25th.—We have moved our camp about one hundred rods, are out of the mud, on high dry ground, where the tents can be ventilated and the streets kept clean. I look for a great improvement in the health of the regiment from this.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Friday, 25th—We got our equipments today. Our guns are the old-fashioned muskets made by working over the old flintlock gun, so as to use a cap in place of the flint. The musket is loaded with a cartridge containing powder, ball, and three buckshot in front of the ball. Each man is to carry forty rounds or more of ammunition all the time.
Letter from Captain Lyon to Mrs. Lyon.
“Pilot Knob, Mo., Oct. 25, 1861.—Were ordered to Frederickstown (25 miles southeast of here). Marched all night through a mountainous country. We were after Jeff Thompson, who had a large force. Our force was nearly 5,000 strong. When we got there we found that Jeff had left the day before and gone south. We were joined here by 1,500 Illinois troops from Cape Girardeau. Our regiment was on the left flank, the second post of honor, so on the march would, of course, be in the rear. The head of the column met the rebels about three-quarters of a mile from town, and just as our regiment was starting. The rebels had gone on ten miles south, were reinforced and returned, and took a position at that point to fight us. They were 5,000 to 7,000 strong.
“The fight opened immediately at the head of the column and we started on a double quick for the battle field. When about half way to the scene of action we were ordered to act as a reserve. The firing continued about half an hour where the battle commenced, then gradually receded, showing that the rebels were retreating. The battle was fought mostly by artillery and cavalry, but one regiment of infantry being under fire, the 21st Illinois. Our forces pursued the rebels several miles. The grand result of the fight is that we killed at least 300 of them. Our forces found and buried 242, and large numbers were carried off by them. A great many were wounded and taken prisoners. Two pieces of artillery were also taken. Our loss is eight killed and thirty-three wounded. The defeat was total, breaking up their army and cleaning out this whole section of the state. One of their principal officers, Col. Lowe, was killed.
“We moved south 10 miles on Tuesday, but we ascertained that there was nobody in this section to fight us, so on Wednesday we returned to Frederickstown, and yesterday returned here. We have slept in tents but two nights since we left St. Louis, yet I never slept better in my life than I have some of these nights in the open air. The days are hot and the nights are cold, yet we do not take cold.
“Our regiment is No. 1. The men started for the battle with the utmost enthusiasm and were terribly disappointed when they found the rebels were retreating without giving us a chance at them. Our position was such that had the force first engaged met a reverse, we should have had the brunt of the fight. The rebels were poorly armed, which accounts for the great difference of loss on our side and theirs. We found a great many bodies on our march on Tuesday, one badly eaten by hogs. Another was shot just as he was getting over a fence, and his body was stiffened in that condition. We buried them.
“Our march was through a rugged country, hilly, rocky, and almost mountainous. We have returned here, but don’t know how long we shall stay. Our men are footsore, but otherwise well. Today received your first letter. Was overjoyed to get it.
“You ask me how I felt when going into battle. It is hard to analyze my feelings. I did not forget the danger to myself, but I was cool and self-possessed. The predominant thought was that probably many of the brave men who followed me would never return, and I wondered—if I came out alive—over which of them the scalding tears would fall ere the sun should set. The roar of artillery, the rattling of musketry, and the sight of wounded and dead men was very solemn. It was necessary, however, and I take my full share of responsibility; although, of course, none fell by my hand.”
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1861.
A cool, fine October day just right for outdoor business and Military parades. Went down to the Pat office and read the papers in Vansantvoords room. Called at the Sec’ys office, sent in my card but did not see him. Went up to the Presidents in the evening and saw Maj Watt, gave him a new start in the matter of my appointment. He will see the Sec’y tomorrow and Mrs Lincoln in the morning. Caught a little more cold.
______
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.
London, October 25, 1861
You complain of the manner in which England has been allowed to wheel round. I mean to write a letter to the Times on that matter some day. Do you know the reason why it is so? How do you suppose we can make a stand here when our own friends fail to support us? Look at the Southerners here. Every man is inspired by the idea of independence and liberty while we are in a false position. They are active, you say. So they are, every man of them. There are no traitors among them. They have an object and they act together. Their merchants and friends in Liverpool have been warm and vigorous in their support from the beginning. Ours have been lukewarm, never uttering a hearty word on our side, and the best of them, such as Peabody and the house of Baring’s invariably playing directly into the hands of our opponents. They have allowed the game to go by default. Their talk has been desponding, hesitating, an infernal weight round our necks. How can you suppose that we should gain ground with such allies.
