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

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Post image for Burnside Expedition. — Diary of David L. Day.

Burnside Expedition. — Diary of David L. Day.

February 1, 2012

David L Day–My diary of rambles with the 25th Mass,The American Civil War

Feb. 1. A very heavy rain set in last night and continued until 9 o’clock this morning. The old Curlew looks as though she had been down cruising for mermaids and came back disappointed. She is all afloat, fore, aft and amidships; the rain drove in at the ends, the deck leaked and altogether we had a pretty rough night of it. I cannot say how the others slept, but my sleep was anything but balmy. I did not, in fact, dream of dwelling in marble halls.

The New York has crossed the bar and we are again aboard of her; thank our lucky stars. Good-bye, old Curlew! and may you find a sweet and lasting repose at the bottom of the sound before you are many days older. Our bill of fare this week consisted of steamed pork and hardtack of a poor quality, and short supply at that. Since they caught us stealing water, the fluid has been the meanest kind of condensed sea water, the poorest we have yet had.

Post image for Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

February 1, 2012

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry

Saturday, 1st—I commenced cooking for twenty men of our company. None of the boys likes cooking, so the seven messes have been consolidated into three with a cook for each. Mess numbers 1 and 2 have been united, becoming mess number 1, and I am to be the cook.

Post image for Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft

February 1, 2012

Diary of US patent clerk Horatio Nelson Taft.,The American Civil War

Saturday January February 1st 1862

Nothing of any particular note has occured today. The ground was covered with Snow this morning, but it has thawed all day. Went down after dinner and with the three boys and got them all new boots with which they were highly pleased, paid $4.25 for the lot. Got “Bud” also a pair of pants $2.50, paid the Baker $4.25, Milkman $1.90. Got my Drawings today, shall put in my application in two or three days. I have not been out since dark, have been reading the papers, writing &c. Wife rcd a letter from her Uncle Sullivan & [Mis Recd Cook?]. It is now 1/2 past ten. The boys went to bed at 8. Wife busy mending as usual evenings. Julia is writing off Poetry from a newspaper and I am going to bed.

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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.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

February 1, 2012

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

1st. Mr. Hutchinson, our nearest neighbor, called and gave us some potatoes and biscuit. Had a good visit with him.

Post image for "I finally surmounted all my troubles and reached General Porter's quarters at Hall's Hill." — War Diary of Stephen Minot Weld.

"I finally surmounted all my troubles and reached General Porter's quarters at Hall's Hill." — War Diary of Stephen Minot Weld.

February 1, 2012

The American Civil War,War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

February 1, 1862. — Day was rainy, but towards evening the clouds cleared away somewhat and I started for General Porter’s headquarters with all my bags and baggage. Such mud I never saw before. Up to, and over at times, the hubs of the wheels, came the nasty fluid, completely hiding all the holes into which our unfortunate carriage slumped. However, I finally surmounted all my troubles and reached General Porter’s quarters at Hall’s Hill. The general was not in, but his Assistant Adjutant- General, Captain [Frederick T.] Locke, was very kind to me, and invited me to stay and dine with him, saying that they were not quite ready to receive me as my tent had not come, which he had sent for. I then went over to my regiment, the 18th, and reported to Colonel [James] Barnes. He was in his tent and seemed quite pleasant and gentlemanly. He introduced me to Lieutenant Colonel [Timothy] Ingraham, and to Surgeon Holbrook. He then sent for my captain, [Stephen] Thomas, of Roxbury, who used to be connected with the iron foundry near the Hogg’s Bridge. The colonel remarked that he was somewhat inclined to be fat, in which remark I entirely coincided when I saw him. He seemed as if he might be a very smart officer, however, notwithstanding his size. I found him a regular specimen of a smart, good- natured Yankee, somewhat illiterate to be sure, as one could tell from his conversation, and also I should judge from his writing, if the specimens I heard of it were correct. Stockings, according to his dialect, is spelled “storkings,” shoes, “shues.” However, he can make himself understood, I suppose, and that is the main thing. Captain Thomas introduced me to my lieutenant [Woolbridge R.], Howes, a boat-builder from New Bedford, and a polite, well-educated man. I took up my quarters in his tent, and put my servant, James, in there too. I borrowed a bedstead from one of the officers, and prepared to make myself comfortable. We also had the fifer of our company (D) in the same tent. The tents of the regiment are a gloomy sort of concern, being the French bell- tent, with no floors. I got on first-rate though, and passed a very comfortable night.

