25th. In the morning went over to camp. Commenced work. Thede went over to Uncle’s after dinner. Went to tea. Called on Lizzie Cobb. Had a fine time.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sept. 25. Under escort of the Milford Brass Band, we marched through a few of the principal streets to the depot. Here a large concourse of citizens had collected to give us their best wishes, and see us off. We now began to realize some of the discomforts of a soldier’s life. There not being passenger cars enough to accommodate us, we were crowded into two box freight cars for South Framingham, where we changed to passenger cars for Worcester. Arriving there, we marched to the city hall, where we took dinner. From there we marched to the agricultural grounds’ west of the city, where we are to encamp. This camp is named Camp Lincoln, in honor of Ex-Governor Lincoln of Worcester.
Wednesday, 25th. Harris’s ( B) and Ewing’s (C) companies arrived from Knoxville and rejoined the rest of McNairy’s Battalion at Camp Buckner.
Besides our battalion, General Zollicoffer now had with him at Camp Buckner four regiments of infantry (Statham, Rains, Cummings, and Battle), five cavalry companies (three of Branner’s Battalion and two of Brazelton’s), and one artillery company of six-pounders, commanded by Captain Rutledge. Colonel Newman’s Regiment was at Cumberland Gap. The Sixteenth Alabama (Wood) and the Fourth Tennessee (Churchwell) Regiments of infantry, and McClellan’s Battalion of cavalry and half of Branner’s were left at Knoxville. There were stationed at various points in East Tennessee some other troops, mostly unarmed.
About six days previous to this, General Zollicoffer had, according to instructions received from General A. S. Johnston, ordered the Fourteenth Mississippi (Colonel Baldwin) and the Third East Tennessee (Colonel Lillard) Regiments of infantry to move to Camp Trousdale, to reinforce General S. B. Buckner, who was then in command of the Central Division of Kentucky, with headquarters at Bowling Green.
General Zollicoffer had learned that there was a large quantity of salt at the salt works on Goose Creek, in Clay County, thirty-five miles north of Camp Buckner and eighteen miles east of a camp of Home Guards— variously estimated at from six hundred to fifteen hundred—at Laurel Bridge, in Laurel County, some thirty-eight miles north-west of Camp Buckner and two miles south-east of London. As our General had decided to send a detachment to capture the salt above named, and also another detachment in the direction of this Federal encampment at Laurel Bridge to attract attention and mask the movement of the first, he therefore issued the following special orders:
Brigade Headquarters,
Camp Buckner, September 25, 1861.Colonel James E. Rains will march at four o’clock to-morrow morning, via Barboursville, to Laurel Bridge, on the London road, with his regiment, provisioned for six days, three rations of which shall he cooked, leaving his tents in this encampment. Colonel McNairy’s command will accompany him or follow him, by a right-hand road crossing Laurel Creek about two miles above the bridge. Colonel R. will have command, and will dislodge a supposed force of the enemy at the bridge by attacking simultaneously with infantry and cavalry at both ends of the bridge. He will be furnished a guide, who will give him information of some arms, which he will capture, if practicable. He will take with him also Lieutenant Falcand’s section of artillery. A battalion of Colonel Statham’s infantry, with three companies of Colonel Branner’s cavalry, will be posted on the road to be pursued by Colonel McNairy, about ten miles back, to give support, if necessary.
Simultaneously, Colonel Cummings’ Regiment, with two companies of Colonel Brazelton’s cavalry, will escort a train of wagons to the Goose Creek Salt Works, sixteen or eighteen miles east, in Clay County, to load with salt.
The different detachments will communicate by express messengers with each other and with me, and when the salt train returns all will return to this encampment.
Much is trusted to Colonel Rains’ discretion in whatever may transpire on the way.
F. K. Zollicoffer, Brigadier-General.1
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1 The above order fell into the hands of the Federals (how I know not) and on the 3d of October it was sent by T. T. Garrard, who was Colonel of the Third Kentucky Regiment and in command at Camp Wildcat, or Rockcastle Hills, to General G. H. Thomas, who was in command at Camp Dick Robinson, some thirty-five miles beyond Wildcat. At the same time Garrard wrote to Thomas thus (italics mine):
“I have no information in regard to the rebels more than I wrote you, except the inclosed order of General Zollicoffer, which I have no doubt is genuine. I could not doubt it, because they carried out the instructions to the letter.”—Rebellion Records, Vol. IV., p. 291
Mt. Sewell on Pike from Lewisburg
down Gauley And Kanawha Rivers,
Thirty Miles From Lewisburg,
Camp Sewell, September 25, 1861.
