AUGUST 11TH.—There is a whisper that something like a rupture has occurred between the President and Gen. Beauregard; and I am amazed to learn that Mr. Benjamin is inimical to Gen. B. I know nothing of the foundation for the report; but it is said that Beauregard was eager to pass with his army into Maryland, immediately after the battle, and was prevented. It is now quite apparent, from developments, that a small force would have sufficed to take Washington, a few days or weeks after the battle. But was Beauregard aware of the fact, before the opportunity ceased to exist? It is too late now!
August 2011
Cairo, August 11, ’61.
Our Canton boys came down on time, and right glad I am to have them here. Colonel Ross’s 17th Regiment got here the same day by the river. The boys were sworn into our company the day after they arrived, and the day following a lieutenant in the Fulton Blues came over to get them to join his company. I am glad he was too late. We have all been over to the Point to visit the Canton boys of the 17th, and found them looking very well. Will Trites, alone, looks unwell. A few weeks at home is what he really needs, for he will not give up work and go on the sick list as he ought to, as long as he can stand. Billy Stockdale, Chancey Black, George Shine, Billy Resor and Jesse Beeson are in No. 1 condition. Their tents are pitched in old Bird’s cornfield from which the corn has just been cut and you can imagine that the stubble is not equal to feathers to lie upon. They call us boys that live in barracks in Cairo, Sunday soldiers and Fourth of July braves; the same names we applied to them when they were in Camp Mather. The Canton boys in our company get along finely. They are in the best of spirits and already appear quite soldierly. They are well satisfied with the company which now numbers 90 men and will be full this week. We all room together except John Wallace and Milo Farewell. We are now drilling about six hours a day, but the greenhorns act as though they think it fun. We don’t suffer from the heat as much as one would think, and can you believe it the health of the camp is better now than ever before. We have not in our company a man on the sick list. Major Smith (our old friend Marion), says that the 17th have been healthier at Bird’s Point than they ever were before; and so every regiment says that comes here. If there are any very old people in Canton that want to live 50 or 60 years longer, advise them to come to Cairo. Mosquitoes and fleas are around these times. The whole family are here.
August 11. Sunday.—Raining this morning, very warm. Arrested, on complaint of a Union man, H. T. Martin, a secession editor, who is charged with holding communication with James and William Bennett, leaders of a guerrilla party. He was formerly from Ohio. Is a Southern state’s-right Democrat in talk, and makes a merit of holding secession opinions. Having been engaged in getting up troops for the Southern army, the colonel will probably send him to Ohio.
Colonel Lytle’s men fired on near Bulltown; one killed, four wounded; guerrilla party in the hills out of reach. Our regiment did not destroy records. We have sent two captains and eighty men after the guerrillas.
August 12th, 1861.—It is late at night but I cannot sleep so will write up the events of the day. The Howell Guards left on the mid-day train. A crowd had gathered around the depot to see them off. Mothers, wives, sisters, sweethearts and friends—all were there. Standing on the platform and looking around I marveled at what I saw. Women with bright, smiling faces, looking tenderly on the soldiers, who were ready to depart. Saying fond, loving words of advice and of hope: pressing the beloved gray-clad figure in a parting embrace kissing the dear lips, maybe for the last time, and yet those brave women smiled. As soon as the train pulled out and the soldier boys could not see, the scene changed. Sobs and tears, wild outbursts of grief on every side, and yet, this had been suppressed lest it grieve those brave hearts, who were going forth to battle for home and country.
On the way home Eddie seemed to try to see how entertaining he could be, he took my handkerchief and wiped his mother’s eyes, he kissed her over and over, then he put on somebody’s big glove and gravely offered her his hand, saying, “Tell de popes howty.” That brought a smile; Niobe herself could not have resisted the bright little baby face and the piping little voice.
Many a prayer goes up tonight from anxious hearts. May God bless our dear soldiers and may God bless the South.
August 11.—The Hagerstown Herald of today says: The Union men of the border counties in Virginia continue to seek refuge in Maryland from the frightful tyranny which the rebels are practising in that State. Within the last week upward of fifty have crossed the river from Berkeley and Morgan counties, leaving behind them their families and homes, to avoid being pressed into the service. One of the number brought with him the following notice, which ho took from a blacksmith’s shop in Morgan County:
All the militia belonging to the Eighty-ninth Regiment V. M., are ordered to meet at Oakland, on Monday next, as early as they can, in order to march to head-quarters, Winchester, forthwith—and I would make a friendly request of those men that failed to go before, for them to turn out now like true-hearted Virginians, and what they have done will be looked over, but if they do not regard this call they will work their own ruin.—They can never be citizens of Virginia, and their property will be confiscated. The General will send a troop of horse to Morgan as soon as we leave, and all those men that fail to do their duty will be hunted up, and what the consequence will be I am unable to say.
