Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

December 2011

Post image for Rutherford B. Hayes writes on the Trent affair; thinks war with the U.K. unlikley.

Rutherford B. Hayes writes on the Trent affair; thinks war with the U.K. unlikley.

December 21, 2011

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes,The American Civil War

Saturday, 21. — A cold, bright winter day. Sent a dispatch home to Lucy. Paymaster here getting ready to pay our men. The James D. (Devereux) Bulloch[1] was a good friend of mine at Middletown, Connecticut, (Webb’s school) in 1837-8 from Savannah, Georgia — a whole-hearted, generous fellow. A model sailor I would conjecture him to be. Rebel though he is, I guess him to be a fine fellow, a brave man, honorable and all that.

It is rumored that Great Britain will declare war on account of the seizure of Slidell and Mason. I think not. It will blow over. First bluster and high words, then correspondence and diplomacy, finally peace. But if not, if war, what then? First, it is to be a trying, a severe and dreadful trial of our stuff. We shall suffer, but we will stand it. All the Democratic element, now grumbling and discontented, must then rouse up to fight their ancient enemies the British. The South, too, will not thousands then be turned towards us by seeing their strange allies? If not, shall we not with one voice arm and emancipate the slaves? A civil, sectional, foreign, and servile war — shall we not have horrors enough? Well, I am ready for my share of it. We are in the right and must prevail.

Six companies paid today. Three months’ pay due not paid. A “perfectly splendid” day — the seventeenth!!

[1] Pasted in the Diary is the following clipping from the Richmond News of November 30: — “Captain James D. Bulloch, who lately successfully ran the blockade while in command of the steamship Fingal, has arrived in Richmond. He thinks there is a likelihood of Lord Palmerston’s proving indifferent to the question involved in the seizure, by Captain Wilkes, on the high seas, from a British vessel, of Messrs. Mason and Slidell.”

Captain James D. Bulloch was the “Naval Representative of the Confederate States in Europe” during the Civil War. It was under his direction and through his energy that the Alabama and other cruisers were built and equipped to prey on American commerce. In 1883 Captain Bulloch published in two volumes a most interesting narrative, entitled “The Secret Service of the Confederate States in Europe, or How the Confederate Cruisers Were Equipped.” It may also be recalled that Captain Bulloch was a brother of President Roosevelt’s mother.

Post image for Rebel War Clerk

Rebel War Clerk

December 21, 2011

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones

DECEMBER 21ST.—Col. Bledsoe was in to-day. I had not seen him for a long time. He had not been sitting in the office two minutes before he uttered one of his familiar groans. Instantly we were on the old footing again. He said Secretary Benjamin had never treated him as Chief of the Bureau, any more than Walker.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

December 21, 2011

The American Civil War,The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

December 21.—The Kentucky House of Representatives, by a vote of sixty-nine to eleven, concurred in the Senate’s amendment to the bill reported by the House Committee on Federal Relations, thanking the President for his modifications of General Fremont’s proclamation and Secretary Cameron’s report, and requesting the President to dismiss Secretary Cameron from the Cabinet.

At Baltimore, Md., this morning, the deputy provost-marshal overhauled the steamer George Weems, as she was about leaving for the Patuxent River landings, and arrested a man named W. T. Wilson, an Englishman, who had secreted in his clothing, and in a bladder in his hat, a quantity of morphine and quinine. He also arrested a man named Hanna, of Chester County, Pa., formerly of California. Both were supposed to be rebel agents.

—This morning a little before daylight, the pickets at Stump Neck, on the Potomac River, saw a boat with a man in it approaching from the Virginia shore. They concealed themselves till the man landed, when they arrested him. He brought with him a number of letters, which were taken charge of and conveyed, with the prisoner, to General Hooker’s head-quarters. Another man was waiting with a horse, upon which to convey the mail-bag. He was also arrested and the horse seized.

Early this morning, as the U. S. gunboat Resolute was on her way down the Potomac, from Washington, some pickets of rebel cavalry were seen at Holland Point, near the White House. Acting Master Tole, in command, fired a few shells among them, scattering the rebels in all directions. A number of them ran out of a house, near which their horses were picketed, and rode off as fast as they could. A boat’s crew was then sent on shore in charge of acting master’s mate J. L. Plunkett. On their way they saw some women and children busily leaving the houses. On entering, the building was found to be deserted, but there were traces of recent occupation by cavalry.—N. Y. Herald, December 23.

—Charles Anderson, brother of General Robert Anderson, addressed a large audience at Cooper Institute, New York, this evening. The cause of the rebellion he attributed to the check received by men in their greedy pursuit of political power.

—The Southern papers of this date are filled with articles expressive of delight at the prospect of a war between England and the United States, in reference to the seizure of Messrs. Mason and Slidell.

———-

Late addition to Vol. 3:

 

December 21.—In the Confederate Congress, an act was passed, entitling Kentucky to have twelve members in the House of Representatives.