But we might nevertheless have carried the day if the news from home had been such as to encourage our party, which was once strong and willing. You know how much encouragement we have had from your side. Every post has taken away on one hand what it brought of good on the other. It has by regular steps sapped the foundations of all confidence in us, in our institutions, our rulers and our honor. How do you suppose we can overcome the effects of the New York press? How do you suppose we can conciliate men whom our tariff is ruining? How do you suppose we can shut people’s eyes to the incompetence of Lincoln or the disgusting behavior of many of our volunteers and officers.
I tell you we are in a false position and I am sick of it. My one hope is now on McClellan and if he fails us, then as I say I give it up. Here we are dying by inches. Every day our authority, prestige and influence sink lower in this country, and we have the mournful task of trying to bolster up a failing cause. Do you suppose I can go among the newspapers here and maintain our cause with any face, with such backing? Can I pretend to a faith which I did once feel, but feel no longer? I feel not seldom sorry in these days that I did n’t follow my first impulse, and go into the army with the other fellows. Our side wants spirit. It does n’t ring as it ought.
These little ups and downs, this guerilla war in Missouri and Kentucky, amount to nothing but vexation. Oh, for one spark of genius! I have hopes of McClellan for he does n’t seem to have made any great blunders, but I don’t know.
We are all in a lull here. The English Government is perfectly passive and likely to remain so. . . .
London, October 25, 1861
Our American news comes much in the old way, always of a chequered character. First, we are compelled to blow away a great deal of froth on the top of the cup, and then we find the liquor more or less muddled beneath. The impression is that “some one has blundered.” Our Navy does not look as it did in the last war. Then the land expeditions indicated as much incapacity as they do now. Now our ships do nothing but catch fishing schooners. The Alliance, the Goudar, the Thomas Watson, the Bermuda, the Fingal, the Amelia, have all taken quantities of clothing, and military equipment of every description from here, of which we have had notice beforehand. But I do not see a sign of their capture in any quarter. Yet to my mind this is a greater triumph than twenty such results as that at Bull’s Run. The latter at least had the effect of seriously crippling the victor. The former supplies the material for carrying on the war indefinitely and gives to all Europe the idea of an ineffective blockade — the most dangerous thing of all to our ultimate success… I cannot sympathise with Mr. Sumner’s speech, because the tone is purely vindictive and impracticable. But I do not the less feel that we must ultimately embrace the military necessity as a basis for the reconstruction of a stable government.
OCTOBER 25TH.—Gen. Price, of Missouri, is too popular, and there is a determination on the part of the West Pointers to “kill him off.” I fear he will gain no more victories.
October 25th, 1861.
My dear Mother:
It is with extreme pleasure I write you to-day. We are still at Fort Monroe, and of course I do not know how long we are to remain here, but Old Point Comfort has proved itself such to me. I think few up to the present time have served under greater disadvantages in the army than I. A member of a Scotch Regiment strong in its foreign prejudices, introduced as I was by _____, a man greatly unpopular among the men, I have enjoyed little prestige or favor. We have had hard work to do, and for four months I have suffered from extremes of heat and cold, from hunger and wet, and sleepless nights — from all the hardships of outpost life — have had the credit which I felt was due denied, and have waited patiently, though sometimes against hope. After Col. Stevens became Brig.-Gen., our Regiment fell to the command of . . . Morrison, who sought to exhibit his authority by all sorts of petty and irritating acts of insolence toward myself. The life became intolerable, and I sent in my resignation. I have written you how kindly Gen. Stevens acted in the matter. I withdrew the resignation temporarily, however, on learning from Gen. Stevens the probability of a speedy action.
When Gen. Stevens was detached from our Brigade to command one stationed at Annapolis, I was left almost without appeal from the insults of . . . Morrison. I found my rights taken away, and favors bestowed on low, ignorant rowdies. I then obtained a furlough, meaning to arrange some plan of honorable escape while on a visit home.
Suddenly a despatch came ordering our Regiment to meet Gen. Stevens at Annapolis, and it was whispered our destination was to be some place on the Southern coast. I thereupon pocketed all affronts, gave up all thoughts of a leave of absence, and resolved to be resigned to the painfulness of my position, and to perform any duties that might be allotted me. A few days ago I was appointed officer of the day. The duties of the day were arduous, and for twenty-four hours I had no sleep. It was about 7½ in the morning and my duties had nearly expired, when Gen. Stevens desired to see the officer of the day. I supposed it was to perform some business in connection with my position. On reporting myself he said, “Mr. Lusk, I wish to have a few words with you.” “Yes,” said I, “but be quick, as my time has nearly expired.” “Oh!” said he, “I only wish to tell you that you are appointed my Aide-de-camp. You know my peculiarities, and if we are satisfied with each other I think you will have no reason to repent of your appointment.” I thanked him, told him I was proud to accept the appointment. So now, Mother, with best love to all the dear ones at home, I subscribe myself,
Your affectionate son,
Capt. W. T. Lusk,
Aide-de-camp to Gen. Stevens,
Sherman’s Division.
