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

April 2012

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

April 18, 2012

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

April 18.—The United States gunboat Tioga was successfully launched at the Navy-Yard at Charlestown, Mass., this afternoon.—N. Y. Tribune, April 19.

—At Philadelphia, Pa., Parson Brownlow was received at Independence Hall by the city authorities this morning —Mr. Tregg, President of the Common Council, receiving him with words of the heartiest welcome. Mr. Brownlow replied in a characteristic address of some length, delivered from a stand erected in front of the Hall, to an immense audience. He recited the tribulations East-Tennessee Unionists had undergone. —Philadelphia Press, April 19.

—Wm. Gilchrist, arrested some months ago on the charge of furnishing “aid and comfort to the enemy,” and sent to Fort Warren, and afterward upon his release, by order of the Government, arrested by Detective Franklin, on the charge of “treason,” has now been discharged unconditionally, after months’ imprisonment, without trial.—K Y. Commercial, April 19.

—Gen. McClellan, before Yorktown, Va., telegraphed as follows to the War Department: “At about one half-hour after midnight, the enemy attacked Smith’s position, and attempted to carry his guns. Smith repulsed them handsomely, and took some prisoners. I have no details. Will forward them as soon as my aids return. The firing was very heavy. All is now quiet.

“Second Despatch.—My position occupied yesterday by Smith was intrenched last night, so that we have been able to prevent the enemy from working to-day, and kept his guns silent Same result at the batteries at Hyam’s Mills.

“Yorktown was shelled by our gunboats and some of our barges to-day, without effect

“There has been a good deal of firing from the Yorktown land batteries.”

—Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburgh, Va:, was occupied by the forces of the United States. Their progress was disputed by a rebel force of one regiment of infantry, one of cavalry, and a battery of artillery, which attempted to make two distinct stands. They wore, however, driven across the Rappahannock, after inflicting upon the Unionists a loss of five killed and sixteen wounded, all of them cavalry, including Lieut. Decker, of the Harris cavalry, killed; Col. Fitzpatrick, wounded, and a valuable scout, named Britten, badly wounded. Col. Bayard’s horse was badly wounded under him. Immediately after making their escape across the Rappahannock bridge, opposite Fredericksburgh, the rebels applied the torch to it, and thus temporarily delayed progress into the town.—(Doc. 143.)

In the afternoon, Lieut. Wood, of Gen. King’s staff, Lieut. Campbell, Fourth artillery, and Major Duffle, of the Harris light cavalry, crossed the Rappahannock under a flag of truce, and communicated with the municipal authorities of the city.

The City Councils had called a meeting immediately after the appearance of the forces, and appointed a committee consisting of the Mayor, Mr. Slaughter, three members from each Board, and three citizens, to confer with Gen. Augur relative to the occupation of Fredericksburgh and the protection of property. The Councils at the same time adopted a series of resolutions declaring that the city, since the adoption of the ordinance of secession, had been unanimously in favor of disunion, and was still firmly attached to the Southern cause, surrendering only upon conditions of protection to private property.

—Martial law was declared in Eastern Tennessee, by the rebel government.—(Doc. 141.)

—Henry T. Clark, the rebel Governor of North Carolina, issued the following notice to the people of that State:

“By an advertisement in the public papers, signed W. S. Ashe, you are informed that he will appoint, and send agents through every county in the State to borrow, purchase, and, if necessary, to impress, all the arms now in the hands of private citizens.

“Any attempt to seize the arms of our citizens is directly at variance with the Constitution, and in opposition to the declared policy of the government, which makes it the duty of every citizen to keep and bear arms, and protects the arms of the militia even from execution for debt

“But while I notify you that these agents have no lawful authority to seize your private arms, and you will be protected in preserving the means of self-defence, I must enjoin upon you in this emergency, as an act of the highest patriotism and duty, that you should discover to the proper State authorities all public arms, muskets or rifles, within your knowledge, and of selling to the State all the arms, the property of individuals, which can be spared.