A series of resolutions were also adopted, the third of which is as follows:

Resolved, That no peace ought to be concluded with the United States, which does not insure to Maryland an opportunity of forming a part of this Confederacy.

Post image for Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

December 21, 2011

Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

December 21 — To-day we came back from Dam No. 5 to our old camp in Martinsburg.

“We are quite active here at Beaufort, giving the good people on the mainland all sorts of starts.”—War Letters of William Thompson Lusk.

December 20, 2011

The American Civil War,War Letters of William Thompson Lusk.

Post image for “We are quite active here at Beaufort, giving the good people on the mainland all sorts of starts.”—War Letters of William Thompson Lusk.

Headquarters 2d Brigade, S. C.

Beaufort, S. C. Dec. 20th, 1861.

My dear Mother:

Here it is almost Christmas, but there is no hope of dining with you all at home on that joyful day. Still I will try to make myself cheerful here, as that alone is a comfortable philosophy. Duties are a bit lighter to-day—the result, I suppose, of great exertion for a few days back. I received last night three letters from you and one from Horace. Let me thank you, dear mother, very much for the photograph you sent me. It gives me much gratification, and now occupies a conspicuous place in my room. I shall look impatiently for the photographs likewise of my sisters and the little boys. It would do me much good to see Hunt’s good-looking face, if he does feel too logy to favor my whims. You write me for my photograph, as though I was living at the seat of civilization, and the abode of elegance. Well, to be sure, I am; but then everything is in Southern style, which does not admit of such vulgar things as tradesmen, much less of itinerant shadow catchers. I have grown immensely aristocratic since in South Carolina. There is something in the air that’s infectious. A few more weeks here, and I’ll be able to stomach even a Bostonian, which — Oh! I had almost forgotten how soon Hall’s wedding comes off; the 25th of December, Walter writes me. Do for Heaven’s sake give the bride something from me. I enclose $10.00 to make the purchase. There is nothing one can possibly buy down here. Pay-day is not far off again, and I hope to be able to remit something handsome to Uncle Phelps, which may make him cry, “Oh, provident youth!” Until then Walter’s baby must go without the coral and bells destined him by his affectionate Uncle William. Tell Horace I took into consideration the request he made with regard to writing a few lines to Saml. Lord, assuring him of the welfare of Miss Mintzing, concluded to do it, have done it, and think the communication will reach him.

We are quite active here at Beaufort, giving the good people on the mainland all sorts of starts. The other night a young Lieutenant crossed to the mainland with a small party, caught six of their pickets, and brought them safely back as prisoners. A captain takes a boat, glides along the shore, gets fired upon, returns the fire, and, it being his first fight, he has the agreeable sensation of seeing the enemy run. The fact is, though the people of respectability are many of them rampant, the poor whites think the war a hard thing, which they do not like to bear. So much we gathered from the prisoners taken the other night. They say that all who do not volunteer are drafted into the army, and the difference made is, that volunteers receive $25.00 for clothes, and are treated with respect, whereas drafted men get nothing but abuse. Therefore it is not difficult to see how popular volunteering must be in the South.

You will be pleased to hear that my friend William Elliott has gained perhaps the most brilliant reputation for cool courage and daring, of any man in the Army down here. He is a rare hero, and is bound to make his mark.

Give my best love to all, dear mother.

Affec’y.,

Will.

Post image for Diary of David L. Day.

Diary of David L. Day.

December 20, 2011

David L Day–My diary of rambles with the 25th Mass

A Depot of Supplies.

Dec. 20. We are having cold weather; freezing quite hard at night, and making our lodgings in these little rag houses anything but comfortable. I have been with a detail of men down to the wharf unloading and storing army supplies. Annapolis is a depot of supplies, and immense quantities are landed here and sent by rail to Washington. A person never having given the subject of army preparation and supplies much thought, would be astonished at the immense quantities he would see here, and would begin to calculate how long it would be before Uncle Sam would be bankrupt. Large warehouses are filled and breaking down under the weight of flour, beef, pork, bread, sugar, coffee, clothing, ammunition, etc., while the wharves and adjacent grounds are filled with hay, oats, lumber, coal, guns, mortars, gun-carriages, pontoons and other appendages of an army. I presume the cost of feeding and clothing an army of half a million of-men is not really so much as the same number of men would cost at home, but the army being consumers, instead of producers, the balance will eventually be found on the debit page of the ledger.

Post image for Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

December 20, 2011

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.

FRIDAY 20

Warm and pleasant but indications of rain, in the office as usual. News tonight of a Union Victory in Missouri. Other Union Victories will soon be heard from. I called at the “Chronicle” office this evening & subscribed for the Chronicle and the “Phil’a Press.” Called over to the Clarendon Hotel, and then upon Hon Mr Daws M.C., then got the evening papers. Called at Charleys Room on my return home. Miss Hartly has spent the evening here. Mr H called at 1/2 past 9 for her. 10 o’ck (weather clear).