Dear L—: — I am now in General Cox’s camp, twenty-five miles from the Carnifax Ferry. The regiment is back about twenty miles. I am here as J. A. [judge-advocate]. Came over yesterday. This camp is on the summit of a high hill or mountain which affords a most extensive view of mountain scenery. The enemy is on a hill about one or two miles from us under Wise. Their strength is not known. Firing continued between the pickets yesterday a good part of the day. Many cannon shot and shell also were let off without much result. One man (Major Hise) slightly wounded on our side. We are ordered not to fight the enemy, not to attack, I mean, until General Rosecrans arrives with our regiment and other forces. McCook is here. If the enemy does not retire, I think there will be a battle in a few days, but I think they will retreat again. They left a strongly fortified position day before yesterday. I found it yesterday. Well, all these matters you read in the papers.
Tell uncle I would write him, but I don’t know where he is, and I suppose he sees my letters often enough. I am in the best possible health and spirits. I trust you are also. It seems to me we are gradually getting better off in the war. It may, and will last some time, but the prospect improves steadily.
I merely write this morning to tell you of my present whereabouts, and that I love you dearly. Kisses and love for the boys and all.
Affectionately,
R.
Mrs. Hayes.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1861.
Busy packing boxes most of the day. We expected [to] give up the house on Friday morning but have concluded not to do so until Monday. My wife went today to pay her respects to Mrs Lincoln before leaving the City. Was very graciously received by Mrs L. and assured that if she could do anything to keep our Family here she would do it as she was anxious to have our boys come there as companions & playmates for hers. She gave my wife a very strong letter in our favor (with a Boquet) to Mr Chase, Sec’y of the Treasury.
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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.
Wednesday, 25th—It rained all day and we had to drill in a big barn on the edge of town. We drilled in the barn on the “double quick.” On account of the rain, business of all kinds is almost at a standstill.
Sept. 25, 1861. (Home again from “The Pines.”)—When I opened the door of Mrs. F.’s room on my return, the rattle of two sewing-machines and a blaze of color met me.
“Ah! G., you are just in time to help us; these are coats for Jeff Thompson’s men. All the cloth in the city is exhausted; these flannel-lined oilcloth table-covers are all we could obtain to make overcoats for Thompson’s poor boys. They will be very warm and serviceable.”
“Serviceable, yes! The Federal army will fly when they see those coats! I only wish I could be with the regiment when these are shared around.” Yet I helped make them.
Seriously, I wonder if any soldiers will ever wear these remarkable coats. The most bewildering combination of brilliant, intense reds, greens, yellows, and blues in big flowers meandering over as vivid grounds; and as no table-cover was large enough to make a coat, the sleeves of each were of a different color and pattern. However, the coats were duly finished. Then we set to work on gray pantaloons, and I have just carried a bundle to an ardent young lady who wishes to assist. A slight gloom is settling down, and the inmates here are not quite so cheerfully confident as in July.
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Note: To protect Mrs. Miller’s job as a teacher in New Orleans, the diary was published anonymously, edited by G. W. Cable, names were changed and initials were often used instead of full names — and even the initials differed from the real person’s initials.
25th.—We had a great time to-day, having sent out this morning some six thousand troops, with about one hundred wagons, on a foraging expedition. This evening they returned, loaded with hay, oats, corn, cows, sheep, hogs, and one Irishman—all captured from the enemy. In this deserted and desolated country, where we have for weeks been enjoying (?) rural life without a sign of pig or poultry, without even those indispensable concomitants of civil life—the cries of babies, or the flapping in the wind of confidential garments from clothes lines in the back yard[1]—the sight of the woolly bleaters called back reminiscences of savory mutton and warm under-dresses, with whispered wishes for the time when we may return to the pleasures of civil life.
[1] A something whispers to me that if this should ever be read by housekeepers, it may call up unpleasant reminiscences of “ironing days.” I hope not.
SEPTEMBER 25TH.—Mr. Benjamin and Gen. Winder, after granting a special interview to Messrs. G. and R., have concluded to let them depart for Pennsylvania and New York Nor is this all. I have an order from Mr. Benjamin to give passports, until farther orders, to leave the country to all persons who avow them-selves alien enemies, whether in person or by letter, provided they take no wealth with them. This may be a fatal policy, or it may be a trap.
25th.—The last two days spent with pleasant friends, one day with Miss M. M., and the other with my old acquaintance, Mrs. Dr. F., of the “White Post.” These ladies, like all others, are busy for the soldiers. To-day I received a copy of ” Headley Vicars,” abridged for the camp, by my friend J. J. Mr. M. will take it to-morrow to the camp, when he goes with the wagon. To-day we have been helping the Bishop to pack a barrel of grapes, and another with tomatoes and other fresh vegetables; and yet another Mrs. M. has packed with bread, biscuit, and a variety of things for the sick.
