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

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Post image for Army letters of Oliver Willcox Norton.

Army letters of Oliver Willcox Norton.

May 1, 2012

Army letters of Oliver Willcox Norton (Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers)

Camp Winfield Scott, Thursday, May 1, 1862.

Dear Cousin L.:—

Your letter of the 26th arrived yesterday. We have a resting day to-day, as we were in the trench yesterday, so I will write to-day. To-morrow we go on picket, next day in the trenches, and so on. We received news day before yesterday of the capture of New Orleans and as it went from camp to camp it seemed to give the men a new start. There was no cheering. I have not heard a cheer or a drum since we came here except in the rebel forts. But men, when they get such news as that, must have some way of working off their excess of joy. If the orthodox way of allowing it to escape from the lungs in boisterous and prolonged cheers is not permitted, some other will be found. We worked ours off with the pick and shovel. The general in command of the trenches said we threw more dirt out of the ditch in three hours yesterday than the same number of men did in all day the day before. Men will work when there’s a prospect ahead and there seems to be a determination on the part of this army, that, if it depends on us, the honor of restoring the Union shall not rest wholly on the army of the west. That portion of the army has done nobly. They have had the hardest fighting to do, but, if I do not mistake the character of the men I see in the army here, they only wait the opportunity to do as well. The Vermont troops at Lee’s Mill the other day, walked, so to speak, into the very jaws of death without flinching. Not one-fourth of them live to tell the story. The sons of the “Green Mountain Boys” of the Revolution do not seem to have degenerated.

You think I make light of our annoyances and privations. Well, it may be so. There are a few who are constitutional grumblers. They never are satisfied with any treatment or any regulation. They find fault with everything. In fact, if they ever get to Heaven, they’ll be finding fault with the music. Such fellows are the butt for all the ridicule their comrades can heap on them. No mercy is shown to them. A man must show himself a man to get along pleasantly with the company. In general it is so. “Come what will, we’ll be gay and happy still,” is the song and the sentiment of the greater part of the men. There seems to be a pride felt in enduring what at home we would consider hardships, without complaint. But the soldier’s life is not all hardship. It is a pleasant sight to look on a group sitting round a fire in the evening, whiling away the time with stories of the past and speculations of the future. Then you would always see the pipes there. That you wouldn’t like. But for some reason a soldier does enjoy his tobacco. A count was made the other day of the men in our company who use tobacco and of the eighty-seven present sixty-one fell under the ban. I think that a fair average of the regiment. Since we came here the boys have gone to making pipes of the laurel roots that grow on the old breastwork thrown up in the Revolution. I have one that I think a great deal of.

We were sitting round the fire the other night passing the time away when H. joined us. He is the life of the company, and always welcome anywhere. He was asked for a song and gave “Bingen on the Rhine,” a song you have probably seen. As he sang one verse and another, “Tell my mother that her other sons shall comfort her old age, Tell my sister not to weep for me or sob with drooping head,” and so on, I saw a good many faces that relaxed their look of firmness and I thought a good many in the circle were thinking of their friends. There are hours when the soldier “unbends his iron front” and allows the thoughts of home and its pleasant associations to occupy his mind, but it is only as a relief that this is done. You will generally find him apparently careless of the past or future, buoyant, self-reliant, and only mindful of the present.

L. was married the 2d of April at home. She is now Mrs. C. H. P. There, your nose is broke, as they tell the next older when the crisis or cribub arrives. You can’t monopolize the marriage list any longer. Who would have believed though, that she would be married before I thought of such a thing? Oh well, there’s time enough yet. If the young ladies think half as much of the soldiers as they pretend to, perhaps I may find one somewhere if I ever return. E., I believe, has given up his idea of going to West Point. He found that there was no vacancy from our district. He has hired out to farm it this summer.

I see that my correspondents intend to keep me supplied with stamps. I got a letter from home the other night with a number in it. Then Aunt A. sent me some, and now I have to thank you for a number more. They are really an accommodation here. I have seen a good many of the boys sell their rations for stamps because they could not get them in any other way. But the arrangements are better now and I don’t think there will be much difficulty in procuring them hereafter.

Post image for Diary of David L. Day.

Diary of David L. Day.

May 1, 2012

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

Fort Macon.

May 1. Martial law not being a very favorable institution for pleasure parties, I presume the usual May day festival is dispensed with here as I have not seen any parties out or demonstrations of any kind going on. I should think a May party here might be very successful as the woods abound with wild flowers in great variety and beauty.

