May 10th.—Bid farewell to friends and home; took train at Ringgold, Ga., at 2 P. M. Arrived at Chattanooga, 6 o’clock; remained in car-shed until 2 A. M.
(Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Burned by the Federal Navy when evacuated in 1861, Gosport Shipyard was burned again on May 10, 1862 when the Confederates left on May 10, 1862. It was the third time the shipyard had been burned, the first time by the British in 1779. Photo is from 1864.
Photographed by James F. Gibson.
Part of Civil War glass negative collection. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Record page for this image:http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2006685373/
Abby Howland Woolsey to Georgy and Eliza.
8 Brevoort Place, Saturday.
My Dear Girls: How little we know where you are and what worlds of work you are doing. It is hard to keep still, I know, where so much ought to be done. . . Yesterday Charley and the Webster were to sail and we had a carriage and all went down with the traps—box of brandy, trunk of towels, etc., bundle of air-beds, bundle of fans, and a basket with a few eatables—some fresh eggs which had just arrived from Fishkill, and three or four bottles of ale, which I hope Eliza will drink; she sometimes used to take a glass of it at home. As for Georgy, I do not expect to have her take anything of that sort, after what mother tells me of the fate of the boxes of claret you took to Washington. One box was still unopened, and, so far as she knew, Georgy had never touched a drop. . . . We found Mrs. Trotter on board. The other ladies soon came —Mrs. Griffin, Miss Katharine P. Wormeley, Mrs. Blatchford and Mrs. H. J. Raymond. . . .
The vessel is a fifth-rate bed-buggy concern, I should say, and the hold where the men were put seemed miserable in spite of your pains, but for which it would have been very forlorn. Charley was so busy running hither and thither that we hadn’t much chance at him. I was sorry we had not packed a great hamper of cooked food for him and Mrs. Trotter. Another time we will do better. They expect to be back by Wednesday with as many sick as they can carry, and judging from the number they brought packed on the Ocean Queen, they will stow them with deadly closeness. We saw Dr. Grymes and liked his looks and manner. He startled us by telling us that the Ocean Queen was coming up the bay with over a thousand sick, four hundred typhoid cases. Couldn’t do without you, he said; “only ladies down there to come —of course they are on board.” Mrs. Griffin, too, was convinced of it and sent back by us a big bundle of tins she had bought for Georgy. We left the Webster at four, when they were to sail at any moment, and drove down to the pier where they said the Ocean Queen was to lie. She was not due till six, so we came home. What with the news from West Point, Va., without details, and with the idea that you were the only women on the Ocean Queen to see after the nurses and the sick, and Charley’s departure, we were sufficiently sobered and excited, a compound of both. This morning Uncle Edward reports us the Herald’s news from West Point, that it was only a skirmish and that the loss of the 16th was two killed, beside wounded. . . . At ten o’clock Dr. Buck landed on the Ocean Queen, came up to his house and sent us word that you were not on board. This morning he has been in for a moment, and says you were indefatigable and indispensable at the front; far more useful in staying than in coming up, that he didn’t know where you went when you left the Ocean Queen, but that you were “all right” with Mr. Olmsted somewhere, and taken care of. . . . Eleven hundred, Dr. Buck said, came on the Ocean Queen. So many of them are virulent fever cases, men who must die, that there is great perplexity what to do with them. The City Hospital, North building, is fast filling up, and the air is so infectious that Mrs. Buck thinks it unsafe to enter it. The Commissioners propose that these new cases should go to Ward’s Island. The government barracks on Bedloe’s and Riker’s Islands won’t be ready for some days, and I dread having the Daniel Webster or some other transport bring a thousand more before these have been decently housed. . . . Mother has driven out to Astoria with Uncle E. Carry has gone to Park Barracks with flowers and cologne sent from Astoria, and Jane is at the City Hospital with oranges for fever men. She goes into the fever ward, considering it duty, and undertakes too much for her nerves, but you needn’t tell her so. Carry and I are going this afternoon to see a “Mr. Woolsey,” who was sent to St. Luke’s, sick of fever.
Georgy to Mother.
“Ocean Queen.”