I left home January 29, and reached Washington, January 30. I met Bill Perkins here, and set out with him on January 31, to go to camp, but broke down on the way.

Post image for A very pleasant little party.

A very pleasant little party.

February 1, 2012

Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

Eliza’s Journal.

February 1.

We all went to the Wilkes’s Friday evening—a very pleasant little party. General McClellan could not come, but there were five other generals, FitzJohn Porter, Stoneman, Barry and Butterfield; also Commodore Shubrick, Commodore Wilkes, Judge Loring and family, the Prussian minister and family, and a good many lesser lights. General Seth Williams was the most modest man in the room, in plain skimpy citizen’s clothes.

Post image for Rebel War Clerk

Rebel War Clerk

February 1, 2012

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

FEBRUARY 1ST.—We had a startling rumor yesterday that New Orleans had been taken by the enemy, without firing a gun. I hastened to the Secretary and asked him if it could be true. He had not heard of it, and turned pale. But a moment after, recollecting the day on which it was said the city had fallen, he seized a New Orleans paper of a subsequent date, and said the news could not be true, since the paper made no mention of it.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

February 1, 2012

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

February 1.—At Leavenworth, Kansas, an interview was held between Mr. Dole, the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and the chiefs of several of the loyal tribes of Indians. The chiefs were Opothleyoholo, of the Creeks, Alektustenuk, of the Seminoles, and several representatives of the Iowa tribes. The interview was of an impressive character, and the conference covered the entire range of topics relative to the status of the Indian tribes, their relations to the Government, and their position as regards the rebellion. Commissioner Dole informed the chiefs that the Federal Government had no intention of ever calling upon its red children to take a share in the contest, but a portion of the Indians having proved false to their allegiance, and, under the instigation of designing men, having driven the loyal Indians from their homes, the Government would march its troops down into the Indian country and compel submission.—(Doc. 24.)

—By order of the Provisional Government of Kentucky, the name of Wolfe County was changed to Zollicoffer County. The county of Zollicoffer will perpetuate on the records of Kentucky the name of one whose fame belongs to struggling freemen every where.—Louisville-Nashville Courier, February 3.

—A skirmish took place to-day near Bowling Green, Ky., on the Green River, between a party of rebels and a company of the Second Cavalry, Forty-first regiment Indiana Volunteers, commanded by Captain J. B. Presdee. The rebels lost three killed and two wounded; none of the National soldiers were injured.—(Doc. 25.)

—The Spanish steamer Duero arrived at Liverpool, Eng., from Cadiz, bringing as passengers the captains of three American ships, captured and burned by the privateer Sumter.—(Doc. 26.)

Post image for Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

February 1, 2012

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Camp Union, Fayette, Virginia, February 1, 1862. — Rain all night last night; mud indescribable and unfathomable. Lieutenant Avery and Secesh prisoners start today.

At 2 P. M., having heard that General Schenck would perhaps reach camp in a day or two, and fearing that he would object to my absence (he having himself been away two months and over!!) I started on the doctor’s stumbling gray for Loup Creek Landing. It rained a cold storm, mud deep. Thomas, the gay, dramatic colored servant of Dr. Webb, and my orderly (Barney) in a waggon with my baggage. I got to Loup Creek Landing, sixteen miles, after dark alone. Stayed there in a cabin, fitted up with bunks for soldiers, with Lieutenant Avery’s guard of the seventeen Secesh prisoners. Bill Brown the life of the party. Poor accommodations for sleeping. Little sleeping done. So ends the first.