Fort Macon surrendered to Gen. Burnside last Friday evening, after a bombardment of eleven hours. The general succeeded in getting his siege guns in battery behind some sand ridges about half a mile in rear of the fort, unobserved by the garrison, and the first notice they had of his presence was a shot from one of the guns. After holding out for eleven hours and seeing they could make no defense and that there was no chance for escape, they hauled down their colors. By this surrender, 65 guns and 450 prisoners, with stores and ammunition, have fallen into our hands. Their loss was eight killed and twenty wounded. Our loss was one killed and five wounded.

A good story is told in connection with the surrender of this fort to the Confederates.. After the war broke out and they were seizing the forts, a strong force of Confederates, with a great flourish of trumpets, presented themselves one morning at the sally port of the fort, demanding its immediate and unconditional surrender. Now it happened that the only occupants of the fort were an old ordnance sergeant and his wife who had been in charge of the property for many years. The old sergeant came to the, gate, and looking over the crowd, said to the officer in command that under the circumstances he thought the garrison might as well surrender, but he would like the privilege of taking the old flag and marching out with the honors of war. To this the officer assented and the old sergeant hauled down the flag and winding it around him, he and his wife marched out, greatly to the surprise of the officer, who found that they two comprised the whole garrison.

Post image for News of New Orleans.–Diary of Josiah Marshall Favill.

News of New Orleans.–Diary of Josiah Marshall Favill.

May 1, 2012

Diary of a Young Officer–Josiah Marshall Favill (57th New York Infantry)

May 1st. Weather still bad, preventing any but necessary outdoor operations. Received the glorious news of the capture of New Orleans. The men cheered prodigiously, which could easily be heard in the rebel lines and must have been depressing for their side.

Post image for Every event only carries you farther off.

Every event only carries you farther off.

May 1, 2012

Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

Abby Howland Woolsey to Georgeanna and Eliza.

New York, May 1st, 1862.

My Dear Girls: Never were two creatures pounced on and whirled out of sight more completely than you. Fate seems to descend and wrap you from the vision and the reach of your family, and every event only carries you farther off. Do write us when you can and help us to realize what and where you are! . . . We hear from Mrs. Buck or somebody that the Daniel Webster is expected here the last of this week, on her first trip with wounded and sick, but I should hardly think it could load so soon. Is it to come through the canals, as the “Richard Welling” is coming with the Vermont wounded? Perhaps we shall see you too! That will be famous if you come on in her to New York. . . . We have got sponges, lots of towels, doylies, castile soap, etc., etc. together, and are all ready to put them up and send them to you at any moment. If you find you don’t need them on board, keep them for the use of the 16th. We must do something for that, as our regiment. .. . There are three times as many ladies as are needed at the hospital, 194 Broadway, and Jane’s work finished, she will not go again. . . . Mrs. Buck, Jane and Miss Caroline Murray are to have Thursday each week as their day at the Park Barracks. Young Dr. Schauffler lives there, and the notice is posted all over the city, so that disabled soldiers returning (singly sometimes) may see it and know that there is rest for them and surgical treatment, all freely provided, and Mrs. Stetson of the Astor House, who is one of the committee, engages to have beef tea, broth, gruel, etc., always ready in case they are called for, and to have any delicacy quickly prepared.

Post image for Down to Fortress Monroe.

Down to Fortress Monroe.

May 1, 2012

Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

Eliza‘s Journal.

Before we were up this morning, Joe came over to the Webster to ask us to go down to Fortress Monroe for the day with him, General Slocum and Colonel Bartlett of the 27th New York. Finding I was not likely to be wanted, I accepted gladly, Georgy preferring to go over to Ship Point again. The sail down was only about two and a half hours, and we came upon the fleet almost before we knew it. A great deal of shipping was lying off Old Point Comfort, and in the midst lay the “Minnesota,” and the “Vanderbilt,” with her great steel prow, prepared to meet and run down the Merrimac; and just off the Rip Raps we saw the “Galena,” the “Naugatuck,” and the “Monitor.” We landed at once and began our sight-seeing with a great space covered by some three hundred enormous cannon lying side by side like giant mummies in Egypt. Then we went directly to the Fortress itself unchallenged, and meeting Captain, now Colonel, Whipple, A. A. G., were taken to his nice little house and office just put up within the pretty enclosure of the fort, and then to General Wool’s headquarters. The old General was alone and very polite, said he remembered Uncles Gardiner and Sam Howland, and took me for a daughter and therefore Joe’s sister. He read us the despatches he was just sending to Washington announcing the fall of Fort Macon and the retreat of Beauregard from Corinth to Memphis. He insisted on taking us through his pretty garden and gave me a lovely bunch of lilacs and tulips, jonquils, wall-flower, etc., which the old gentleman picked himself (mostly without stems) and presented with very gallant little speeches.