Samuel Johnston,
July 24,1861. Col. S9th Regiment V. M.
This is the condition of affairs to which the citizens of Maryland are invited by their legislators and the sympathizers with secession.
—Early this morning, Gen. Siegel, in command of the force lately under Gen. Lyon at Wilson’s Creek, fell back to Springfield in good order, and subsequently to Rolla, Mo.—N. Y. Times, August 15.
—General Hurlburt, in command of the national forces at Palmyra, Mo., issued an order to. the county authorities of Marion County, Mo., requiring the delivery by them of a stated amount of rations to his troops every day, and threatening, if the order was not promptly obeyed, to billet the regiment upon the city of Palmyra.—(Doc. 177.)
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Late addition to Volume 3:
August 11.—Capt. Varian, of the Eighth regiment battery, N. Y. S. M., published a statement upon the reference to his command in Gen. McDowell report of the battle of Bull Run. “Seventeen of his men steadily refused to overstay their term upon any condition, and these finally carried the rest with them.”— N. Y. Times.
August 10. Saturday.—Rained a good part of the night. We learned that while the right wing of our regiment occupied the court-house at Sutton, many records, etc., etc., were torn up. It is said the old clerk cried when he saw what had been done. Disgraceful! What a stigma on our regiment if true! We have had and deserved to have a good name for our orderly conduct, respect for rights of citizens, etc., etc. I hope nothing has been done to forfeit our place.
SATURDAY 10
We hear of no particular news today. The “papers” are not allowed to publish army news. We see Regts moving every day but hardly know where they are going to. It seems hard to realize that we are in the midst of a Civil War of gigantic proportions, that in fact within three miles of the City, deadly enemies are ready to cut our throats.
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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.
AUGUST 10TH.—Mr. Benjamin is a frequent visitor at the department, and is very sociable: some intimations have been thrown out that he aspires to become, some day, Secretary of War. Mr. Benjamin, unquestionably, will have great influence with the President, for he has studied his character most carefully. He will be familiar not only with his “likes,” but especially with his “dislikes.” It is said the means used by Mr. Blair to hold Gen. Jackson, consisted not so much in a facility of attaching strong men to him as his friends, but in aiming fatal blows at the great leaders who had incurred the enmity of the President. Thus Calhoun was incessantly pursued.
August, ‘61.
Dear Girls: Did you give the company captains my little books by Ordronneaux? If not, please do so. They have much useful advice, and as each captain ought to be the father of his company, and look after its welfare in every respect, some such little manual might be useful to them.
In regard to your enquiry about sending the Tribune and Independent to the hospitals regularly from the publication office, I would say that I have already so ordered 10 copies of the Independent sent every week for the coming three months, beginning with this week’s issue. It is prepaid and will be delivered free by Adams Express at the hospital. Charlie has gone down this morning to order the Semiweekly World or Tribune sent in the same way. . . You will receive 12 Independents which he has put up for the Columbia or any other hospital, and some packages for the chaplain of the 16th. . . .
The young men of the New York Christian Association who have been in Washington and Alexandria making the rounds of the hospitals, writing letters for the men and ministering generally, send word that they have never known a single chaplain of any regiment present himself to enquire for his sick or wounded, that there is no resident chaplain, and no one at hand to read or pray for a dying man, or to conduct the funeral services of the dead in the city hospitals. This must be especially the case with the Alexandria hospital—for in that town hardly any clergymen are left. . . . It would be encouraging to know that somebody was detailed in each hospital for special chaplain’s duty. Cannot some arrangement be made? . . .
You must tell us something more about the men of the 16th. . . . How do they cook their food and how is it distributed? Is the camp kept drained and clean? What do the men sleep on? Have they chances for bathing, washing clothes, etc.? . . . Two-thirds of the New York regiments as examined by the Sanitary Commission are crowded too many in a tent—regardless of ventilation—and liable next month to some terrible pestilence. The only sign, so far, that I can see of God’s mercy and the justice of our cause, is the absence as yet of any serious epidemic. . . . But as carelessness, bad habits, hot weather, etc., only sow seeds of sickness to ripen in autumn, we may yet have that plague too, overtake us.
