Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
March 17, 1865.—The boat was tied up again last night. We have gone very slowly today, for we go against a strong tide. We arrived at Nashville after dark.
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Beaman’s Cross Roads, March 17, 1865.
About 12 miles, more than half of which had to be corduroyed. Roads awful. If a wagon pulls off the corduroy, it drops to the hub. There are two or three inches of black sand on the surface covering quicksand unfathomable. No one need tell me that bad roads will stop an army. The 20th corps had sharp little affair yesterday. Hear their loss if over 400. Everyone is expecting a fight before we read Goldsboro. The whole corps is camped together to-night. Our division has been in rear of the corps two days and has not had a fight in the advance since we left Columbia. I believe I have not heard a hostile shot for 27 days. Howard is here to-night. Whole corps is on this road.
Chattanooga, Friday, March 17. A very pleasant day. Feel excellent. Keeler missed my name for guard this morning but found me in time to go to the woods. A citizen carpenter with help from the Company is at work on the stables. Spring is opening —Today I saw the first flowers of the season. They grew way up Missionary Ridge.
I must not forget to say that twenty-six men from the 8th Wisconsin Battery arrived here this morning with description lists of about as many more, some of them in N. C, others on detached duty. Captain Hood has been to see General Brewer about it. He refuses to receipt for men not to be had. Captain of the 8th sent all of his one-year men and those whose term of service is about out, relieving the veterans of the 3rd. Hood asks to send all the 8th men back and receive the 3rd. They are a good-looking lot of men. Among them one orderly, two sergeants and a corporal.
March 17th.—Bright and cool. A violent southeast gale prevailed last evening, with rain. Of course we have no news in the papers from any quarter. Sheridan having retired, all the local troops returned yesterday.
After all, the President does not reap a perfect triumph over Congress. The bill suspending the writ of habeas corpus passed the House by only four majority; and in the Senate it was defeated by nine against six for it! So the President cannot enjoy Cromwell’s power without the exercise of Cromwell’s violence.
We shall have a negro army. Letters are pouring into the department from men of military skill and character, asking authority to raise companies, battalions, and regiments of negro troops. It is the desperate remedy for the very desperate case— and may be successful. If 300,000 efficient soldiers can be made of this material, there is no conjecturing where the next campaign may end. Possibly “over the border,” for a little success will elate our spirits extravagantly; and the blackened ruins of our towns, and the moans of women and children bereft of shelter, will appeal strongly to the army for vengeance.
There is a vague rumor of another battle by Bragg, in which he did not gain the victory. This is not authentic; and would be very bad, if true, for then Sherman’s army would soon loom up in our vicinity like a portentous cloud.
The Commissary-General, in a communication to the Secretary urging the necessity of keeping the trade for supplies for Lee’s army, now going on in Eastern North Carolina, a profound secret, mentions the “miscarriage of the Fredericksburg affair,” which proves that the government did send cotton and tobacco thither for barter with the enemy.
One reason alleged for the refusal of Congress to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, is the continuance of Mr. Benjamin in the cabinet.
Friday, 17th—Our division is still in the lead. We started at 7 a. m. and marched fifteen miles. Our regiment was train guard and we did not get into bivouac until midnight. The rebels are in our front and hard to drive; their main force, however, is on our left, in front of the Fourteenth and Twentieth Corps. It was clear today and quite pleasant.
17th. Reveille at 4. Moved out at 8, having been in line two hours. In rear of the train. Got into camp before dark. Plenty of rations. Passed through Aylett’s Ware House and camped near King William Court House, 8 miles from White House.
March 17th. Martinsburg. Weather clear, but very windy. Putting camp in order. Hoping for good weather. Lieutenant Merwin returned today, having been a prisoner of war since June 15th, 1863, most of the time at Richmond, Va.
March 17th. 1865.
Military affairs here are approaching a crisis. Everything betokens immediate action. Quartermasters have sent all superfluous baggage to Washington, and have everything packed, ready to move. Officers and men are sending home their “extras,” by orders from Headquarters. The Second and Fifth Corps struck tents at 12 o’clock last night, but had not moved at noon today. The Ninth Corps has been engaged for several days in throwing up breastworks to protect their flank, which shows that we are to hold these lines, while all troops on our left will be cut loose and sent to some other point. Furloughs continue to be granted as freely as last winter, which shows Grant is not short of men.
Mr. Collier started for home yesterday. Mr. Woodin leaves tomorrow morning. Colonel Swift, who went home to recruit, is on detached duty in Detroit.
A flag of truce came inside our lines the fifteenth inst. Rumor says, “Peace Commissioners.”