“The colonels of the several regiments of militia will act as agents for the State, and will notify me whenever any such arms are delivered or offered to them. Their prompt and earnest attention is called to the execution of this order.— Raleigh Standard, April 26.

—The bombardment of Forts Jackson and St Philip, on the Mississippi River below New-Orleans, was this day commenced by the National fleet under the command of Flag-Officer Farragut.

Post image for “There is just now nobody who professes to think well of the South.”–Adams Family Letters, Charles Francis Adams, U.S. Minister to the U.K., to his son, Charles.

“There is just now nobody who professes to think well of the South.”–Adams Family Letters, Charles Francis Adams, U.S. Minister to the U.K., to his son, Charles.

April 17, 2012

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

London, April 17, 1862

The successes, which I was so earnestly praying for in my letter to you, have come and have had all the effect I anticipated. There is just now nobody who professes to think well of the South. Neither will there be any more until the war varies. Of course, our position here becomes comparatively easy and comfortable. The quantity of official work has sensibly declined, and I can look round to interest myself in the scenes that are more immediately before me.

But just as the public work diminishes, as men cease to offer themselves as soldiers, or to propose all sorts of contracts for ships, cannon, rifles, and every imaginable death dealing invention, my correspondence has taken a wholly new direction. Good Mr. Peabody, having made more money than he can hold, takes it into his head to give to the poor of the city of London an endowment of a hundred and fifty thousand pounds. To carry out his idea he conveys the sum to five gentlemen, the minister of the United States being ex officio one of them. No sooner did my name appear in the papers than all the poor women of the city begin to pelt me with applications for aid, and all the useful societies present their claims for consideration. The consequence is that I bid fair to become the most widely known American envoy that ever came here, and furthermore that all the army of beggars in this great Babylon feel as if they had a special right to importune me. Such is fame! In the meantime the great question how the most beneficially to apply this enormous sum is about to be imposed upon us, and I am to bear one-fifth of the responsibility of a decision. Whichever way it is made the cry of the disappointed majority which expect a dividend of a sovereign apiece will be loud and long. I know not that I should take this view so coolly, if I did not feel that it cannot be long before I bid my friends here farewell, and devolve all cares as well as honors upon a successor. That successor will devolve all the odium of the action taken upon his predecessor, so that both will be safe; and again I shall exclaim, such is fame!

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

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

April 17, 2012

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

April 17 — This morning, an hour before day, the same old alarm that has waked us so often in the last month was brought into requisition and sounded in our ears again, “Get up! The Yankees are coming. Pack up and get ready to stand to your guns.” This thing of being rear guard of an army and operating on the immediate front of the enemy is a service both active and arduous, full of alarms, hardships, and excitement.

Before daylight we were out on the pike in position, and before sunrise we saw the Yankee skirmish line coming through the fields on our left and their cavalry advancing up the pike at the same time in our immediate front. When the cavalry arrived in the street of Hawkinstown, which was about half a mile from our position, we opened on them with our howitzer, and soon scattered and checked them, but the infantry skirmishers on our left still advanced slowly. We fired on them until they disappeared from sight by filing into a ravine.

The whole Yankee army was advancing, and when they brought their artillery to the front to fire on us, we left and fell back to Rude’s Hill, two miles south of Mount Jackson. At the south end of Mount Jackson where the Valley pike crosses Mill Creek our men burnt the bridge, but its destruction offered very little resistance to the progress of the enemy’s advance, as the creek is small and there is a very good ford just below the bridge. Consequently, we knew that destroying the bridge would present no serious obstacle to the advancing cavalry, but we thought that it would at least for a while check the column of infantry; but it did not in the least, for I saw the leading regiment of the infantry column march down the hill to the ford in quick time and dashed into the creek and through it without the least hesitation or faltering.

