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

Monday, March 5, 2012

Ash-Wednesday, March 5.—This morning Dr. Wilmer gave us a delightful sermon at St. Paul’s. He will be consecrated to-morrow Bishop of Alabama. To-night Bishop Elliott of Georgia preached for us, on the power of thought for good or evil. I do admire him so much in every respect.

5th.—The deed is done. The blood-hounds tracked out at least a part of their game. The following will tell its own tale :

Headquarters ______ Reg’t _____Vols,”

Camp Griffin, Virginia, March 5th, 1862.

Regimental Order,
No. 72.

Privates _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____[1] are detailed for extra duty in the Regimental Hospital. They will report to the Surgeon at the hospital forthwith, taking with them their knapsacks, arms, accoutrements, but no ammunition.

Privates _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____, _____[2] are relieved from extra duty at the Regimental Hospital, and will report for duty forthwith, to their company commanders.

The above changes in the attaches of the hospital is deemed necessary, on account of the late complimentary presentation, made by the attendants now relieved to the Surgeon in charge of the hospital. This was in violation of the spirit of the army regulations, and of the usage of the service.[3] Yet it is believed that in so doing the men were guilty of no intentional wrong, and were actuated by the better impulses of human nature; and there is, too, much reason to believe that they have been misled by the precedents which have been but too many in the volunteer service. While it is not intended to disgrace the soldiers above named, it is considered that by making this present to their superior in the Medical Department, they have so embarrassed their relationship to that officer as to render the continuance of that relationship subversive of military discipline.

The relationship of officers and soldiers is that of instruction and command on the one part, and of respect and obedience on the other. All discipline is based upon this theory, and while the officer will receive in his own consciousness of duty discharged, and the disinterested approval of his superiors and peers, his sufficient reward, the soldier, by doing his duty in the defence of his country, will continually pay a greater compliment, and make a more acceptable presentation to his officer than handiwork can fashion or money buy.

By order of the Colonel Commanding,

_____ _____ _____, Adjutant.”

Copy, Official.
_____ _____ _____, Adjutant

Well, there is a good deal of rhetorical high-fa-lu-tin in all that; but after it shall have been laughed at, hooted and ridiculed by all who see it, I wonder how much comfort the poor soldier who has had his hip shattered or his spine dislocated by a shell, will derive from the recollection of this rhetorical sophistry, whilst he is being handled on the battle field as a bear would handle him, instead of by those hands which had for months been trained to a knowledge of the business, and now withheld for the gratification of a cowardly vindictiveness.

But take it all in all, the above is a remarkable document. Nothing recognized but order and obedience. Affection for the commander is entirely ignored. It has been my boast and pride, that for months, not one of the ten men taken from me has been ordered. Their affection for me has anticipated my every wish as well as every necessity of the sick, and there has been a constant emulation amongst them as to who could best please me by contributing to the comforts of the sick. This, it seems, is not consistent with the good of the service, and they are all this day returned to the ranks ! Well, if military discipline ignores the impulses of affection, and of obedience from kindness, God deliver me from all such drill.


[1] Names of seven privates.

[2] Names of the ten of the hunted out.

[3] Everybody knows that statement to be false. ‘Twas perfectly in accordance with the uaage at that time and is yet.

Wednesday 5th

Went down on to the Ave this evening, had a talk with Judge Edmonds, Comr of the Land office, at the National. Called into “Willards.” Saw Mr Stillson there, was introduced to Mr Wills, a lawyer of Chicago, who is engaged in the great Land suit against the RR Company at Chicago. He appears to be a “smart one.” Called on my return home at the office of Maj Williams on 11th st. Saw VanMaster, just from Lyons. Nothing new from there. We are all much attached to the place. I have spent most of my life there.

______

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.

MARCH 5TH.—Martial law has been proclaimed.

Wednesday, 5th—Company E had prayer meeting this evening in a vacant room close by their quarters. It is reported that we are to leave for the South in two or three days. The war has certainly struck this place a hard blow. There are many vacant houses and most of the storerooms are standing empty. There are but few men left in town, most of them having gone to war. Families are divided, each member having gone to the army of his choice; there are fathers against sons and brothers against brothers. They are so determined for the side they take that many are killed in the neighborhood by their neighbors, and some even by members of their own families.

March 5th. The Rhode Island arrived, after having been to Galveston, Texas, visiting our ships as she passed them. On her way home she is to call among the blockaders, carrying home the sick and leaving stores. We put four patients aboard her for home. In the evening the U. S. sloop-of-war Richmond arrived from home; also one or two gunboats. Thus the great fleet detailed to our flag-officer’s command is slowly gathering in.

To Mrs. Lyon

Mound City, Ill., March 5, 1862.—I was down to Cairo yesterday, and while there the regiment received orders to march to Charlestown, a few miles west of Bird’s Point. Company K was not included. You are glad. Columbus is evacuated, no fight there. The boys are hungry for a fight.

