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

Monday, November 17, 2014

Post image for War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

November 17, 2014

War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Thursday, November 17. — Colonel Ashworth of the 1st Georgia Union Cavalry was put into our room today. He has been very badly treated. He is from Dalton. We made him as comfortable as possible. Day pleasant.

[Colonel J. H. Ashworth, 1st Georgia Cavalry (Union), was captured in Gilmer County, Georgia, November 5, 1864. He was twice robbed of all his clothing and money by the rebels. Information in reference to Colonel A. can be obtained from James G. Brown, Dalton, Ga., appointed Chief of Scouts by General Thomas, U. S. A.

Colonel A. captured, on or about November 1, Lieutenant Colonel Harp, 1st Georgia State Cavalry, in Pickens County, Georgia.

Eighteen of Colonel A.’s men, regularly enlisted in the U. S. service, were captured with him. Twelve of these men, to the best of Colonel A.’s knowledge, were taken out two days after their capture by some guerillas near Gatesville, Ga., under Captain Tom Pope Edminston, and shot. Six of these men who were killed had never belonged to the rebel service. The remainder had taken the oath of allegiance and regularly enlisted in the U. S. service, under direction of General Steedman, U. S. A.]

Post image for “I wish Sherman would burn the commissary trains..,”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

“I wish Sherman would burn the commissary trains..,”–Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

November 17, 2014

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

Near Jackson, Ga., November 17, 1864, 12 a.m.

Have just had our coffee. Marched some 17 miles to-day. Begin to see where the “rich planters” come in. This is probably the most gigantic pleasure excursion ever planned. It already beats everything I ever saw soldiering, and promises to prove much richer yet. I wish Sherman would burn the commissary trains, we have no use for what they carry, and the train only bothers us. It is most ludicrous to see the actions of the negro women as we pass. They seem to be half crazy with joy, and when a band strikes up they go stark mad. Our men are clear discouraged with foraging, they can’t carry half the hogs and potatoes they find right along the road. The men detailed for that purpose are finding lots of horses and mules. The 6th Iowa are plumb crazy on the horse question.

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

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

November 17, 2014

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

Thursday, 17th—We broke camp at 5 o’clock, marched eighteen miles, and went into bivouac for the night. Our regiment was train guard and the Sixteenth Iowa was rear guard of our brigade. We marched through some fine country today, and though heavily timbered, it is well improved. It is good country for foraging. We found plenty of fresh pork and all the sweet potatoes we could carry. The weather is delightful and there is no rebel in our front yet.

Post image for A Diary From Dixie.

A Diary From Dixie.

November 17, 2014

A Diary From Dixie by Mary Boykin Miller Chesnut.

November 17th.—Although Sherman[1] took Atlanta, he does not mean to stay there, be it heaven or hell. Fire and the sword are for us here; that is the word. And now I must begin my Columbia life anew and alone. It will be a short shrift.

Captain Ogden came to dinner on Sunday and in the afternoon asked me to go with him to the Presbyterian Church and hear Mr. Palmer. We went, and I felt very youthful, as the country people say; like a girl and her beau. Ogden took me into a pew and my husband sat afar off. What a sermon! The preacher stirred my blood. My very flesh crept and tingled. A red-hot glow of patriotism passed through me. Such a sermon must strengthen the hearts and the hands of many people. There was more exhortation to fight and die, à la Joshua, than meek Christianity.

[1] General Sherman had started from Chattanooga for his march across Georgia on May 6, 1864. He had won the battles of Dalton, Resaca, and New Hope Church in May, the battle of Kennesaw Mountain in June, the battles of Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta in July, and had formally occupied Atlanta on September 2d. On November 16th, he started on his march from Atlanta to the sea and entered Savannah on December 23d. Early in 1865 he moved his army northward through the Carolinas, and on April 26th received the surrender of General Joseph E. Johnston.

Post image for Rutherford B. Hayes.

Rutherford B. Hayes.

November 17, 2014

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Camp Near Winchester, Virginia, November 17, 1864.

Dearest: — When I wrote last I was in some doubt whether this Valley campaign was ended or not. It seems to be now settled. Early got a panic among his men and left our vicinity for good, I think.