They seemed to be familiar with the situation, and acted with a boldness heretofore unshown and wholly unequaled. The creek was no more hindrance to the onward march of their footmen than it would have been to a herd of cattle. We were on a hill about half a mile from the creek when they crossed, and their infantry was close up with the cavalry, and advancing so determinedly and rapidly that meant business all over, that we did not deem it judicious nor very wholesome to go in position just there and then before a column of cavalry and infantry, backed with batteries of Parrott guns. At the southern base of the hill we were on the turnpike crosses the north fork of the Shenandoah. The bridge was already prepared for destruction. The proper quick inflammable material was all in place ready for the igniting match, but the enemy pressed us so vigorously and dashed so boldly over the bridge that they captured the man who set it on fire, and extinguished the kindling flames. When the Yanks rushed impetuously across the bridge like wild men, flushed by the success of its passage, with drawn sabers and firing as they came, our cavalry was rather surprised by the sudden appearance of the enemy in their midst,— as it was a foregone conclusion that the bridge would be destroyed,— consequently our men were incautiously not looking for the unexpected irruption that was so momentously thrust upon them so unceremoniously.

As soon as the front of the column had crossed the bridge the fight commenced in earnest, with saber, pistol, and carbine. Our men stubbornly resisted the advancing foe with saber and pistol, and at one time were mixed up with the Yankee cavalry, fighting hilt to hilt.

One Yankee cavalryman rode boldly toward Colonel Ashby with the deliberation of a desperado, pistol leveled ready to fire; but just as he was in the act of firing Captain Koontz saw him and, surmising his intentions, quickly drew his pistol on him and fired, unhorsing him just in time to save Ashby.

In the meantime the Yankee cavalry were still coming across the bridge, overwhelming our men in number, who at last succumbed and fled from the field. We were in position with our howitzer on the pike nearly half a mile from the bridge, but did not fire, as our men were mixed up with the Yanks.

When our cavalry began to break away we doublequicked for Rude’s Hill, which was a mile away, just about as fast as our horses could travel in an extraordinary emergency. The Yankees were then charging us. When Colonel Ashby galloped past us on his bleeding horse, he called, ” Good-by, boys; they will get you this time.” I think his remarks were partly intended as an effective incentive to make us run faster, which we surely did. I ran one mile just a little faster than I ever hoofed it before. The Yanks gained on me at first, and I could hear their clattering arms close behind me.

But when Ashby passed us and said, “Good-by, boys,” it gave me such an impulse and incitement for running that it really seemed to increase my speed without extra exertion. As we drew near Rude’s Hill, which was to us the goal of freedom, the Yanks gave up the chase and we were safe. The Yankee cavalry then retired to the north side of the river, and nothing in the shape of an enemy remained on our side of the river except a few scattering footmen sharpshooters, with long-range rifles, creeping along the fences in derailed chipmunk style, trying to conquer the Southern Confederacy by shooting now and then at a daring careless Rebel.

Just as we reached Rude’s Hill the Yankees opened a battery of rifled guns on us, which they hurriedly placed in position on the hill a little below the bridge on the north side of the river. When we reached the top of Rude’s Hill we put our Blakely gun in position and fired a few shots at their battery, but the distance was too great for anything except noise and wasting ammunition.

While I was sitting on the ground watching a Yankee battery firing, I heard and saw a shell coming, and from its course and trajectory I knew that it was searching for me, so I moved away as quickly as a man can when a shell is after him. When I got away about eight feet from where I had been sitting a tenpound Parrott shell struck the ground at the very spot that I so hurriedly vacated a moment before, but fortunately the shell did not explode, and laid there still and harmless.

It is wonderful and almost inexplicable how a man can slip between and slide around danger unscathed. If I had not seen that shell coming it would have shattered the clod that anchors me to earth without giving me time to say farewell to the Southern Confederacy.

This afternoon the Yanks put a battery of Parrott guns in position about a mile above the bridge on the highlands that bound the bottoms on the west, and about a mile and a half from our position. When they opened on us with that battery we replied with a few rounds, then left Rude’s Hill and fell back to Sparta, about eleven miles from Rude’s Hill, where we arrived a few hours after nightfall. Weary and nearly exhausted, we laid ourselves away for the night.