______

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.

Post image for “War with the United States seems imminent. It may spread itself all over Europe.”–Adams Family Letters, Charles Francis Adams, U.S. Minister to the U.K., to his son, Charles.

“War with the United States seems imminent. It may spread itself all over Europe.”–Adams Family Letters, Charles Francis Adams, U.S. Minister to the U.K., to his son, Charles.

December 20, 2011

Adams Family Civil War letters; US Minister to the UK and his sons.,The American Civil War

London, December 20, 1861

The great event of the past week on this side is the death of the Prince Consort. From the time of my arrival I had formed a very favorable opinion of the man. Having a most difficult part to play he seemed to me to acquit himself most creditably. A feeble person would have fallen into contempt. A vicious one would have created discord. An intriguing one would have filled the Court with animosities and sharpened all the rivalries of parties. He was neither. His capacity and his acquirements commanded the respect of the most powerful subject. His moral character set at defiance all malevolence. And his prudence preserved his neutrality from the assaults of contending factions. Yet he can scarcely be said to have been popular in any class, and least of all among the nobility. He was reserved and shy, little versed in the arts which recommend a man to others. Few were disposed to give him much credit until they lost him. Now they are beginning to open their eyes to a sense of his value. They discover that much of their political quietude has been due to the judicious exercise of his influence over the Queen and the Court, and they do not conceal their uneasiness as to the future without him. The young Prince is just coming of age, with a character by no means formed. The younger children are coming forward with a strong curb removed. The Queen herself has no guide or adviser so well fitted to perform his part without danger of political complications to disturb her. There is no strength in any purely party organization that will keep the government steady. War with the United States seems imminent. It may spread itself all over Europe. Where is the master to direct this storm, if he cannot arrest it? Is it Lord Palmerston or Earl Russell? I trow not. Let any thing happen to Napoleon, and you will see. He is their buckler and their shield.

 

As to us I fancy you can understand the pleasantness of the position we are occupying in the mean time. The leading newspapers roll out as much fiery lava as Vesuvius is doing, daily. The clubs and the army and the navy and the people in the streets generally are raving for war. On the other side are the religious people and a large number of stock jobbers and traders, together with the radical following of Messrs. Cobden and Bright. The impression is general that Mr. Seward is resolved to insult England until she makes a war. He is the bête noir, that frightens them out of all their proprieties. It is of no use to deny it and appeal to facts. They quote what he said to the Duke of Newcastle about insulting England as the only sure passport to popular favor in America, and a part of a speech in which he talked of annexing Canada as an offset to the loss of the slave states. This is the evidence that Mr. Seward is an ogre fully resolved to eat all Englishmen raw. Pitiful as is all this nonsense, it is of no trifling consequence in its political effect. Even our friend Mr. Thurlow Weed with all his sagacity is baffled in every attempt to counteract it. And if war finally happens, it will trace to this source one of its most prominent causes.

 

Of course I feel most anxiously the position of my country, and of those who are enlisted in its cause. So far as I now see the field it is much less alarming than it looked some weeks ago. Many of the causes of apprehension are removed. The government has not authorised the act of Captain Wilkes, neither has it adopted it, as yet. So far, so good. But the British government will not rest satisfied with that position. The policy must be disavowed and the men replaced. Such is my understanding of the substance no matter how gently the sense may be conveyed. Shall we do either? For my part I think justice to our former professions demands it of us. I care not about quibbles concerning Sir William Scott’s law, against which I was bred in a mortal aversion. He is no idol of mine, and I care not how soon both nations join to knock his image off its pedestal. But what my opinion may be is one thing. What the delusion of my countrymen is, is another and very different one. They may regard Messrs. Mason and Slidell as more precious than all their worldly possessions. May be so. For my part I would part with them at a cent apiece.

Post image for Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

December 20, 2011

Three Years in the Confederate Horse Artillery — George Michael Neese.

December 20 — Went to the highland near the dam, and had a spirited and lively duel with a Yankee battery across the river. We had one man slightly wounded. After the firing we fell back a little distance and bivouacked in a field.

Post image for Diary of Rutherford B. Hayes.

Diary of Rutherford B. Hayes.

December 20, 2011

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Camp Union, Fayetteville, Virginia. Friday, December 20. — A. M., before breakfast, some clouds and wind but sun now shining. Change threatened. We have here Twenty-sixth Regiment, now under Lieutenant-Colonel Eckley, who also commands the post; Thirtieth Regiment, five companies, under Colonel Ewing; Twenty-third, now under my command; McMullen’s Battery, and a Pennsylvania cavalry company, stationed on the road towards Raleigh. Twenty-third here 550, Twenty-sixth, 600, Thirtieth, 200, battery, 40, cavalry, 40—1430 men. Building two forts on hill northeast of town, one on hill southwest of town. Wind and clouds during the day, but the sun shone brightly on our dress parade, making this our sixteenth good day.

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