Wednesday, 16th—Colonel A. M. Hare, who arrived today, is in command of our regiment, the Eleventh Iowa. His home is at Muscatine. More visitors in camp today, and they are usually invited to take dinner or supper with us, as the case may be.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Wednesday, October 16. — Nothing of any interest happened to-day. The morning was pleasant, and the afternoon cloudy. We stopped our engines at 6 p.m. and drifted, being about twenty miles from the Capes.
16th. A letter by the kindness of Mrs. Haynes. Stood guard for Delos a little while.
October 16th.— Day follows day and resembles its predecessor. McClellan is still reviewing, and the North are still waiting for victories and paying money, and the orators are still wrangling over the best way of cooking the hares which they have not yet caught. I visited General McDowell to-day at his tent in Arlington, and found him in a state of divine calm with his wife and parvus Iulus. A public man in the United States is very much like a great firework—he commences with some small scintillations which attract the eye of the public, and then he blazes up and flares out in blue, purple, and orange fires, to the intense admiration of the multitude, and dying out suddenly is thought of no more, his place being taken by a fresh roman candle or Catherine wheel which is thought to be far finer than those which have just dazzled the eyes of the fickle spectators. Human nature is thus severely taxed. The Cabinet of State is like the museum of some cruel naturalist, who seizes his specimens whilst they are alive, bottles them up, forbids them to make as much as a contortion, labelling them “My last President,” “My latest Commander-in-chief,” or “My defeated General,” regarding the smallest signs of life very much as did the French petit maître who rebuked the contortions and screams of the poor wretch who was broken on the wheel, as contrary to bienséance. I am glad that Sir James Ferguson and Mr. Bourke did not leave without making a tour of inspection through the Federal camp, which they did to-day.
October 17th.—Dies non.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1861.
I have not been out today but kept close in the house feeling quite miserable and coughing about half the time. We have had “calls” very frequent. Mr [Vanlbickel?] and Mr Blackburn from Lyons were here sometime, Dr Barnes of the 27th, and a good many Ladies. The Door bell has been ringing half the time. I have taken pills and castor oil, have not had so much fever today as I did yesterday, think I will get well soon.
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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, 16th.—According to orders of yesterday, about 5,400 of Zollicoffer’s Brigade, including six pieces of artillery, were put in motion along the London road.
The First Battalion struck tents and prepared to move, but as McNairy was ordered to bring up the rear, and as the infantry, artillery, and wagons (about two hundred of the latter) were nearly all day passing his camp, he camped for another night on Bald Hill. The head of the column bivouacked some six miles from Bald Hill and ten from Camp Buckner.
The following communication will explain Zollicoffer’s then contemplated movement:
Brigade Headquarters, Camp Ten Mile, Ky., October 16, 1861.
Colonel Murray, Camp Myers: 1
Sir: I am ten miles on the march toward a camp of the enemy on Rockcastle River and Hills, having left Cumberland Ford this evening with the greater part of my command. I learned that the enemy at Albany, Ky., has retired. My plan has been to fall in their rear and cut them off. Now that Colonel Stanton and our cavalry have left the neighborhood of Jamestown, Tenn., the enemy may return in force near the line. I have ordered stores of subsistence for my troops to be placed at Jamestown by the 25th instant, and have ordered the same cavalry companies to return to that neighborhood almost the same time, to prevent the enemy from seizing and appropriating the stores. Perhaps the cavalry from above would not be sufficient to prevent an incursion.
I expect to pass down by Sommerset and Monticello, Ky., or by Columbia and Burksville, Ky., in the hope of capturing any forces they may be threatening your position with.
As secrecy is the element of success, I must beg of you not to mention to any solitary person this enterprise.
My object in writing to you is to ask you about the 25th to move in such a way as to insure, by the aid of the cavalry, the safety of the stores until I can reach the neighborhood. Inform General Caswell at Knoxville what you can do and he will communicate with me. Very respectfully,
F. K. ZOLLICOFFER,
Brigadier- General.
