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

Saturday, April 21, 2012

The gun which wounded Lieut. Wagner.

April 21, 2012

Library of Congress

Portion of Rebel battery at Wynns Mill. The gun which wounded Lieut. Wagner. Topographical Engineer

Portion of Rebel battery at Wynns Mill. The gun which wounded Lieut. Wagner. Topographical Engineer.

Artist: Alfred R. Waud.

This drawing and additional information may be found here at the Library of Congress

Additional Info related to the drawing:

The following incident is given in illustration of the hazards common to the duty of a topographical engineer. My especial duty along the lines was to direct the running [of] short base lines with a steel tape carried by two soldiers in a quick trot. F.W. Dorr with a plane table would occupy the ends of the base and rapidly sight the lines of redoubt batteries or breastworks drawing determining lines. A very few minutes were given to each station but one unfortunate day Lieut. Wagner of the Corps of Topographical Engineers came up to the instrument “on station” and engaged Dorr in conversation [within sight of] a small battery about a thousand feet distant. The opportunity was seized by the Confederates manning the battery who opened fire upon the group about the plane table, comprising besides Dorr and Wagner, a number of pickets and my chainmen. The first shell fired, a percussion, struck the tripod and exploding literally blew up the whole group. Dorr escaped with a scratch but Wagner and one of my chainmen were mortally wounded [???] dying in two days. Three men were killed outright and several slightly wounded. Nothing was left of the plane table, and the sheet was torn in half and sprinkled with Wagner’s blood. Only the telescope of the alhidade was found. This was the last plane table work done during the campaign and thereafter reconnaissances were made with compass and [chain?] instruments. (War Record of J. W. Donn)

West Point Class of 1859 – Orlando G. Wagner: Topographical Engineer; served in New Mexico, then was killed fighting for the Union in the War between the States, within three years of graduating.

1829 (Bvt. Captain, Sep. 10, 1861,  for Gallant and Meritorious Services in the Campaign in Western Virginia)

Jan. 20 to Feb., 1862; and in the Virginia Peninsular Campaign as Asst. Top. Engineer (Army of the Potomac), Mar.-Apr., 1862, being engaged in the Siege of Yorktown, Apr. 5‑16, 1862, when he was Mortally Wounded while reconnoitring the enemy’s works.  Died Apr. 21, 1862, of Wound received before Yorktown, Va.: Aged 25.

(Bvt. Major, Apr. 17, 1862, for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Siege of Yorktown, Va., where he was Mortally Wounded while Reconnoitring the Enemy’s Works)

Post image for A Diary From Dixie

A Diary From Dixie

April 21, 2012

A Diary From Dixie by Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut.

April 21st.—Have been ill. One day I dined at Mrs. Preston’s, pâté de foie gras and partridge prepared for me as I like them. I had been awfully depressed for days and could not sleep at night for anxiety, but I did not know that I was bodily ill. Mrs. Preston came home with me. She said emphatically: “Molly, if your mistress is worse in the night send for me instantly.” I thought it very odd. I could not breathe if I attempted to lie down, and very soon I lost my voice. Molly raced out and sent Lawrence for Doctor Trezevant. She said I had the croup. The doctor said, “congestion of the lungs.”

So here I am, stranded, laid by the heels. Battle after battle has occurred, disaster after disaster. Every morning’s paper is enough to kill a well woman and age a strong and hearty one.

To-day, the waters of this stagnant pool were wildly stirred. The President telegraphed for my husband to come on to Richmond, and offered him a place on his staff. I was a joyful woman. It was a way opened by Providence from this Slough of Despond, this Council whose counsel no one takes. I wrote to Mr. Davis, “With thanks, and begging your pardon, how I would like to go.” Mrs. Preston agrees with me, Mr. Chesnut ought to go. Through Mr. Chesnut the President might hear many things to the advantage of our State, etc.

Letter from Quinton Washington. That was the best tonic yet. He writes so cheerfully. We have fifty thousand men on the Peninsula and McClellan eighty thousand. We expect that much disparity of numbers. We can stand that.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

April 21, 2012

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

April 21.—The United States Circuit Court, for the middle district of Tennessee, held its first (preliminary) session, since the secession of the State, in the court-room of the capital at Nashville, Judge John Catron presiding.—Chicago Times.

—The Provost-Marshal’s force at Richmond, Va., arrested three citizens of that place, named Jas. Humphreys, Benj. Humphreys, watchmakers, and J. T. Pritchard, formerly a clerk of G. R. Peake, all for disloyalty. The prisoners were defiant in their remarks, saying that they owed allegiance to the United States alone, etc All three of them are Virginians by birth.—Richmond Despatch, April 22.

—Gen. Milroy, at the head of a reconnoitring force, overtook the rear-guard of the rebel cavalry six miles west of the railroad, near Buffalo Gap, Augusta County, Western Virginia. They fled, rapidly pursued by the Nationals. Milroy learned that their main body stopped the previous night six miles beyond Buffalo Gap, but finding they were cut off at Staunton by Gen. Banks, they bore south-west, through both Bath and Alleghany Counties, toward the James River.

A company that was sent by General Milroy down the north fork of the Potomac, in Pendleton County, captured eight rebels, including Barnett, a notorious guerrilla.—New – York Commercial, April 25.

—The ship R. C. Files was captured by the National fleet, while attempting to run the blockade of Mobile, Ala.—New-York Tribune, May 9.

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