It seems a strange thing that the sight of such misery should be accepted by us all so quietly as it was. We were simply eyes and hands for those three days. Strong men were dying about us; in nearly every ward some one was going. Yesterday one of the students called me to go with him and say whether I had taken the name of a dead man in the forward cabin the day he came in. He was a strong, handsome fellow, raving mad when brought in, and lying now, the day after, with pink cheeks and peaceful look. I had tried to get his name, and once he seemed to understand and screeched out at the top of his voice, John H. Miller, but whether it was his own name or that of some friend he wanted, I don’t know. All the record I had of him was from my diet-list, “Miller, forward cabin, port side, No. 119, beef tea and punch.”
Last night Dr. Ware came to me to know how much floor-room we had. The immense saloon of the after-cabin was filled with mattresses so thickly placed that there was hardly stepping room between them, and as I swung my lantern along the row of pale faces, it showed me another strong man dead. E. had been working hard over him, but it was useless. He opened his eyes when she called “Henry” clearly in his ear, and gave her a chance to pour brandy down his throat, but he died quietly while she was helping some one else. We are changed by all this contact with terror, else how could I deliberately turn my lantern on his face and say to the Doctor behind me, “Is that man dead?” and stand coolly, while he listened and examined and pronounced him dead. I could not have quietly said, a year ago, “That will make one more bed, Doctor.” Sick men were waiting on deck in the cold though, and every few feet of cabin floor were precious; so they took the dead man out and put him to sleep in his coffin on deck. We had to climb over another soldier lying up there, quiet as he, to get at the blankets to keep the living warm.
May 10th. Heard this morning of the arrival of our advance at West Point. The troops had a small fight with a few rebels, but nothing to speak of; detailed companies F and G for a two days’ tour of building wharves; shortly after they left camp we were ordered to strike tents, and move forward to the ground vacated last evening by the Irish brigade. When we got there, we were obliged to detail half the regiment to police the ground before we could occupy it, the Irishmen having left it in such a villainous condition. The present site is close to the town, almost overlooking the docks; in the evening the colonel invited me to go in swimming with him. We drove down to the beach in a two-wheeled ambulance. Upon reaching a spot the colonel thought suitable, I got out and undressed, the colonel remaining inside to try the English plan, driving out far enough into the water, so that he could jump out, and swim without wading. When he got undressed and walked to the rear to plunge in, the old affair suddenly tilted up, and away went colonel and clothes, pell mell into the water! When he came to the surface and saw me laughing and the driver hiding his face, he swore like the army in Flanders, and pitched into the driver right and left; pretty soon, however, he began to laugh, too, but declared he would never bathe in a two-wheeled ambulance again. I sent the man back to camp to get him some dry clothes, so he was not very much put out after all.
May 10.—The hospital is again filled with the badly wounded. There is scarcely an hour during which they are not coming in from skirmishes. I sat up all night to see that the nurses performed their duties properly, and assisted in bathing the wounds of the men. They all rested quite well, excepting one, who was severely wounded in the hand. He suffered a great deal. One died suddenly this morning. I gave him his toddy; he was then quite cheerful; and I went to give him his breakfast, but his bunk was empty—he was dead and gone. He was wounded in the arm. The doctor desired him to have it amputated, which he would on no account permit. The result was hemorrhage ensued, and he bled to death before assistance could be rendered. I did not learn his name, nor any thing about him.
These things are very sad. A few evenings since, Dr. Allen was conversing about the horrors with which we are surrounded. He remarked that it was hard to think that God was just in permitting them. “Shall we receive good at the hands of God, and shall we not receive evil?” We, as a nation, have been so prosperous, that we forget that it was from him that we derived our benefits. He often sends us sorrows to try our faith. He will not send us more than we are able to bear. How patiently the soldiers endure their trials! Who dare say that strength is not given them from on high? Let us do our part, and, whatever happens, not lose trust in him, “for he doeth all things well;” and, in the language of Bishop Wilmer, “May the trials through which we are passing serve to wean us from the world, and move us to set our affections on things above!” “May we bear the rod, and him who hath appointed it!” Dr. A. was some time with General Floyd, in Western Virginia, and remarked that he had seen nothing here to compare with what the men endured there. They were in the mountains, where it was impossible to get any thing for them.
We gained quite a victory yesterday. Price’s and Van Dorn’s troops were engaged. We saw them as they marched out in the morning. They crossed a bridge opposite our bed-room window.