The man who so undauntedly approached Colonel Ashby to-day with leveled pistol and was shot by Captain Koontz just in time to save Ashby, bore such a striking resemblance to the Yankee deserter, spy, New Orleans sugar merchant, that it is now admitted and believed that he was the very man that was permitted to ride all through our camps a few days ago without proper surveillance, a dangerous spy, locating camps, bridges, and roads, out-talking and out-lying all creation.

But alas! Mr. Spy, if our deductions are correct your deception and boldness were quickly followed by disastrous consequences, that never fail to settle the spying business, and requires its gathered victims to give an account of their stewardship at the bar of the “Kingdom Coming,” where Rebels cease from troubling and sugar merchants desert and spy no more.

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

Diary and Letters of Rutherford B. Hayes.

April 17, 2012

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Thursday, April 17. — Another fine day; very warm this A. M. Drilled three times. Heard that Colonel Scammon and McMullen’s Battery were on the way here from Fayetteville; that we must get ready for them.

Post image for A reign of terror!— Rebel War Clerk

A reign of terror!— Rebel War Clerk

April 17, 2012

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

APRIL 17TH.—To-day Congress passed an act providing for the termination of martial law within thirty days after the meeting of the next session. This was as far as they could venture; for, indeed, a majority seem to be intimidated at the glitter of bayonets in the streets, wielded by the authority of martial law. The press, too, has taken the alarm, and several of the publishers have confessed a fear of having their offices closed, if they dare to speak the sentiments struggling for utterance. It is, indeed, a reign of terror! Every Virginian, and other loyal citizens of the South—members of Congress and all—must now, before obtaining Gen. Winder’s permission to leave the city for their homes, bow down before the aliens in the Provost Marshal’s office, and subscribe to an oath of allegiance, while a file of bayonets are pointed at his back!

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

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

April 17, 2012

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

Thursday, 17th—The day is fair. Had battalion drill again.

Post image for A Confederate Girl’s Diary

A Confederate Girl’s Diary

April 17, 2012

A Confederate Girl's Diary by Sarah Morgan Dawson

April 17th.

And another was silly little Mr. B——r, my little golden calf. What a — don’t call names! I owe him a grudge for “cold hands,” and the other day, when I heard of his being wounded at Shiloh, I could not help laughing a little at Tom B——r’s being hurt. What was the use of throwing a nice, big cannon ball, that might have knocked a man down, away on that poor little fellow, when a pea from a popgun would have made the same impression? Not but what he is brave, but little Mr. B——r is so soft.

Then there was that rattle-brain Mr. T——t who, commencing one subject, never ceased speaking until he had touched on all. One evening he came in talking, and never paused even for a reply until he bowed himself out, talking still, when Mr. Bradford, who had been forced to silence as well as the rest, threw himself back with a sigh of relief and exclaimed, “This man talks like a woman!” I thought it the best description of Mr. T——t’s conversation I had ever heard. It was all on the surface, no pretensions to anything except to put the greatest possible number of words of no meaning in one sentence, while speaking of the most trivial thing. Night or day, Mr. T——t never passed home without crying out to me, “Ces jolis yeux bleus!” and if the parlor were brightly lighted so that all from the street might see us, and be invisible to us themselves, I always nodded my head to the outer darkness and laughed, no matter who was present, though it sometimes created remark. You see, I knew the joke. Coming from a party escorted by Mr. B——r, Miriam by Mr. T——t,[2] we had to wait a long time before Rose opened the door, which interval I employed in dancing up and down the gallery — followed by my cavalier — singing, —

“Mes jolis yeux bleus,
Bleus comme les cieux,
Mes jolis yeux bleus
Ont ravi son âme,” etc.;[3]

which naïve remark Mr. B——r, not speaking French, lost entirely, and Mr. T——t endorsed it with his approbation and belief in it, and ever afterwards called me “Ces jolis yeux bleus.”

[2] Note added at the time: “O propriety! Gibbes and Lydia were with us too.”