Colonel Murray replied thus:
Camp Red Sulphur, October 22, 1861.
General F. K. Zollicoffer:
Dear Sir: I am in receipt of yours of 16th instant. I am much pleased to learn that you are moving in direction of the interior of Kentucky. We are to-day within thirty-two miles of Burksville, will reach and capture the Federal forces there by the 25th of this instant. We will then move to Albany by the 26th of this instant.
Will you inform me of your position at Albany, as I will wait at that point for orders from you? I have no fears of our success at Burksvilre. In the meantime our forces will prevent the Federal forces from capturing our supplies at Jamestown. Yours shall be strictly confidential. I am your obedient servant,
John P. Murray,
Colonel Twenty-eighth Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers
________
1 In Overton County, Tennessee.
Eliza writes:
On reaching home we found everything in the nicest order, gas lighted, bright fires, plenty of flowers, a delicious supper, and Thomson and his whole family, and Mechie (the gardener) with his arms full of pears and grapes, waiting to welcome us. They were all glad to have us back, and seemed unable to do enough for us. Mrs. Thomson and the gardener’s niece helped Moritz, and we lived like princes for the few days on the products of the place without lifting our hands.
October 16.—We had a pleasant evening. While N. read the papers we were knitting for the soldiers. An account is given of some small successes. Our men, near Pensacola, have broken up the camp of “Billy Wilson’s Zouaves,” of which we have heard so much; and Captain Hollins of the navy has broken the blockade at New Orleans, sunk the “Vincennes,” and captured a sloop, without the least damage to himself and men. Rosecranz has retreated before our men at Big Sewell Mountain. For these things we desire to be truly grateful, without rejoicing in the misfortunes of our enemies, except as they tend to the welfare of our invaded and abused country.
OCTOBER 16TH.—Col. M. applied to me to-day for a passport to Maryland, bringing a strong letter from Mr. Hunter, and also a note from Col. Bledsoe, Chief of the Bureau of War. He seemed thunderstruck when I informed him that Gen. Winder had obtained an order from the Secretary of War to detain him. A few moments after Gen. Winder came with a couple of his detectives (all from Baltimore) and arrested him. Subsequently he was released on parole of honor, not to leave the city without Gen. Winder’s permission. I apprehend bad consequences from this proceeding. It may prevent other high-toned Marylanders from espousing our side of this contest.
October 16.—At Annapolis, Md., a presentation of standards to the regiments of Brigadier-General Viele’s command, took place. The standards were the united gift of Mrs. Brigadier-General Viele and the Union Defence Committee, of New York. They were of the regulation size, made of the heaviest Canton silk, and fringed with heavy gold bullion. Each standard had an appropriate inscription thereon. Prior to the presentation ceremonies the entire brigade was drawn up on the College Green of the city, comprising several acres.
The first standard was presented by Governor Hicks, of Maryland. The presenter, attended by Brigadier-General Viele and his full staff, appeared in the front and centre of the regiment, and in a most telling speech, alluding to the present crisis, enjoined upon every soldier the necessity of carrying the National colors into theheart of the enemy’s country. The presentation to Colonel Rosa’s regiment, the Forty-seventh, of New York, was made by General Viele in person. The reply by the colonel was brief, but exceedingly apropos. The presentation to the Forty-seventh New York, the Washington Greys, was made by Brig.-Gen. Abram Duryea. The presentation speech was highly patriotic, alluding to the past history of the country and the cause of the present crisis. The presentation to the Forty-eighth regiment, Colonel Perry, was made by Governor Hicks. As each color was received the cheers of the troops and spectators were most enthusiastic, while the bands of the several regiments discoursed choice music. To Gen. Viele, whom the troops of his brigade style the “Big Little General,” and his lady were given the greatest lumber of cheers. The affair was one that will be long remembered in Annapolis, both from the importance of the occasion and the historical reminiscences of the city.—Baltimore American, October 19.
