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

Monday, May 28, 2012

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills.

May 28, 2012

Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, Charles Wright Wills, (8th Illinois Infantry)

Near Farmington, Miss., May 28, 1862

We moved up here this morning under the hottest sun and over the dustiest roads, and I then helped the major lay off the camp, and pitched our tents ourselves. Gracious, how hot it was! I worked and sweated and blessed General Pope for ordering us forward on such a day. I’ll wager we are the only field and staff that pitch and strike our head quarter’s tents without the aid of the men. But I can’t bear the idea of making men who are our equals at home do our work here. Soldiering in the ranks spoils a man for acting officer “a-la-regular.” We’re ordered to have our horses saddled by 3 a.m. to-morrow. There has been the liveliest kind of cannonading along the whole lines to-day. Our whole army advanced about a mile. I think that at almost any point on the line we can throw shot into their works. Distances vary from one and one half miles to two and a quarter or two and one-half. Many of the generals think that to-morrow there will be a general fight. They talk a great deal more since the news correspondents have been sent off; and of course anything of that kind, that a brigadier says, goes the rounds of the whole camp in real telegraph style. Have heard of a number of killings to-day, and haven’t heard a tithe of the whole. The enemy are beginning to dispute our further advance right strongly. Many think that Halleck has commenced a regular siege. He has left a line of splendid defences to-day, and if he forms new works on the position taken up to-day, we will know that we are in for a long fight, a-la-Yorktown. Two regiments of cavalry went out this morning to destroy the Ohio & Mobile R. R., 30 miles south of Corinth. I wish them luck. Many of the Rebel shot and shell struck within a half mile of the front of our camp to-day. It looks somewhat like the times at Madrid and Point Pleasant, but will probably be a little more interesting before we finally finish it.

Post image for Word of engagement near Hanover court house.–General Richardson.–Diary of Josiah Marshall Favill.

Word of engagement near Hanover court house.–General Richardson.–Diary of Josiah Marshall Favill.

May 28, 2012

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

May 28th. To-day has been very hot; during the night we turned out suddenly and stood in line of battle for an hour, then turned in again. This evening, we hear Porter has been demonstrating all day in the region of Hanover court house, and has burnt the bridges over the South Anna, and Pamunkey rivers, to prevent the enemy getting into our rear; and drove a strong rebel force several miles to the rear, capturing seven hundred men. We got up quite an illumination after dark, in honor of the event. After hearing this good news, the colonel and I rode over to General Richardson’s quarters, to learn more about it. General Richardson talked freely with the colonel, and said we should get into a big fight within a few days, beyond a doubt. He says Porter did well, although bothered by rain in the morning, and bad roads almost everywhere. Some of the regiments got lost for a while, a very easy thing to do in this interminable woody country. After a stubborn fight, our men got them on the run, and gave them a lively shaking up. The railroad, as far as Ashland, was destroyed when the troops returned to their original camp, with the prisoners taken during the day. Richardson is a dark, slim man, with stooping shoulders, and a most pronounced nasal voice. He looks like a farmer more than a soldier, and is utterly devoid of style; but has good common sense, a rare commodity apparently, and is very popular with his command. He is a West Pointer, notwithstanding his lack of style, and served in the old regular army. He made me think he smelt something disagreeable all the time, by the way he moved the muscles of his face. He is a typical Yankee.

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 28, 2012

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

May 28.—Arrived at Okolona yesterday. I am staying at Judge Thornton’s. The place is much changed since we were last here; it is filled with refugees, and sick and wounded soldiers. Mrs. T. has every corner of her house filled with the latter. I am informed that all private dwellings in the place are in the same condition.

Two ladies came from Corinth with me. The cars were very much crowded. I heard a gentleman, who sat near me, recite a poem to his friend, and say that he hoped that our people would be imbued with the same patriotic spirit that was in it . I took the liberty of asking him what it was. He informed me that it was the Battle of Killiecrankie, and could be found in Aytoun’s “Lays of Scottish Cavaliers.” This gentleman was from Missouri, and had been with the army of General Price during its campaign in the West. The tales he related of the sufferings of these gallant men were heartrending. For weeks they marched through frost and snow, with scarcely any thing to eat; the wounded and sick were left on the road-side, and if cared for it was by mere chance. The men scarcely know what to do with themselves now, as they are in heaven compared to where they had been. He told me that in visiting the hospitals in Memphis, when he saw the great care which was bestowed upon our men, contrasted with the scenes which he had witnessed in the wilds of Missouri and Arkansas, it made him sad. He related one incident which affected him more than all others. A man was dying— one of the noblest looking that he had ever seen. A lady was bending over him causing him to repeat the Lord’s Prayer, as he had doubtless done a thousand times, when a child, at his mother’s knee. The whole scene was one of the most impressive that he had ever witnessed. He said that he had never been so deeply impressed with the grandeur and beauty of this prayer. I could have listened all day long, hearing him tell of the daring exploits of Price and his gallant army.

