Sunday, December 11.— This morning it was pleasant and clear, so that I had a chance to see Morris, James and Sullivan’s Islands. In the afternoon, about 5 o’clock, we were transferred to the United States, a propeller. These were chiefly field officers. Rebel flag-of-truce boats were out again this afternoon.
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Colonel Lyon’s Letters.
Stevenson, Ala., Dec. 11, 1864.—We are progressing well with our fortifications. The weather is unusually cold and there is considerable suffering amongst the refugees, and even the soldiers are none too comfortable. Whether we are to have any trouble here with the enemy is uncertain, but I am not looking for an attack. Yet it may come, and we are rapidly getting in that frame of mind that we do not care much if it comes or not. It costs a man weary days and weeks of anxiety, toil, and almost suffering, to do his duty to his country in these times. I have nothing of interest to write about and if I had this letter will probably be a month old before you get it.
Boston, December 11, 1864
Meanwhile you will soon have the message and documents. What do you think of them? They strike me as excellent business documents, and the tone of the message in relation to slavery and conciliation I very much like. We are all tired of that eternal olive branch of conciliation. The rebels play brag and they outrage all nature. Now in public we must outbrag them, whatever chances of conciliation are kept open in private. And by the way, I am very curious to see the Diplomatic Correspondence of this year. Will the curious Scott Russell diplomatic fiasco see the light? I think it ought, if only to prove that we have ever been ready and almost eager to discuss schemes of pacification brought forward with even a shadow of authority.
One report, that of the Treasury, disappoints me mightily, and for reasons which I have already given you. It seems to be an able balance sheet. It proves that we are at the end of our tether and can borrow no more, and it stops there. We can’t go on as we are, he clearly shows, and he has only to propose a continuation of the old measures. He does not state a single principle of sound finance, but he makes a stately onslaught upon “speculators in gold.” Why not also on those in flour and pork? It is, to my mind, very ominous. The people are so weary of an inflated currency that they are far ahead of Mr. Fessenden, and yet he is Secretary, and we must wait to have him ruin his reputation at the expense of our credit. I now very much fear that repudiation of some sort and to a certain extent is well nigh inevitable. We must have taxation and neither systems of finance or gold bills will supply its place. We certainly could retrench immensely —bounties could be cut off for one thing. We could raise more money by a somewhat lower tariff and then the income tax is all our own. For myself I would not grumble at giving one-third of my income for the rest of the war, and, instead of preventing imports by excessive duties, I would stop the consumption of luxuries by a war-tax of thirty-three per cent on all incomes above $5000 a year. You see I have gone crazy on the subject of taxes. I am tired of paying one-tenth of my income for revenue and one-half of it for currency. However, Mr. Fessenden thinks differently and he speaks from the high places. Of our other two national lights, Mr. Sherman is said to entertain the views which I express and your old friend, Thad. Stevens, as soon as he has fixed our currency, is going to regulate by law the rising of the sun, so that the days shall be of equal length all the year round. . . .
December 11th, Sunday.—Cloudy and melting—snow vanishing rapidly. The thousand and one rumors of great achievements of Gen. Longstreet on the north side of the river seem to have been premature. Nothing official of any advantage gained over the enemy near the city has been received so far as I can learn. Gen. Lee, no doubt, directed Longstreet to make demonstrations on the enemy’s lines near the city, to ascertain their strength, and to prevent more reinforcements being sent on the south side, where the struggle will occur, if it has not already occurred.
There is no doubt that the enemy’s column sent toward Weldon has been checked, and great things are reported of Gen. Hampton’s cavalry.
A battle must certainly occur near Savannah, Ga. Sherman must assail our lines, or perish between two fires.
President Lincoln’s message to the Congress of the United States, republished in our papers, produces no marked effect. His adherence to a purpose of emancipation of the slaves, and his employment of them in his armies, will suffice for an indefinite prolongation of the war, and perhaps result in the employment of hundreds of thousands of slaves in our armies. The intimation, however, that all applications for “pardon,” etc. have been and are still favorably entertained, will certainly cause many of our croakers who fall into the lines of the United States forces to submit. Others, though so disposed, have not an opportunity to signify their submission. But everything depends upon events in the field.
Sunday 11. — Snow still on the ground. Wind high and very cold. Men must suffer on picket. Three deserters came in from Early. Early going to Staunton — perhaps to Richmond. Sherman and Hood “as they were.” Am getting anxious about Sherman.
Fort Gillem, Sunday, Dec. 11. To-day was a terrible reminder of old Wisconsin to us. Last night was the coldest night I ever stood on guard. Did not suffer much though on post. Kept up a rapid motion. I could not sleep much, tent too cold, having to sleep on the ground. The day was no warmer. All hands lay close inside with roaring fires in the stoves. Detail sent out this afternoon after more horses. Returned with thirty-nine. We have now eighty-four, all we need, and may expect marching orders next. Evening spent cheerfully reading, with cedar wood plenty in stove. It is freezing very hard out of doors.
Before Savannah, December 11, 1864, 8 a.m.
Corse’s Division is just on our right. He woke me up this morning by firing a volley of eight 12-pounders, in real old Atlanta fashion. He was answered by three Rebel guns planted on the defenses of Savannah, across a field and swamp from us. We are in good range of them. Nine p.m.—Found this morning that the Rebels have a big swamp and lake between their position and ours. It is impossible to get at them there. Our corps was ordered to swing to the right. The Rebel battery had fair view and close range on any road we could take, so we had to wait until night, when ours and the 3d Division passed them without any trouble. We are now on a main road, straight and wide enough for three wagons, which we think leads to Pulaski. This is a country of awful swamps, with level flats, between which are rice fields, and most of them have three feet of water on them. Many think we are not going to make an effort for Savannah at present, but will open communication with the coast. It is as much as we can do to find dry land enough to camp on. We are not caring a cent what “Pap” does. It is quite cold again; to-night promises to be the coldest night of the winter.
11th. Sunday. Snowed all last night. 6 inches of snow this morning. Wrote to Fred, C. G., Ella and home.
1st. Thursday. 2nd Ohio in rear. Kept along down North river. Passed through “Hanging Rock” Gap. Scenery grand. Camped at Capron Bridge in Lost River valley, 18 miles below Wardensville. On picket. Easy post.
Sunday, 11th—The Twentieth Corps relieved our corps this morning and we moved to the right about five miles, taking the position occupied by the Fifteenth Corps, which moved still farther around to the right. We went into camp about 4 o’clock, and the Eleventh Iowa was sent out on the skirmish line, where we have good works built by the Fifteenth Corps. Skirmishing is not very brisk because of the wide swamp between us and the rebels. We are still on two-fifths rations and there is nothing to forage.