[3] “My pretty blue eyes
Blue as the sky,
My pretty blue eyes
Have delighted his soul, “etc.;

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

April 17, 2012

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

April 17th. Train came up about nine. Commenced to rain. Pitched tents and remained there during the day. Played chess some.

Kate Cumming: A Journal of Hospital Life in the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

April 17, 2012

Kate Cumming: A Journal of Hospital Life in the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

April 17.—I was going round as usual this morning, washing the faces of the men, and had got half through with one before I found out that he was dead. He was lying on the gallery by himself, and had died with no one near him. These are terrible things, and, what is more heart-rending, no one seems to mind them. I thought that my patients were all doing well. Mr. Wasson felt better, and knew that he would soon go home. I asked the surgeon who was attending him about his condition, and was much shocked when I learned that neither he nor Mr. Regan would live to see another day. This was a sad trial to me. I had seen many die, but none of them whom I had attended so closely as these two. I felt toward them as I do toward all the soldiers—as if they were my brothers. I tried to control my feelings before Mr. W., as he was so hopeful of getting well, but it was a hard task. Ho looked at me once and asked me what was the matter; was he going to die? I asked him if he was afraid. He replied no; but he was so young that he would like to live a little longer, and would like to see his father and mother once more. I did what I could to prepare him for the great change which was soon to come over him, but I could not muster courage to tell him that he was going to die. Poor Mr. Regan was wandering in his mind, and I found it useless to talk to him upon the subject of death. I managed to get him to tell me his mother’s address. He belonged to the Twenty-second Alabama Regiment.

About dark a strange doctor was visiting the patients. When he came to Mr. W., I was sitting by his bedside. He asked me if this was a relative. I informed him that he was not, but I had been attending to him for some days, and he now seemed like one. Mr. W. looked at him and said, “Doctor, I wish you to tell me if I am going to die.” The doctor felt his pulse and replied, “Young man, you will never see another day in this world.” A pallor passed over his countenance, and for a little while he could not speak. When he did, he looked at me and said, “Sister, I want to meet you in heaven,” and then requested me to get a clergyman to visit him. There happened to be one in the hospital. I sent for him, and he prayed and talked with him for some time. Mr. W. then asked me if I could not let his brothers know his condition; he had two or three in Corinth. A friend who was with him did all in his power to inform them, so that they could see him before he died, but it was of no avail. They were sick, and we could not ascertain in what hospital they were confined. He was much disappointed in not seeing them. He then asked me to write to his mother, who lives in Grimes County, Texas. He desired me to inform her that he had made his peace with God, and hoped to meet her in that land where all is peace and happiness. He would have rejoiced to have seen her and the rest of his dear relatives before leaving this world, but the Lord had willed it otherwise, and he was resigned.

Post image for Journal of Surgeon Alfred L. Castleman.

Journal of Surgeon Alfred L. Castleman.

April 17, 2012

Journal of Surgeon Alfred L Castleman.

17th.—When I dropped down last night on my bloody litter, new thoughts overwhelmed me, and I could not sleep. It was our first battle, and we had been repulsed. I never saw the stars shine so brightly through the leafless trees, and the scene was calculated to excite the active workings of the mind on the occurrences of the day. I wrapped my head in my blanket to shut out the view. When I uncovered it this morning, I looked around on new scenes. The beautiful level field between me and the enemy, which yesterday presented a surface even as a floor, was now thrown into great ridges, a quarter of a mile long, mounted with cannon, bristling with bayonets, and covered with men ready to renew the contest. Our army had thrown them up in the night, as a protection against the enemy’s fire. Shortly after sunrise the troops were seen marshalling for the contest. The cannonading commenced, but in a short time began to slacken. By eleven o’clock A. M. all was quiet, save the tramp of men and horses, and an occasional oath from the commanding officers, and a little later we were all on our march back to the very ground we left yesterday. Why we have abandoned the contest I do not know.

I had a skirmish with my General to-day. He questioned my motives. I replied tartly. We quarrelled, and to-morrow I shall ask to be relieved from serving longer on his staff.

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