DECEMBER 29TH.—Persons are coming here from that portion of Western Virginia held by the enemy, with passports from Gen. Cox, the Yankee commander. They applied to me to-day for passports to return to Kanawha, which I refused. They obtained them from the Assistant Secretary of War, Mr. Ould.
December 2011
Winchester, December 29, 1861.
The weather opened this morning cloudy and showing signs of snow, but, much to my disappointment, the clouds have passed off leaving a clear sky and pleasant day. It is not often I wish for bad weather, but when it opens a way for me of getting home for a little while I bid it a hearty welcome. It troubled me less when there was no prospect of getting a leave of absence and no use of asking it; but as I have been so anxiously indulging the hope of late, it troubles me much to have it deferred. If the bright sunshine of to-day is destined to last, you need not expect me, for Jackson is not disposed to lie idle when there is an opportunity to win laurels for himself and render service to our cause. The arrival of our forces from the West under Loring has given him a very fine army, which I think he is disposed to turn to a very profitable use as soon as an occasion may offer itself. I have much reason to be gratified at the proofs of his good opinion and confidence which I am continually receiving from him. I can rely upon his influence and efforts for my promotion, but my ambition does not run in that direction. The sympathies of my heart and my aspirations for the future are all absorbed in the wife and little ones left at home, and my highest ambition is to spend my life there in peace and quiet. The hope of winning military titles and distinction could not tempt me to leave home, if I were left to consult my wishes and feelings alone. But the sense of public duty which prompts us, and the strong public sentiment which forces us, to leave our homes and families for the public service, now with equal force compels us to remain. If we left the army now, it would be at the sacrifice of such good opinion as we have of ourselves and the good opinion entertained of us by our neighbors and friends at home. Our term of service will expire in May, when each will be left to pursue for himself such course as duty and inclination may then determine. It is sad, indeed, to think of being a stranger in my own home, that wife and children are becoming used to my absence and forced by it to seek other sources of happiness than that which we used to have when the society of each other was the greatest source of enjoyment. When separation is so long protracted it seems akin to that which lasts forever, when the body has gone to its long home in the grave and the soul for weal or woe to eternity, when the loved left behind to mourn our loss are no longer left a hope, and after a while become used to the desolation which death has left them. But hope whispers, Love, that all may yet be well with us. The storm may pass away, and, living happily together in after years, it will be a source of pride and happiness to us that the duty patriotism exacts of me now has been faithfully discharged, and the pleasure and comfort of home for the time foregone.
I wrote you a long business letter on Friday, in which you will think, no doubt, I have marked out work enough to keep you employed next year. You will be too busy to think of me and the troubles which this war is bringing on us. Now, darling, as my half sheet is finished I will bid you good-bye. Kiss my three little baby boys for me, and send me your likeness—the old one which I used to have— by the first person who comes from Lexington.
December 29.—This afternoon a party of Jeff. Thompson’s men entered the little town of Commerce, Mo., about forty miles from Cairo, Ill.—a place long noted for the steady and unswerving loyalty of its people—and after tearing down and tramping upon a Union flag which was flying there, they proceeded to plunder the different stores in the town of such articles as suited their fancy. After obtaining all they desired here, they concealed themselves near the landing until the steamer City of Alton came along, intending to capture the boat; but just as she was approaching the landing a lady, Mrs. Eversole, wife of one of the citizens of the place, ran down to the landing, and in spite of the repeated threats of Thompson’s men to shoot her if she did not desist, shouted several times to the pilot not to land as Jeff. Thompson’s men were waiting to shoot them. The boat had nearly touched the shore before the pilot comprehended what she meant. He then rung the bell to back the boat. The robbers, finding themselves foiled, sprang from their ambush and fired several volleys at the boat, completely riddling the sides of the cabin and pilot-house, but fortunately without injuring any one. The escape of the passengers was almost miraculous, as there was a large number on board, and the balls pierced the cabin in every direction. The boat backed down the river about two miles, to the head of Max’s Island, where Captain Barnes obtained some arms and lumber to construct breast-works to shield the cabin and pilot-house. The boat then resumed her course, and passed the town without further molestation, the marauders having in the mean time retreated. Had it not been for the timely warning which the pilot received, they would undoubtedly have succeeded in capturing the boat with her valuable stores, and making prisoners of the passengers, including Commander Porter, of the gunboat Essex, and several army officers who were on board.—Cincinnati Gazette, January 4, 1862.
—Twenty-four hundred and sixty cavalry, under Colonel Carr, with fifteen days’ rations, left Rolla, Mo., destined, it was supposed, for Springfield, Mo., by a circuitous route.
—As the steamboat Express, which runs between Old Point and Newport News, Va., was leaving the latter place this morning, a rebel tugboat was seen off Sewell’s Point. She carried a Commodore’s blue pennant, which was mistaken at first for a flag of truce, but on the Express arriving within range she fired a shot across her bows, followed by several shells. The greatest consternation prevailed for a time on board the Express, which is an unarmed steamer, and the schooner Sherwood, employed to bring water from Newport News, which was at the time in tow, was cut adrift. The Sherwood was immediately deserted by her crew, consisting of four men, who escaped by the small boat to Newport News, and drifting down with the tide, was taken possession of by the rebel tog and towed to Craney Island. Her captain stuck to her, and was taken prisoner. The tugboat subsequently made her appearance for the second time, but the Express had crowded all steam on, and reported the circumstance to the flagship. After a long delay the gunboats started, and steaming toward the scene, threw a few shells into Sewell’s Point and Pig Point batteries, without producing any effect. But for the delay in the gunboats getting to the spot, the rebels might have been intercepted, and the schooner saved. The schooner had been lined with zinc, and fitted out with a valuable force pump for a water-boat.—(Doc. 242.)