The Sixth and Nineteenth Corps are building winter quarters. A telegraph line is put up and the railroad from Winchester to Harpers Ferry is nearly rebuilt. The location is a good one for a large body of troops. We are very pleasantly camped, but having no orders to put up winter quarters, have not fixed up for winter. We are very comfortable, however. My tent is floored, banked up, a good tent flue built, etc., etc. We get daily papers now regularly. The Baltimore American, a sound Republican paper, sells several thousand copies, — more than all other papers put together. The Philadelphia Inquirer, also sound, sells next in number. The New York Herald, sound on the war in a sort of guerrilla style, sells one thousand to two thousand copies. No other newspapers have any large circulation, but the pictorials, Harper’s Weekly having the preference, sell immensely — nearly as many copies, I judge, as the Baltimore American. The Christian Commission distributes a vast amount of religious reading matter gratuitously. The sutlers sell dime novels and the thunder-and-lightning style of literature, in large quantity.

The Sixth and Nineteenth Corps have built fine fieldworks. The weather has been good and a great many squads and regiments are drilling. There are a score or two of bands. Possibly two are better than ours — not more than that. There is a good deal of horse-racing with tolerably high betting. The scenes at the races are very exciting. You would enjoy them. Nothing so fine of the kind is anywhere to be sene in civil life. Here the subordination of rank, the compulsory sobriety of the great crowds, etc., rid these spectacles of such disagreeable accompaniments as rioting, drunkenness, and the like. — We are beginning to have oyster and wine suppers and festive times generally.

General Crook has gone to Cumberland, and it is thought that my command will be ordered there for the winter, but this is all guess. I am again in command of the division after going back to the brigade for one day. How we shall be organized ultimately is not settled. I prefer the brigade. It now has three fine veteran regiments and the Thirteenth. The First Virginia Veterans (old Fifth and Ninth) is splendid.

I mean to ask for a leave as soon as we get housed in our winter quarters. I hope to see you by Christmas.

Tell Birch I am greatly pleased to have a letter from him. He will soon be one of my chief correspondents. — Love to all.

Affectionately ever, your

R.

P. S. — Hastings is getting better slowly. There are now hopes of his recovery. His sister is with him.

Mrs. Hayes.

Post image for Rutherford B. Hayes.

Rutherford B. Hayes.

November 17, 2014

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Thursday, November 17. — Read speculations on Sherman’s new move. Great hopes of his success. Rode into Winchester with Colonel Harris and Captain McKinley; called at Mr. Williams’ law office; read the constitutional provisions as to amendments.

Post image for Letters and Diary of Laura M. Towne.

Letters and Diary of Laura M. Towne.

November 17, 2014

Letters and diary of Laura M. Towne

Thursday, November 17, 1864.

I am getting my South Carolina health back — eat like a horse, sleep like a top, do any amount of work, and read nothing; that last is too bad and greatly to my regret. We have begun reading in the carriage on our way to school.

The weather is exquisite, the school flourishing, household matters comfortable, living good, and all things smooth at present. We are not yet in our new schoolhouse, for the Government carpenter, Mr. Wilson, has to let his hands literally fish for themselves, as the quartermaster has no money to pay for six months’ work back, and they need a subsistence. So we have to wait for seats for our scholars, and other finishings. We have a very large school and a charming time in it. Just think, you poor, freezing, wind-pierced mortals! we have summer weather. The fields are gay with white, purple, and yellow flowers, and with the red leaves of sumach and other shrubs. Our woods are always green, and just now the gum trees make them beautiful with red. You can’t see a leaf! Chill November! I pity you. But — but! — We are perfect recluses.

Ellen has gone to-night to Frogmore to see her friends and family and I miss her terribly. I think I get less and less used to doing without things — yet I am resolved to stick just here to my work. . . .

We are just enjoying my darling little stove, being able to eat our meals in comfort and without involuntary mastication from chattering teeth, for it has been too cold until within two days to do without fires in the dining-room, a luxury we never could have before. It, the stove, draws well. Our curtains are not yet up, and I begin to fear they will not decorate our windows all winter.