Captain Whipple took us over the moat and on the ramparts, and to the wonderful water battery where the great guns stand ready to belch forth at any moment on the Merrimac or any other enemy. The monsters “Union” and “Lincoln” stand by themselves and point towards Sewall’s Point. Even the lighthouse is on its guard and has its faces towards the enemy darkened with canvas.

Got back to the ship all right and found nothing had occurred.

A death place for scores of our men…,

May 1, 2012

Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

Georgeanna to Mother.

May 1, ‘62.

We are in sight of the abandoned rebel quarters at Ship Point, now used as a hospital, on low, filthy ground surrounded by earth-works, rained on half the time and fiercely shone on the other half, a death place for scores of our men, who are piled in there covered with vermin, dying with their uniforms on and collars up, dying of fever. Of course there is that vitally important thing, medical etiquette, to contend with here as elsewhere, and so it is:— “Suppose you go ashore and ask whether it would be agreeable to have the ladies come over, just to walk through the hospital and talk to, the men?” So the ladies have gone to talk with the men with spirit lamps and farina and lemons and brandy and clean clothes, and expect to have an improving conversation!

While we are lying here off Ship Point, New Orleans has surrendered quietly, and round the corner from us Fort Macon has been taken. What is it to us so long as the beef tea is ready at the right moment? We have been getting the beds made on our side of the cabin; only 25 are ready, but in two of them a lieutenant and private of the 16th are lying, brought over from the shore yesterday—Eliza’s game. She has taken them vigorously in hand, stealing clean clothes from the Wilson Small and treating them to nice breakfasts and teas. Dr. Haight, of New York, has just put his head in to know if Miss Woolsey has any rice ready. “No. She has used it all up on the man in the bunk-ward, with the dysentery.” Ask the cook—cook won’t boil it; so Miss W. lights her spirit lamp and boils it, and boils it. She has her reward—two men, each with his little plate of it—Was it good?—“Yes, beautiful.”

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

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

May 1, 2012

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

May 1.—A bright, beautiful day. I do not feel well. Every one is complaining; quite a number of the ladies and doctors are sick. Corinth is more unhealthy than ever. The cars have just come in, loaded outside and inside with troops. They are Price’s and Van Dorn’s men, and are from Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri. Poor fellows! they look as if they had seen plenty of hard service, which is true. They are heroes of Oakhill, Elkhorn, and other battles. I have been informed that in their marches through the West they have endured all kinds of hardships; going many days with nothing but parched corn to eat, and walking hundreds of miles, through frost and snow, without shoes. Those on the outside of the cars carried an old shattered flag, of which they seemed to be very proud. I was much astonished that the men who were at the depot did not give these war-worn veterans and their flag one cheer of welcome. I had hard work to keep from giving them one myself. I thought that the southern people were more demonstrative, and I remarked so to a gentleman who was standing near me. He replied that we had become so much accustomed to these things that we did not mind them.

The two men who had their limbs amputated yesterday died during the night. Decatur Benton, from Decatur County, Ala., died to-day. He was wounded at the battle of Shiloh. He had erysipelas upon his head and face, and had been out of his mind some time before his death. He was in his seventeenth year.

Through Some Eventful Years

May 1, 2012

Through Some Eventful Years by Susan Bradford Eppes

Susan Bradford Eppes, "Through Some Eventful Years"

May 1st, 1862.—Father has engaged a book-keeper to come next week. He says it keeps me too close. This man is an Englishman with a wife, a small son and a brother-in-law; a strong, healthy man, who looks as if he ought to be in the army but he says being an Englishman he is not subject to military duty. Uncle Henry got his arm cut off just above the elbow, in the shingle mill and this young man is to take his place. They live in the house formerly occupied by the sawyer, Mr. Wheeler.

Father is so terribly afraid we will develop consumption because our grandmother Bradford died of it. That is why he requires us to spend so much time in out-door exercise. I am a little sorry to give up the book-keeping for I felt that I was helping, but there is a plenty to do in other ways. Fighting is going on all along the line but the telegraph wires have been cut and no certain news comes to us.

A Diary of American Events.