October 25.—General Fremont’s body guard, numbering three hundred men, under command of Major Zagonyi, charged against two thousand rebels, drawn up in line of battle at their camp, near Springfield, Missouri, routed them, cleared Springfield of rebels, and retired.—(Doc. 106.)
—At Pilot Knob, Missouri, Col. Boyd, of the Twenty-fourth Missouri regiment, commandant of the post, announced the modification of the proclamation of Gen. Fremont by the President, and declared that martial law would be rigidly enforced in the counties of Jefferson, St. Francois, Washington, and Ironton, and that all persons taken in arms against the Government of the United States, in an irregular warfare, or who might be found to have participated in any manner in the burning or otherwise injuring railroad or other bridges, or cutting telegraph wire, or injuring any public property, would be summarily shot. Also, that the sympathizers with the rebellion, who were constantly visiting the stations on the Iron Mountain Railroad, and giving information to the rebels, would hereafter be arrested and dealt with as spies.—N. Y. World, Oct. 26.
—The Ulster Guard, Twentieth regiment of New York Volunteers, under the command of Col. George W. Pratt, left Kingston for the seat of war. The regiment numbers nine hundred and seventy-five men.—Idem.
—Gen Franklin extended his picket lines a mile beyond Annandale, on the Little River turnpike, which leads direct to Fairfax Court House, Va,—Walter W. Smith, one of the crew of the privateer Jeff Davis, captured on board the Enchantress, was convicted of the crime of piracy.—Col. Marshall, of the Seventh Maine regiment, died in Baltimore, of typhoid fever. He had been sick two weeks. His regiment started for Washington.—N. Y. Times, Oct. 26.
—An artillery duel was fought across the Potomac River, at Edwards’ Ferry. Firing was kept up by rifled cannon from nine o’clock in the morning until two in the afternoon. A large number of shots were thrown from both parties. Several balls fell in a portion of Gen. Banks’ encampment, killing two and wounding two or three. A few tents were struck and injured, rendering it prudent to move the encampment some distance back. Shot and shell were thrown rapidly into the Confederate encampments, doing, as is believed, serious damage. The rebels were also obliged to move their quarters/—Cincinnati Gazette, October 30.
—Yesterday, at Charleston, S. C., Judge A. G. Magrath, in the “Confederate” court, delivered an opinion with regard to questions raised by J. L. Pettigru, Nelson Mitchell, and William Whaley, as to the constitutionality of the rebel sequestration act.—(Doc. 109.)
—At a banquet given at Inverary, Scotland, the Duke of Argyle declared that “no more tremendous issues were ever submitted to the dread arbitrament of war, than these which are now submitted to it upon the American continent;” that it is “the absolute duty of Great Britain to remain entirely neutral;” and that “we ought to admit, in fairness to the Americans, that there are some things worth fighting for, and that National existence is one of them.” — London Times, October 29.
—The Fifteenth Mass, regiment, in Maryland, had to-day their first parade since the battle at Ball’s Bluff, on the 21st. After the parade the regiment was formed in a square and the gallant Colonel Devens made them an address. No description could produce the tender subdued fervor with which the colonel first spoke, the electric sympathy by which his men were affected, or the earnest determination with which the question was asked and answered:
“Soldiers of Massachusetts, men of Worcester County, with these fearful gaps in your lines, with the recollection of the terrible struggle of Monday fresh upon your thoughts, with the knowledge of the bereaved and soul-stricken ones at home, weeping for these whom they will see no more on earth, — with that hospital before your eyes, filled with wounded and maimed comrades, — I ask you now whether you are ready again to meet the traitorous foe who are endeavoring to subvert our Government, and who are crushing under the iron heel of despotism the liberties of a part of our country? would you go next week? would you go to-morrow? would you go this moment?” One hearty “Yes!” burst from every lip.
Brigadier General Kelley with Twenty-five hundred men, of Virginia and Ohio Volunteers, left New Creek, Virginia, at night, on an expedition against the rebels in Romney. Nearly at the same time, Thomas Johns, of Second regiment Potomac brigade, marched from the mouth of Patterson’s Creek, with seven hundred men, to favor Gen. Kelley’s attack on Romney, by a feint or diversion toward the north of the town. — Wheeling Intelligencer, Nov. 2.