Susan Bradford Eppes, "Through Some Eventful Years"
May 10th, 1862.—There are rumors that McClellan has been removed from Richmond and McDowell appointed instead. With this new commander we may expect more fighting. “A new broom sweeps clean,” they say. Sister Mag has made up her mind to go to the front where she can be at hand if Brother Amos should be wounded. This dreadful waiting, waiting, has almost broken her heart. In June she will take her children, Eddie and the baby girl, whom her father has never seen, and go to Richmond. Sister Mart will accompany her and, of course, there are nurses for both babies. The whole neighborhood is interested and is busy embroidering pretty things for the children. No other trimming to be had in this blockaded country. But that is the least of all the inconveniences.
The book-keeper is getting on quite well with the work and Mrs. Ansell is a really cultivated woman, she comes to every meeting of the Sewing Society and seems as patriotic as the rest. Her little son sticks to me like a burr.
May 10.—White House, on the Pamunkey River, Virginia, was occupied by a company of National cavalry, who secured seven thousand bushels of wheat and four thousand bushels of corn. The rebels had burnt the railroad bridge and town, and torn up the road for some distance towards Richmond.—N. Y. Commercial, May 12.
—The rebel schooner Maria Teresa was captured this day by the United States gunboat Unadilla.—(Doc. 32.)
—A Union meeting was held at Shepardsville, Carteret County, N. C, this day. H. R. Bell was called to the chair, and Thomas Hill was appointed secretary. The following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we deeply regret the unfortunate occurrence of the present war now progressing between the Federal Government and the Southern States.
Resolved, That in our opinion said war was brought on by a few hasty politicians, and not by any act of the Federal Government.
Resolved, Further, that we believe it to be the duty of all Union-loving men to meet and speak their Union sentiments, and also to take measures to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Resolved, That we desire protection by our Federal friends.
Resolved, That since it has become necessary to appoint a Military Governor for the State of North-Carolina, we heartily concur in the appointment of the Hon. Edward Stanly, to fill that office, and agree to invite the said Edward Stanly to visit us at Shepardsville.
—A plot was discovered in Paducah, Ky., spread among the people there of secession proclivities, by which the town was to be handed over to the rebels within a week. Information was given by one of their number.—Nashville Union, May 11.
—New-Kent Court-House, Va., was occupied by the National forces under the command of General Stoneman. The rebels, on leaving the town, destroyed two buildings containing commissary and quartermaster’s stores. — Boston Transcript, May 12.
—Cumberland, Va., a small town on the Pamunkey River, was deserted by the rebels and immediately occupied by the National troops.— National Intelligencer, May 12.
— The iron-clad steamer Ironsides, was launched this morning at Kensington, Philadelphia, Pa., in the presence of an immense crowd. The christening was performed by Commodore Stewart, of the “Old Ironsides,” at whose suggestion the name of “New Ironsides,” was given. —A Naval engagement took place near Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River between a rebel fleet of eight iron-clad gunboats and a Union fleet of six. Four of the rebel boats had rams. Two of the rebel boats were blown up, and a third sunk, when the remainder retreated precipitately under the guns of Fort Pillow. The National fleet was commanded by Capt. C. H. Davis.— (Doc. 30.)
–By General Butler’s order, there were seized at the office of the Consul of the Netherlands in New-Orleans one hundred and sixty kegs, each containing five thousand dollars in specie.— (Doc. 33.)
—General Wool, with five thousand men, landed at Willoughby’s Point, in Hampton Roads, and immediately marched upon Norfolk, Va. At five miles from Norfolk he was met by a delegation of citizens, who formally surrendered the city into his hands. It was immediately occupied, and Gen. Viele made Military Governor.—(Doc. 11.)
—A Meeting of the citizens was held at Bay River, N. C, for the purpose of forming a company of Union Home Guards. F. B. Silverthorn was chosen President, and Mathias Powers Secretary. Mr. Francis T. Riggs offered the following resolution, which was passed by the meeting:
Resolved, That if any of our company betrays the trust reposed in him, by giving aid to or revealing any of the operations of this company to any rebels, without instruction to do so from the proper authorities, he or they shall be immediately apprehended, and dealt with as traitors deserve.
Over ninety-seven of the citizens signed the roll. The president of the meeting addressed them effectively, and was authorized to appoint a captain and three lieutenants for the company. The object of the meeting was to clean out the lower part of the county of all traitors whatsoever, by apprehending them and carrying them before the military authorities of the Federal government—Newbern Progress, May 24.