5th. Packed and struck tents. Received a letter from home. Ready to march at 9 A. M. Called for the turkey and received the blessing of the good ladies. Had a very pleasant ride of fifteen miles toward Fort Scott, until we overtook the First Battalion. Trip delightful and novel. The scenes were truly grand as we crossed the rolling prairies and looked over them from some elevated spot—here and there oases, wood-covered and watered by pure clear streams. It made the trip restful and refreshing. I enjoyed it and walked some, leading my horse.

You will prepare your ship for service in the Mississippi River in the following manner:

Send down the top-gallant masts. Rig in the flying jib-boom, and land all the spars and rigging, except what are necessary for the three topsails, foresail, jib, and spanker. Trice up to the topmast stays or land the whiskers, and bring all the rigging into the bowsprit, so that there shall be nothing in the range of the direct fire ahead.

Make arrangements, if possible, to mount one or two guns on the poop and top-gallant forecastle; in other words, be prepared to use as many guns as possible ahead and astern, to protect yourself against the enemy’s gunboats and batteries, bearing in mind that you will always have to ride head to the current, and can only avail yourself of the sheer of the helm to point a broadside gun more than three points forward of the beam.

Have a kedge in the mizzen chains (or any convenient place) on the quarter, with a hawser bent and leading through in the stern chock, ready for any emergency; also grapnels in the boats, ready to hook on to, and to tow off, fire-ships. Trim your vessel a few inches by the head, so that if she touches the bottom she will not swing head down the river. Put your boat howitzers in the fore-maintops, on the boat carriages, and secure them for firing abeam, etc. Should any injury occur to the machinery of the ship, making it necessary to drop down the river, you will back and fill down under sail, or you can drop your anchor and drift down, but in no case attempt to turn the ship’s head down stream. You will have a spare hawser ready, and when ordered to take in tow your next astern do so, keeping the hawser slack so long as the ship can maintain her own position, having a care not to foul the propeller.

No vessel must withdraw from battle, under any circumstances, without the consent of the flag-officer. You will see that force and other pumps and engine hose are in good order, and men stationed by them, and your men will be drilled to the extinguishing of fire.

Have light Jacob-ladders made to throw over the side for the use of the carpenters in stopping shot-holes, who are to be supplied with pieces of inch board lined with felt and ordinary nails, and see that the ports are marked in accordance with the ‘ordnance instructions’ on the berth deck, to show the locality of the shot-hole.

Have many tubs of water about the decks, both for the purpose of extinguishing fire and for drinking. Have a heavy kedge in the port main-chains, and a whip on the main yard, ready to run it up and let fall on the deck of any vessel you may run alongside of, in order to secure her for boarding.

You will be careful to have lanyards on the lever of the screw so as to secure the gun at the proper elevation, and prevent it from running down at each fire. I wish you to understand that the day is at hand when you will be called upon to meet the enemy in the worst form for our profession. You must be prepared to execute all those duties to which you have been so long trained in the Navy without having the opportunity of practicing. I expect every vessel’s crew to be well exercised at their guns, because it is required by the regulations of the service, and it is usually the first object of our attention; but they must be equally well trained for stopping shot-holes and extinguishing fire. Hot and cold shot will, no doubt, be freely dealt to us, and there must be stout hearts and quick hands to extinguish the one and stop the holes of the other.

I shall expect the most prompt attention to signals and verbal orders, either from myself or the Captain of the fleet, who, it will be understood, in all cases acts by my authority.

D. G. Farragut.

Headquarters Heavy Artillery,
14th Mass. Regt., Co. B.
Fort Albany, March 5, 1862.

Dear Mother and Brothers:

We fired a National Salute here yesterday in honor of the first anniversary of Lincoln’s inauguration. It happened to be my detatchment that fired it, so I can say I have helped fire a cannon 6 P.dr. brass. 20 guns were fired, then we limbered up and run into the Fort.

Well, how do you get along with the Geese? Jerry told me you were not going to keep any this year, but I am glad you are. Write me which ones you keep and ducks and hens, because I am a little anxious to know how things go long about the Bradley Farm.

We had a lively time here the other day. I was making out pay-rolls, but when the order came to fall in, I seized my old comrade [gun] and went down. We formed in line and the adjutant read the orders from McClellan to Division Generals; it was to be ready to march, how much we could carry and to keep 2 days Rations ahead, in case of emergency. We have had several other orders since which indicate a forward movement. I hope we shall go, fighting or not.

Had a letter from Hull to-night. I have been making out papers to enable him to draw his pay in Massachusetts.

The Capt. has had a cold and does not feel very well. I have written a good long letter and I don’t believe he will. Jerry is well and on guard as drummer. By our latest news we have possession of Columbus, that great place of the Rebels. I think our army of Kentucky has done the most so far.

The Chaplin has got his wife out here and a Lieu’t had his come to-night. We shall soon have a village.

We have men from Washington to work on the Fort, as the frost has caused the Ramparts to slide off into the ditch. We hear considerable said about going home: some say in a month, others a year and some three years. Don’t make much difference to me.

As I know of nothing else to write, I will close.

Signed, Sealed in presence of

Leverett Bradley, Jr.

George, you may give my respects to the Gals and Boys about Pleasant Valley.