall is now universally lamented. This Gen. Johnston (Joseph E.) I believe has the misfortune to be wounded in most of his battles.

Monday, 31st—Our regular drills are: Company drill from 10 to 11 a. m., battalion drill from 3 to 5 p. m., and dress parade at 5 p. m. We have a splendid drill ground in a large field. Received orders to get ready for review by General Grant tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock.

The country around here is quite rough and the soil is very poor. There is a great deal of gravel and there are some rocks, but the soil works very easily. The timber here is mostly white oak.

March 31st. Discovered a portion of a submarine telegraph cable across the river directly under our ship. The cable was destroyed, and a sample brought on board ship.

31st. In the morning read in “Ivanhoe.” Learned to play whist, pleasant game, but unprofitable as all cards are—will not allow myself to play. Rainy and cool.

Headquarters 2d Brigade, S. C.

Beaufort, S. C. March 31st, 1862.

 My dear Mother:

I hear the “Atlantic,” which has just arrived, will return at once, so I do not feel willing to lie down without writing a few lines, though it is full bedtime now. Gen. Hunter was here this afternoon. I saw too little of him, however, to form any judgment with regard to him, as his visit was brief. Poor Sherman must betake himself to the Mississippi, and forego for the future the sweets of unrestrained authority. Sherman has doubtless done a good work down here, though he has gained no glorious victories. This, however, was not expected by Government, which never once thought of supplying him with the force requisite to active operation. To be sure his force comprises nearly 20,000 men, but it must be remembered this is not a great force when the line extends from Dan to Beersheba. I am no special admirer of Sherman, but still do not think it worth while to join in abusing him as bitterly as most do, for not attempting what did not lie in his power. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I hardly think it probable Gen. Hunter will do much better than his predecessor unless properly reinforced. Few Generals, I find, have that taste for fruitless slaughter common to civilians, and most shrink from sacrificing life where nothing definite can be gained. My friends frequently write, asking me if I am not disgusted at the utter inactivity of the Command, and at times I have written strongly, still I could not but know that we were so from necessity. We were sent here by Government simply to defend a Harbor where our blockading squadron could ride in safety. This object has been accomplished, and not only this, but the whole remaining coast as far as the Gulf of Mexico is occupied by our troops. More than this has been done, but I pause, for there will be much to tell when the war is over, which one may not mention now. I do not wish you to understand that Savannah and Charleston might not have been ours had our leader been a greater man than is generally vouchsafed to armies, but we must give him credit for accomplishing reasonable possibilities. Stevens, I think, would have accomplished impossibilities, but quien sabe.

We have all been much amused in reading the papers brought by the last mail, at the editorials of Bennett on “Our Only Son.” It is necessary to see “Our Only Son” to appreciate the feeling remarks of the tender parent.

Do not suppose that, because I felt some little amusement at the early experience of the “Brethren” down here, I am in any wise inclined to join in the vulgar abuse so common with the multitude. I sincerely trust, indeed, their efforts may be attended with success, and certainly know some extremely pleasant people among them. I do not like Mr. _____ though, and am inclined to doubt the sincerity of a few.

Had I been up North I should have tried to have got Gen. Tyler to make me his Adjutant-General, being able, I believe, to give satisfactory testimonials of capacity for the detail office-work of a Brigade, but I am too far away to heat my own irons, and, indeed, I suppose it is much better to wait down here, until something has been done by our Command. Write me if Frank Bend is to occupy the position I have mentioned. He could fill it well.

I have got quite well acquainted with two of General Tyler’s old Aides now on Gen. Sherman’s Staff and both fine fellows. I give the names, O’Rourke and Merrill, as Mrs. T. may have been acquainted with them.

Well, my dear mother, I write a deal that I would not like to have repeated.

My clothes, though quite lately new (December), are beginning to grow rusty. I think it would be a good plan to have a new suit made for me. I shall need it before it reaches me. I am greatly in need of shirts (3 will do me). You know I left home with a small valise. My wardrobe has since been diminished by Bull Run, by washerwomen, by thieves, and by natural wear and tear, so that I have become almost as much an object of charity as the contrabands. I have been under the hallucination ever since leaving home, that a good time would come when I would be able to return again, and fit myself out properly for a campaign. Not having seen the time yet, it was lucky that the box you sent me supplied me with the means of sustaining myself to say the least.