—A note from the rebel General Huger to General Wool announced that he was ready to send two hundred and forty prisoners of war down the James River from Richmond by a flag of trace whenever they would be received.— Philadelphia Bulletin, December 30.
Rumors.
Dec. 28. The camp is full of rumors about our leaving, but I hardly think any one knows much about it as yet, although it is quite probable we shall leave before long. The expedition is all here and has been perfected in drill. Nothing that I can see prevents us from leaving at any time. When we break this camp we can count our happy time over, that we have seen our best days of soldiering. Campaign life in the held, as I understand it, is at the best a life of hardship, privation and danger, and the man who expects much else, will be grievously disappointed.
Saturday, December 28.— Cold very, but still and clear — good weather. Warm in the afternoon. Rode with Colonel Scammon to the different works. They are well done as works, not very necessary, and not perhaps in the very best localities, but well enough. They are, I suspect, creditable to Colonel Scammon as military earthworks of no great pretension. Attended the funeral of another man of Company B. Sad and solemn. The lively music after all is over offends my taste. — A good, lively drill.
December 28th.—The National Intelligencer of this morning contains the despatches of Lord Russell, M. Thouvenel, and Mr. Seward. The bubble has burst. The rage of the friends of compromise, and of the South, who saw in a war with Great Britain the complete success of the Confederacy, is deep and burning, if not loud; but they all say they never expected anything better from the cowardly and braggart statesmen who now rule in Washington.
Saturday, 28th—We had to send two patrols of five men each down the railroad track each way from the station. There is always some danger of the track’s being torn up by organized bands of the “secesh” in this locality.[1]
[1] William Dwiggans died of typhoid fever on this day, in the hospital at Jefferson City. His was the first death in Company E. He was a good boy and a dutiful soldier.—A. G. D.
SATURDAY 28
A good deal of excitement in the City in reference to the surrender of Mason and Slidel. I suppose it was the only way to avert a war with England, which at this particular juncture would be an increase of business for the Country not very desirable. But a War with England on the “Trent affair” question would be very popular and unanimously supported by the Country. We shall have to have a fight with England before long, no matter how soon, after the Rebellion is crushed out. Col Mirrick is a little better today, will be well by Monday.
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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.
London, December 28, 1861
The difficulty of our position here consists first in the fact that the South are in London a nation, and in Washington no nation; and second, that Seward will not submit to this fact as an evil of which the least said the better. No doubt you have read his state papers and see what I mean. They are admirable works; they show great ability; but they want tact. He shaves closer to the teeth of the lion than he ought. No one has a right to risk so much for a mere point of form.
It is a mere point of form. The Nashville business can have only one of two results: one, the recognition of the belligerent rights of the South by our Government; the other, a suspension of relations, either preceding or following measures of force, as threatened in the despatch I spoke of to you, now published.
Again, about the Trent affair. Our lawyers have shown a strange want of close logic. The seizure of the commissioners can only be justified in one of two ways. If Seward sticks to his rebel theory, he must claim a right to do that which is most repugnant to our whole history and sense of right. He must defend a violation of the right of asylum.
If he claims them as contraband, setting aside other legal objections, he acknowledges the South as belligerents, by the act. From every word he has written I am bound to believe that he will not do the latter. But if he adheres to his old view, I can see no means of preserving our relations with this Court in either the Nashville or the Trent difficulties.
For these reasons I think that our stay here is at an end. But I do not believe in war. I have written at some length on this in my letter to the Times this evening, and from that you can judge whether there will be war or no. Lord Lyons’ departure will not make ours necessary unless Seward wishes it.
For my own part I am tired of this life. Every attempt I have made to be of use has failed more or less completely. I stand no stronger than the first day I arrived. I cannot find that I have effected a lodgment anywhere, in spite of many exertions. I am now at a loss again to what new point to turn, having been beaten back everywhere; and hope for an idea.
You are going into the army. I do not think it my duty to express any regrets at the act, or at the necessity for it. They are understood, and I do not mean to make the thing any harder for either you or myself, by mourning or maundering about it. About my own fortunes I am becoming more and more callous and indifferent; but about yours, I feel differently, and if it were not for the strange madness of the times, which has left no longer any chance of settled lives and Christian careers, I should be vehement against your throwing yourself away like this. As it is, I can only tell you to do what you think best, and I shall be always ready to stand by you with what aid I can give.
Inclosed is my quarterly draft on Raymond. With this and what money of mine you have now in your hands, there ought to be something more than two hundred dollars. I want you to use this on your outfit, to buy a horse, or equipments, or to fit out your company. It is my contribution to the war and to your start in pride, pomp and circumstance. . . .
Thurlow Weed is still here, very active indeed. I have tried to be of what use to him I could, but without much result. He’s a large man; a very tall man indeed; and a good deal taller than I am. So I can only watch and admire at a distance.
DECEMBER 28TH.—The fathers and mothers and sisters of our brave soldiers continue to send their clothing and provisions. They do not relax in the work of independence.