May 1, 2012

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

Joseph Hooker

May 1, 1862. At Pittsburgh Landing, Tennessee, a general order was issued transferring Major – General Thomas’s division from the Army of the Ohio to the Army of Tennessee, and Major-General Thomas to the command of the army formerly under General Grant, of which the divisions of Generals McClernand and Wallace were to constitute a reserve, under General McClernand. Major-General Grant retained command of his district, including the army corps of Tennessee, but acted as second in command under the Major General Commanding the Department.

—The rebel schooner Sarah, while endeavoring to run the blockade of Bull’s Bay, South-Carolina, was chased ashore by a party of the crew of the United States vessel Onward, under the command of Acting Master Sleeper. The rebel crew escaped after setting fire to the schooner.

—At Corinth, Mississippi, four hundred Germans from a Louisiana regiment, who had been sent out from the rebel camp on outpost duty, came into the National lines in a body with white flags on their guns, and gave themselves up as deserters.

—The United States steamer Mercedita, Commander Stellwagen, on the twenty-seventh of April, about fifteen miles north of Hole in the Wall, captured the steamer Bermuda, laden with articles contraband of war, among which were forty-two thousand pounds of powder, seven field-carriages, and a number of cannon, swords, pistols, shells, fuses, cartridges, military stores, saltpetre, saddles, ingots of tin, etc. She was taken into Philadelphia for adjudication.

—This evening, the rebel Colonel Morgan, with his squadron, attacked the train of Gen. Mitchel, near Pulaski, Giles County, Tenn., and captured sixty wagons and about two hundred and seventy unarmed National troops. Morgan not having the means of moving the prisoners, released them on parole.—Shelbyville (Tenn.) News, May 8.

—Yesterday General O. M. Mitchel occupied Huntsville, Alabama, after a lively engagement with seven thousand of the rebel infantry and cavalry.—National Intelligencer, May 3.

—Intelligence was received of a battle at Poralto, Texas, on the fifteenth of April, between the National forces, under General Canby, and a party of Texans who had fortified themselves at that place. The rebels were defeated. General Canby’s loss was twenty-five killed and wounded.—Missouri Republican, May 2.

—General Robert Anderson and Sergeant Peter Hart, received medals from the New-York Chamber of Commerce, in honor of the heroic defence of Fort Sumter.

—The following instructions were sent to the flag-officer of each of the blockading squadrons from the Navy Department at Washington:

Sir: The approach of the hot and sickly season upon the Southern coast of the United States renders it imperative that every precaution should be used by the officers commanding vessels to continue the excellent sanitary condition of their crews. The large number of persons known as “contrabands” flocking to the protection of the United States flag, affords an opportunity to provide in every department of a ship, especially for boats’ crews, acclimated labor. The flag-officers are required to obtain the services of these persons for the country, by enlisting them freely in the navy, with their consent, rating them as boys, at eight dollars, nine dollars, and ten dollars per month, and one ration. Let a monthly return be made of the number of this class of persons employed on each vessel under your command.

—Brigadier-general William T. Sherman was confirmed by the United States Senate as Major-General of volunteers.[1]

—General Butler began the debarkation of the troops of his command at New-Orleans, and by proclamation declared the object and purposes of the United States in taking possession of that city “to restore order, maintain public tranquillity, and enforce peace and quiet.”—(Doc. 1.)

—Last Sunday afternoon, April twenty-seventh, a skirmish took place near Horton’s Mills, ten miles from Newbern, N. C, on the Pollockville road, between a party of cavalry belonging to the One Hundred and Third New-York regiment and a body of rebel cavalry, resulting in the defeat and dispersion of the rebels, with a loss of three killed and ten prisoners. The Union casualties were private Sanders, company C, killed, and three officers, and the same number of privates wounded.—Newbern Progress.

—Yesterday the Union siege-batteries opened their fire against the rebel works at Yorktown, Va.—N. Y. Herald, May 8.

—A Fight took place at Clark’s Hollow, Va., between company C, of the Twenty-third Ohio infantry, under the command of Captain J. W. Stiles, and a party of rebel bushwhackers belonging to the band of the notorious Capt Foley, resulting in the defeat of the latter.—(Doc. 3.)

[1] General Halleck, in a despatch to the Secretary of War, urged the promotion of General William T. Sherman, on account of his Important services at the battle of Shiloh, as follows:

“It is the unanimous opinion here, that Brig.-Gen. W. T. Sherman saved the fortunes of the day on the sixth, and contributed largely to the glorious victory of the seventh. He was in the thickest of the fight on both days, having three horses killed under him and being wounded twice. I respectfully request that he be made a Major-General of volunteers, to date from the sixth instant.”

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