Friday, 22. — Rode alone down to Gauley over Kanawha and Gauley Rivers, up New River, and stayed at headquarters of General Rosecrans. Always treated well there. Ate pickled oysters immoderately and foolishly; drank mixed drinks slightly but foolishly. But spent an agreeable night with General Rosecrans, Major Crawford, and Captain Reynolds and Major Jos. Darr. Good men all. Cold, desperately windy night; slept coldly in Captain Hartsuff’s tent.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
November 22nd.—All the American papers have agreed that the Trent business is quite according to law, custom, and international comity, and that England can do nothing. They cry out so loudly in this one key there is reason to suspect they have some inward doubts. General McClellan invited all the world, including myself, to see a performance given by Hermann, the conjuror, at his quarters, which will be aggravating news to the bloody-minded, serious people in New England.
Day after day passes on, and finds our Micawbers in Washington waiting for something to turn up. The Trent affair, having been proved to be legal and right beyond yea or nay, has dropped out of the minds of all save those who are waiting for news from England; and on looking over my diary I can see nothing but memoranda relating to quiet rides, visits to camps, conversations with this one or the other, a fresh outburst of anonymous threatening letters, as if I had anything to do with the Trent affair, and notes of small social reunions at our own rooms and the Washington houses which were open to us.
Nov. 22. The first death in our regiment occurred this morning. John Shepard of Company B died of typhoid fever. His remains will be sent to his home in Milford for burial.
FRIDAY 22
Saw the Sec’y this morning and presented Mr Lincolns letter. He was rather obstinate, could not restore me to the place I occupied in the Patent office at present possibly, but would give me a 2nd Class Clerkship in the Land Office for the present if I would accept of it. It is $1400 pr year. That is certainly better than no business in this extravagant City and I shall take it till I can do better. In that office I can take out patents.
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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.
Friday, 22d—New troops are arriving all the time, and there are something like forty thousand men in the barracks at present. This camp has the appearance of being nearer the seat of war. It is a novel experience for us country boys to see so many men all armed for war, some on guard duty, others leaving for the front, while still others are arriving. The commissary work of the camp is thoroughly organized. Each company has a detail of cooks which serves a week at a time and then is relieved by another shift. The cooks go to the quartermaster and get the rations for five days at a time. The food is cooked in kettles hung in a row in the rear of the barracks, and is served on long stationary tables, each accommodating a full company. Our rations are about the same as at Camp McClellan, except that we have our first taste of “hard-tack” instead of bread.
NOVEMBER 22D.—We have information that the enemy have invaded and taken possession of the Eastern Shore of Virginia, Accomac and Northampton Counties. They invaded the two counties with a force of 3000 men, and we had only 800 to oppose them. Of course there could be no contest against such odds. They carried my tenant to Drummondtown, the county seat, and made him (I suppose) assist in raising the United States flag over the court-house.
November 22.—This morning, at New Orleans, Lieut. Morel, of the Third District Police, upon information received, arrested a German named Frenzel, who lived on Charles street, in the Second District, charging him with being an incendiary and a traitor to the State and Southern Confederacy. It appears that Frenzel, who was quite an intelligent man, had excited Lieut. Morel’s suspicions, by remarks that he was reported to have made in favor of Lincoln and his dynasty; he was watched—the result of which was, that he was heard to boast that there was a powerful organization in New Orleans—at least five thousand strong—which, the moment that the Lincoln army made its apance (sic) there, or on the coast, would rise and help them to the best of their ability.—New Orleans Crescent, November 23.
—Charles Macbeth, Mayor of the city of Charleston, S. C., issued a proclamation calling upon the citizens to assist the military and civil authorities in putting the city in a proper state of defence, by promptly contributing all their unemployed laborers for that object.—(Doc. 183.)
—General Huger, of the rebel army, at Norfolk, replies as follows to an inquiry made by Gen. Wool, as to whether United States soldiers, prisoners in the South, would be permitted to receive clothing and other necessary articles:
“I consider myself fully authorized to reply at once to the inquiry made in your letter of the 8th inst. My Government will allow blankets and articles of clothing necessary for the comfort of prisoners of war to be sent to them. Such articles as you may send to me will be promptly forwarded by the Southern Express Company, and money may be sent to pay the freight here, (at Norfolk, Va.,) or it may be paid on delivery.”—N. Y. Commercial Advertiser, November 25.
—Price’s rebel army crossed the Osage River at Hoffman’s Ferry, Mo., and began a further march northward toward Sedalia.—Baltimore American, Nov. 26.
—On information obtained from a deserter, an expedition consisting of two gunboats, left Fortress Monroe late this evening, and proceeded to the junction of the James’ and Warwick Rivers, Va., about five and a half miles above Newport News, where they shelled the camp of the Second Louisiana regiment, completely destroying it, and causing much havoc among the rebels.—(Doc. 184.)
—The Second regiment of cavalry N. Y. S. V., “Black Horse Cavalry,” under the command of Colonel A. J. Morrison, left Camp Strong, near Troy, for the seat of war. Previous to their departure the troops were presented with an elegant stand of colors. Col. Morrison is an officer of considerable military experience. He served in the Mexican war, in the expeditions of Lopez and Walker, and with Garibaldi in Italy. On his return to the United States he was authorized to raise a regiment of cavalry, which he has designated the “Black Horse Cavalry,” and which is now the second regiment of volunteer cavalry of New York.
—Fort Pickens opened fire upon the rebel steamer Time, just as she entered the Navy yard at Warrington, Fla., and was answered by the rebels at Forts Barrancas and McRae. The firing continued upon both sides nearly all day.