You do not know how snug and homelike our parlor looks — just large enough for two.

I wonder whether you will see Mr. Tomlinson in Philadelphia. He is still there and I hope you will meet him. He is to speak at some Freedmen’s Relief meeting, and I suppose you will hear him. If you do, be sure to tell me the drift of his remarks.

We are overjoyed at Lincoln’s victory, which reaches us in this fashion. He has all the states but three — Kentucky! New Jersey, and Tennessee. Is it so? There is beginning to be great talk here of leasing the school farms, and the Murrays may have to leave Frogmore. They have no idea where they will go. All is as uncertain as ever, but I do not trouble myself. The uncertainties down here all smooth themselves into very good order in time, and so I do not fear any serious vexations in the new school arrangements on the school farms.

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

November 17, 2014

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

November 17th. — Dark and dismal—threatening rain or snow. Quiet below; but we have no papers to-day, yesterday being holiday.

It is rumored that Gen. Sheridan (Federal) is sailing from Washington to reinforce Grant, and that Gen. Early is marching hitherward from the Valley. There may be renewed operations against Richmond, or Grant may penetrate North Carolina. No one knows what will happen a month or a week hence.

Mr. Hunter was again with Mr. Seddon this morning.

Governor Smith’s exemption mill is yet grinding out exemptions, sometimes fifty per day. Constables, department clerks, and sheriffs, commonwealth’s attorneys, commissioners of the revenue, etc etc., who win his favor, get his certificate of exemption, as necessary for the State administration.

A dispatch from Gen. Wheeler, Jonesborough, November 14th, says Sherman has three corps at Atlanta, and is destroying railroads between him and Marietta, probably intending to move forward—farther South.

Another dispatch from Gen. W., dated 14th inst., Lovejoy’s, Georgia, says scouts from enemy’s rear report that Sherman left Atlanta yesterday morning, with 15th, 17th, and 21st corps, in two columns, one on the Jonesborough, and one on the McDonough Roads—cavalry on his flanks. Many houses have been burned in Rome, Marietta, and Atlanta, and the railroad bridge over Chattanooga River (in his rear)! Enemy advancing this morning. To Gen. Bragg.

Twelve M. Still another dispatch from Gen. Wheeler to Gen. Bragg, dated Jonesborough, 3 P.M., 15th inst. “Enemy advanced early this morning with infantry, cavalry, artillery, and wagons— have driven our cavalry back upon this place—strength not yet ascertained, etc.”

Still another dispatch:

“Griffin, Ga., November 16th, 1864.

“To Gen. Bragg.

“Enemy checked this evening near Bear Creek—enemy evidently marching to Macon.

“Jos. Wheeler, Major-General.”

The dispatches from Gen. Weeler have produced no little commotion in the War Office.

Gen. J. E. Johnston’s report of his Georgia campaign concludes by asserting that he did intend to defend Atlanta; that he retreated before overwhelming numbers; that the President did not favor him with any directions; that Lee retreated before Grant, and everybody praised him for it; that Gen. Hood professed to be his friend, when seeking his removal, or cognizant of the purpose to remove him; and that the vituperation heaped upon him in certain papers seemed to have Executive authorization at Richmond.

The President indorses this growlingly; that it all differs with his understanding of the facts at the time, etc.

Post image for An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones

An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones

November 17, 2014

An Artilleryman's Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones, 6th Battery, Wisconsin Artillery.

Nashville, Thursday, Nov. 17. Another cold, wet day. On guard. Rain fell incessantly. My shoes being bad, feet wet all day. Sergeant Keeler and boys that were left to bring horses up arrived. Turned over the plugs at Chattanooga. —— left the Battery at Whiteside. Went on to Huntsville to visit his friends there. Returned and was immediately put under arrest. Will probably be court-martialed. Batteries were still being brought up, some 165 batteries camped here belonging to the Army of Tennessee. Major Powell in charge. Detail out this afternoon staking out the ground to align the batteries.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

November 17, 2014

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

17th. Thursday. Relieved by 18th P. V. Got into camp a little before dark.

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