Now, my dear mother, fearing that you may exaggerate my needs, I will confess candidly that all I want are 3 or 4 shirts and a few pairs of stockings. Handkerchiefs and towels I have in abundance. I would like everything as plain as possible, for anything that has a tinge of red, or yellow or blue, it is impossible to prevent the negroes from appropriating to their own uses.

Before two months are over, the time for military operation down here will have passed, so we have every reason to suppose that the time has come when our Command will commence a victorious career. When the summer heats shall prevent any further movement, I trust, dear mother, I may be allowed to spend a few days with you. That would be so delightful. Good-bye, kiss all around, sisters, little ones and all. Love to Aunt Maria and Uncle Phelps. Tell the latter I will send him a check by the earliest opportunity.

Yours affec’y.,

Will.

Monday, 31.— A lovely day; a glorious inspection! How finely the men looked! Dr. Webb left us today. I hope so much that he will return. We are being paid off today. Mr. Walker, clerk of Major Cowan, attends to it. I send home by Dr. Webb three hundred and fifty dollars for my wife. . . .

Took advantage of the fine day to march off to a field half a mile or more and drill “charge bayonet, with a yell.” Good — very; first-rate! Will do it more. Saw the moon accidentally and honestly over the right shoulder!

31st.—To-day, whilst all were expecting orders to move forward, I received orders to build a log hospital. — What can this mean? The weather is beautiful, roads good, troops in fine condition, warm weather coming on, and here we are preparing as for a summer’s stay. God help us and our little General, but put it into his heart not to remain here till the enemy, whom we have found, has time to fortify against our approach. We have been a long time accomplishing nothing. Although the weather is fine, and it is now first of April, not a forest tree has started its buds. I am disappointed, for I expected by this time, in this climate, to be as in midsummer. But even the trees, and nature, seem to linger, and we should not blame our General.

I visited Fortress Monroe to-day. This is a great Fort, almost surrounded by natural water, besides being entirely enclosed within its own moat. The two walls which surround it are together from thirty to sixty feet thick, of solid granite masonry, and the two together are about three miles long, enclosing by a double wall about eighty acres. It mounts 480 guns, commanding the approaches in every direction. The transports are landing here from 15,000 to 20,000 troops daily. This is no doubt one of the causes of the delay of our army. We wait for the arrival of the remainder, that when we do move, we may march steadily forward without fear of repulse. Start us, and twelve to fifteen days should place us in Richmond, only about seventy-five miles distant. Whilst sitting on the parapet of the Fort, I had a good view of the Rip-Raps, an artificial island, built up in the sea, of huge stones shipped there, and on which is built Fort Wool. These Forts are the key to the great, strong door between the Federal and the Confederate Governments.

March 31.—General Hunter, having arrived at Port Royal, S.C., assumed the command of the Department of the South, consisting of the States of South-Carolina, Georgia and Florida.—(Doc. 111.)

—Col. Buford, of the Twenty-seventh Illinois, accompanied by his regiment, the Forty-second Illinois, the Douglas Brigade, Col. Roberts, and four hundred of the Fifteenth Wiconsin, Col. Heg, (Scandinavian,) all from Island No. Ten, and two companies of the Second Illinois cavalry, Colonel Hogg, and a detachment of artillery, the last two from Hickman, Ky., made a reconnoissance in force and descent upon Union City, Tenn; and after a forced march of twenty-four hours, discovered a large force of rebel cavalry and infantry, under the notorious Clay King. The cavalry dashed into the place at a furious rate. The utmost consternation seized the rebels, and they fled in every direction. Several of them were killed, and about one hundred taken prisoners; one hundred and fifty horses were captured, a large amount of forage and spoils, and several secession flags. The National forces returned to Hickman after destroying the tents and other property they could not carry away.—Chicago Times.

— The One Hundred and Fifth regiment of New-York Volunteers, under the command of Col. James M. Fuller, left Rochester for the seat of war.—N. Y. Commercial, April 1.

—A Very large meeting of citizens of New-England, resident in New-York, was held at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, this evening, with a view to make some arrangements to provide for proper attention to the wounded soldiers passing through the city on their return from the battle-field.

Sunday March 30th

This has been a cold rainy day, as uncomfortable for the soldiers as could well be. It rained so hard that none of us went to church in the morning. Wife and the boys went in the afternoon. I have not been out, staid in the house reading.

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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.