—Col. John W. Geary, of the Pennsylvania Twenty-eighth regiment, with detachments from his own, the Thirteenth Mass., and Third Wisconsin regiments, in all four hundred men, crossed the Potomac at Harper’s Ferry, and captured twenty-one thousand bushels of wheat stored in a mill near that place. While upon his return and on the Charleston road, near Bolivar Heights, midway between the Potomac and the Shenandoah. rivers, he was attacked by a large Confederate force with infantry, artillery, and cavalry. Rebel batteries upon Loudon and Bolívar Heights participated in the action, as did also a National battery upon the Maryland side. After several hours of intermittent fighting, the rebels were driven off, supposed with considerable loss. National loss four killed and eight wounded. Col. Geary took from the rebels one thirty-two pounder.—(Doc. 90.)
—Indiana disputes the statement that New Hampshire is the first State that has her full quota of volunteers in actual service. Indiana, whose quota is thirty-four thousand, has thirty-two regiments of infantry, of one thousand and forty-eight men each; one regiment of cavalry, being fourteen companies, of one thousand one hundred and fifty-three men; three batteries of one hundred and fifty-six men each, and one of one hundred men, making an aggregate of thirty-five thousand three hundred and fifty-seven men in actual service. In addition to this, there are six regiments now ready for the field as soon as arms can be procured, and sixteen more organized and rapidly filling up.—Dubuque Times, Oct. 18.
—The Twentieth regiment of Ohio Volunteers, under the command of Colonel Charles Whittlesey, left Camp Chase, at Columbus, for the seat of war.—Ohio Statesman, Oct. 17.
—A skirmish took place about five miles from Warsaw, Mo., between forty National troops and thirty-five rebels, in which the latter lost three killed and three prisoners. The Nationals escaped unharmed.—Cincinnati Gazette, Oct. 23.
—The Committee of the City Council, of Philadelphia, Pa., presented a sword of honor, on behalf of the city, to General Robert Anderson.
—In compliance with orders issued by the War Department at Richmond, Virginia. Colonel Adler, a Polish officer, recently attached to the Wise Legion, in Western Virginia, as an engineer, with the commission of colonel, was arrested by the Government detectives and conveyed to the Columbian Hotel, where, in consequence of his weak condition caused by a self-inflicted wound, he was permitted to remain upon parole until yesterday forenoon, when he was taken to the prison hospital as a prisoner. The charges preferred against him are that of the spy, and of holding communication with the enemy. Colonel Adler went to Richmond highly recommended as an officer of ability, who had served with distinction in the Hungarian war, and in the Italian struggle under Garibaldi, and upon these representations obtained a commission in the army. His unaccountable conduct in Western Virginia, exciting the suspicion of Governor Wise, he was, at the command of the latter, arrested as a spy. Upon hearing of his arrest, he attempted to commit suicide through mortification, it is said, inflicting a serious gash upon his throat, from the effects of which he is now suffering.—Richmond Enquirer, Oct. 19.
—One hundred and fifty men of the First Missouri Scouts, under Major Wright, surprised the rebel garrison, at Lexington, Missouri, and recaptured the place and all the sick and wounded, together with a quantity of guns, pistols, and other articles which the rebels threw away in their flight. Two pieces of cannon, which were in the fort, were also captured. The rebel garrison numbered three hundred. The condition of Lexington was deplorable. Portions of the town had been stripped of every thing, and many of the inhabitants were actually suffering for the necessaries of life.—(Doc. 91.)
—An immense audience assembled at Baltimore, Md., to-night, to hear the Hon. Henry Winter Davis on the rebellion. L. W. Gosnell, Esq., a Breckinridge Democrat, presided. Mr. Davis was received with the most unbounded enthusiasm. He endorsed the war policy of the Government to the fullest extent..
—Lord Lyons issued a circular to all the British Consuls in Southern ports that they shall take for their guidance the law of blockade as announced by the State Department, which does not permit vessels to take in a cargo in blockaded ports after the announcement of the blockade.—(Doc. 92.)