August, ‘61.
I think that the best you can do is to make your own private arrangement for missionary work two days a week, say, in the Columbia College and two in the Alexandria hospital. I mention these because I suppose they are the two you would be likely to have best access to, and where your suggestions would be best received. You would have to do it with the consent of, or knowledge of, the head physician, superintendent, or whatever Cerberus it is who guards the portals. . . . You need not wait to find out what anybody else is doing. You have a grand scheme on hand for making the hospitals military posts and so entitled to chaplains, but I hardly think you will succeed. . . .
Shall I not apply to Professor Smith for information about a graduate of Union Theological Seminary who would be glad of such an appointment and who has qualifications for such special missionary work?—some one who could be set to work at once, under the “young men’s” auspices or your private patronage, and afterward get a government commission if such are granted. . . .
How strange some of the statements in Russel’s last letter are! That there was no hand to hand fighting at Bull Run. No batteries charged and taken by the Federalists. No masked batteries at all on the side of the rebels, etc., and then that horrid, insulting, false editorial from the London Times in yesterday’s Tribune! I am sure that is aiding and abetting our enemies if anything is, and Russell as the representative of such a paper ought not to be allowed within our lines again. . . .
Do you two ever refresh yourselves by a drive out into the country—for pleasure purely,—with your thoughts so busy always?
Headquarters of the Army,…….
Washington, Aug. , 1861.
My dear Mrs. Howland: If you will send me the names of the persons you want appointed to act as Chaplains for the Hospitals, I will get the Lieutenant-General to give them (not a regular commission) but an authority to visit and have free access to the Hospital at all times.
This will invest with full authority, but no rank or emolument.
Yours very truly,
H. Van Rensselaer.
Georgeanna, also wrote a private letter to President Lincoln asking that Hospital Chaplains should be appointed and handed it in herself at the back door of the White House; and, acting upon Abby’s idea, E. wrote Prof. H. B. Smith of the Union Theological Seminary, asking him to suggest the right person, and soon received the following answer:
. . I hope I have found the right man. Young Hopkins, son of President Mark Hopkins of Williams College, has just been in, and will think of it. If he can and will accept, he is as near being just the man as need be. He is not ordained, but I suppose can be, if necessary. Will you write me, if it is so? He is a Christian gentleman, every way, and a very able man intellectually. If you think well of him, and he agrees, when shall he come? Please write soon.
I have the most entire confidence in Mr. Hopkins’ discretion and courtesy. He does not seek mere position, he only wants to do good.
Yours truly,
H. B. Smith.
When he sent up his letter of introduction from Professor Smith to a and E. in Washington, he expected to be descended upon in the Ebbitt House parlor by two elderly women all ready to superintend him. A year later he wrote to Georgeanna. in acknowledging her photograph, “ It is the very identical countenance which demolished so delightfully my ideal Miss Woolsey with iron grey curls, black silk dress and spectacle-case.”
Mr. Hopkins did most admirable work in the voluntary unofficial position he consented to occupy at first. Later, wishing a more formal connection with the army service, he secured proper official recognition in the General Hospital, and still later he accepted an appointment in the field as regimental Chaplain.
Ebbitt House, Washington, August 10, 1861.
Dear Joe: We had a very successful journey in from camp yesterday, for who should be on the boat but the Prince (called by the public “Captain Paris,”) McDowell, and McClellan himself, whom Mrs. Franklin introduced to us, and who helped us all into the carriage when we reached Washington. He and General Franklin are old and dear friends. He is singularly young and boyish-looking for so important a position, but at the same time has a look and manner that inspire respect. The Prince is exactly like the picture of his uncle. We hoped they would all discuss secrets of state, but the topic was persistently the range of different kinds of cannon. . . . Georgeanna goes to Alexandria this morning to look up a hospital Mr. Vernon told her of and take them some comforts. . . . There is no news except the sad story of Lyon’s death in Missouri, and the mutiny here in the 79th, which was put down summarily by the display of six cannon, three companies of cavalry and a good many infantry, which came down upon them yesterday afternoon. The ringleaders, about 26, were put under arrest last night and in irons, and the rest marched off into the darkness somewhere. The trouble was that they did not like their new Colonel, and would not serve under Sickles as Brigadier. In the latter we sympathize with them.
Letters from home report all well in Lenox. . . . I send one from Mary. We shan’t think of going North at present.
