July 23— To-day at noon we started on a scout to Page County with the Twelfth Regiment of cavalry. We marched down the Valley pike to New Market, then turned east and moved out two miles on the Sperryville pike, and camped for the night at the western foot of the Massanutten.
Monday, July 23, 2012
23d.—Letters and papers to-day. It is reported that Hindman has captured Curtis and his whole command in Arkansas. Delightful, if true. The army hi Virginia, and our dear ones, well.
JULY 23D.—To-day I received the following note from the Secretary :
“JULY 23D, 1862. ”
J. B. JONES, ESQ.
“Sir:—You will not issue passports except to persons going to the camps near Richmond.
“Passports elsewhere will be granted by Brig.-Gen. Winder.
“Respectfully,
“GEO. W. RANDOLPH,
“Secretary of War.”
Wednesday, 23d—Our regiment is out on picket today. It rained all day. We seldom see any of the rebel cavalry in this locality, yet we always maintain a strong picket line so as not to be taken by surprise. We are expecting them to make a raid upon Corinth any time.
July 23. Wednesday. — Marched four companies to Bluestone; bathed. A good evening drill.
Last evening I fell into a train of reflection on the separation of the regiment, so long continued, so unmilitary, and so causeless, with the small prospect of getting relief by promotion or otherwise in the Twenty-third, and as a result pretty much determined to write this morning telling brother William [Platt] that I would like a promotion to a colonelcy in one of the new regiments. Well, this morning, on the arrival of the mail, I get a dispatch from W. H. Clements that I am appointed colonel of the Seventy-ninth, a regiment to be made up in Hamilton, Warren, and Clinton Counties. Now, shall I accept? It is hard to leave the Twenty-third. I shall never like another regiment so well. Another regiment is not likely to think as much of me. I am puzzled. If I knew I could get a chance for promotion in the Twenty-third in any reasonable time, I would decline the Seventy-ninth. But, then, Colonel Scammon is so queer and crotchety that he is always doing something to push aside his chance for a brigadiership. Well, I will postpone the evil day of decision as long as possible.
23rd. Visited the rich mansion of Louis Ross, brother of John. Splendid place. The destruction seemed terrible. Owned 160 slaves. Good piano. Marched 12 miles and camped at 11.
Written from the Sea islands of South Carolina.
[Diary] July 23.
Nelly was busy all day cleaning and rigging her guns. The men on the place seemed overjoyed at their arrival.
I packed boxes for the Edisto refugees and counted up the produce of the sales. I have on hand over four hundred dollars. Mr. Ruggles stayed last night in place of Mr. Hooper as our protector. He brought us a present of sweet potatoes, watermelons and green apples. We had an apple pie!
By July 22 [Colonel] Joe [Howland] could not be kept away from the army, and only half well, he started back, probably in a hospital return boat, to the regiment at Harrison’s Landing. It was, however, only to break down again. The Historical Sketch of the 16th, prepared for their reunion at Potsdam in 1886, says: “Colonel Howland visited the regiment for the first time since the battle of Gaines’ Mill, His suffering was plainly seen, and the men showed their love for him by going to his tent and relieved each other’s guard, so that everyone might take him by the hand.”
Eliza writes him from Astoria, July 23:—
Dear Joe: It is the dull twilight of a dull November-like day and I am afraid you have had a cold, dreary passage. Once at Harrison’s Landing, however, cold weather will be better and healthier for you than hot. I suppose you must have arrived to-day. . . Georgy and I drove out yesterday with Robert, found Mary well and the children asleep. To-day we have had the full benefit of them within doors and have fought with the little rebel Bertha and played with the strange child Una, and studied the fascinations of the little new baby, most of the time. Georgy is an unusually sweet, bright little baby, and Una is a real beauty. Bertha’s affectionate greeting was : “I throw you in the bushes, and pull your head off for me dinner.”
. . . The Elizabeth at Harrison’s Landing is the Sanitary Commission store boat and has plenty of hospital clothing and supplies, and the Medical Director’s boat has plenty of farinaceous food, farina, arrowroot, etc. . . .
July 23d. This morning I was surrounded by all hands, anxious to hear the news from civilization, and to look at a man that had actually had a leave of absence. They tell me the corps’ review yesterday was a great success; the Fifty-seventh had the extreme right of the line and looked superb. It mustered exactly four hundred and forty-seven officers and men present for duty; showing a loss of almost forty-one per cent within nine months. Poor food, exposure, and hard work account for some of the loss, but the regiment has had a great many killed and wounded in action. The weather to-day was delightful, a fine shower falling about five o’clock, cooling and refreshing the air.
Heintzleman’s corps was reviewed to-day. I rode over to see it; thought it not equal to ours in any way.
Camp near Gordonsville, July 23, 1862.
I reached here on yesterday, and now hold the place which I had when I left—volunteer aide to Gen. Jackson. The position is very agreeable, and the only objection to it is that I draw no pay and pay my own expenses. I feel quite at home, and am entirely satisfied to spend the rest of the war in this position. Everything here seems so quiet. The troops are drilling, and there is every indication that the troops will rest here for some time. Considering the severe hardships through which they have passed since the war began, it is very much needed. Everything has a happy, quiet appearance, such as I have not seen in the army since we were in camp this time last year after the battle of Manassas.
I am sorry to have left you with so much work on hand, but hope you may bear it patiently. There is more need now than ever that as much should be made from the farm as possible, as I am drawing no pay. And now, darling, good-bye. I will write you frequently and let you know how I am getting along. I hope you will be as contented and happy as possible, and manage matters just as you please, and I will be satisfied.