The weather is oppressively warm, and I do not feel very well; but hearing that John Morgan was to pass, I could not resist the temptation of seeing so great a lion; for he is one of the greatest of the age. I was introduced to him by Mrs. Jarboe. I remarked to him that I regretted returning home without seeing Kentucky; that I had left home with the intention of seeing Cincinnati before I went back. He spoke very hopefully, and said that I would be there soon, as ere long the way would be open for all southerners. I then stated that I hoped to hear much of him, and the good that he would do our cause. He replied that he wished that he might hear of himself twenty years hence. I answered that if prayer would save him, he would be preserved, as I knew that many were offered up for him, along with those for the rest of our brave defenders. He is extremely modest. I paid him one or two compliments—deserved ones—and he blushed like a schoolgirl. He has a fine, expressive countenance; his eye reminded me of a description of Burns by Walter Scott. He related one or two of his adventures, and his eyes “fairly glowed with animation.” He told us about a train of cars which he had captured in Tennessee, and that the ladies on the train were as frightened as if he intended to eat them. He said, “You know that I would not do that.” He related a very amusing adventure he had had lately at Corinth. He made a call on General Buell in disguise. In the course of conversation with General B., he informed him that John Morgan was in Corinth. General B. answered that he knew better; that he knew where he was; he was in Kentucky. Morgan has great command over his features; can disguise himself, and go where he pleases without being discovered.

When the train left, the men gave him three cheers. He looked abashed, and blushed again. Mrs. Thornton said that she had rather see him than any of our great men.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

May 28, 2012

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

May 28.—A public meeting was held in Richmond, Va., for the purpose of enrolling the names of such of the citizens as chose to form themselves into a Home Guard for the defence of the city.—Stringent orders in respect to communication with Norfolk, were published by General Wool—The Seventy-first regiment, N. Y. S. M., left New-York City for Washington.—The Legislature of Virginia appropriated the sum of two hundred thousand dollars to defray the expense of removing the women and children of Richmond to a place of safety. Mrs. Jeff Davis was sent under the care of ex-Senator Gwin to Raleigh, N. C.

—Governor Andrew, of Massachusetts, issued an order relieving the militia who rallied in obedience to the proclamation of Monday, and they returned to their homes, except such as volunteered for three years or the war. The men generally expected to serve three or six months, not knowing that an act of Congress required the service for an indefinite period.—At Newbern, N. C, the evening schools established by Dr. Vincent Colyer for the education of colored persons were closed by order of Governor Stanly.— N. Y. Tribune, June 4.

—The United States mail steamer Northern Light, under the command of Captain Tinklepaugh, in lat 31°, lon. 73° 35′, captured the rebel schooner, Agnes H. Ward, of Wilmington, N. C. She was found sailing under the rebel flag and papers, and bound for Nassau, N. P., with a cargo of cotton, turpentine, and tobacco. The mail steamer took her in tow and carried her into New-York.

—The Charleston and Savannah Railroad at Pocotaligo, S. C, was destroyed by the National troops under the command of Col. Christ.

—Pierre Soule was arrested at New-Orleans, La., by order of Gen. Butler.—N. O. Picayune, May 29.

—General Shepley, Military Commandant at New-Orleans, ordered that prayers should “not be offered up for the destruction of the Union or Constitution of the United States or for the success of the rebel armies.”

—Lieutenant-colonel Sickles, in command of four companies of the Ninth Illinois cavalry, had a skirmish with a party of rebels near Cache River bridge, Arkansas, totally defeating them. Captain Blakemore, with three companies of the same regiment, pursued a party of rebels, mortally wounding one and taking one prisoner. Captain Buel with his company, pursued another party, but they succeeded in making their escape. —Jacksonport, Ark., Cavalier, June 9.

—Three strong columns advanced and reconnoitred within gunshot of the rebel works at Corinth. They were commanded respectively by Generals Thomas, Buell, and Pope. The rebels hotly contested the ground at each point, but were driven back with considerable loss. The column on the left encountered the strongest opposition. The National loss was twenty-five killed and wounded. The enemy left thirty dead on the field. Some five or six officers and a number of privates were captured.—Halleck’s Despatch.

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