Richmond, October 15th.—Yesterday morning my sister M., J. W., and myself, drove up from W. to the depot, seven miles, in a wagon, with four mules. It was a charming morning, and we had a delightful ride; took the accommodation cars at twelve and arrived here at two. We drove to the Exchange, and were delighted to find there our dear J. McI. And her little Bessie, on her way to W. to spend the winter. Poor thing, her lot is a sad one! She was excited by seeing us, and was more cheerful than I expected to see her; though she spoke constantly of her husband, and dwelt on her last days with him. She was in Memphis; her little Jemmie was excessively ill; she telegraphed for her husband in Arkansas. He came at once, and determined that it would be better to take the little boy to the house of his aunt in Louisiana, that J. might be with her sister. They took the boat, and after a few hours arrived at Mr. K’s house. The child grew gradually worse, and was dying, when a telegram came to General McIntosh from General Price, “Come at once—a battle is imminent.” He did not hesitate; the next steamer bore him from his dying child and sorrowing wife to the field of battle, Pea Ridge. He wrote to her, immediately on his arrival at camp, the most beautifully resigned letter, full of sorrow for her and for his child, but expressing the most noble, Christian sentiments. Oh, how she treasures it! The lovely boy died the day after his father left him! The mother said, “For a week H. and myself did nothing but decorate my little grave, and I took a melancholy pleasure in it; but darker days came, and I could not go even to that spot.” She dreamed, a few nights after little Jemmie’s death, of being at Fort Smith, her home before the war; standing on the balcony of her husband’s quarters, her attention was arrested by a procession—an officer’s funeral. As it passed under the balcony she called to a passer-by : “Whose funeral is that ?” “General McIntosh’s, madam.” She was at once aroused, and ran to her sister’s room in agony. She did what she could to comfort her, but the dream haunted her imagination. A few days afterwards she saw a servant ride into the yard, with a note for Mrs. K. Though no circumstance was more common, she at once exclaimed, “It is about my husband.” She did not know that the battle had taken place; but it was the fatal telegram. The soldiers carried his body to Fort Smith, and buried it there. To-morrow she returns, with her aunt, to W. She wishes to get to her mother’s home in Kentucky, but it is impossible for her to run the blockade with her baby, and there is no other way open to her.
Monday, October 15, 2012
October 15 — We were relieved this evening from picket by the second section of our battery and a portion of the Richmond Howitzers. We came back to camp.
October 15, Wednesday. General Dix came to see me in relation to the blockade of Norfolk. Says Admiral Lee is extremely rigid, allows no traffic; that the people of Norfolk are suffering, though in his opinion one half the people are loyal. The place, he says, is in the military occupation of the Government and therefore is not liable to, and cannot, be blockaded. Tells me he has been reading on the question, and consulting General Halleck, who agrees with him. I told him if Norfolk was not, and could not be, a blockaded port, I should be glad to be informed of the fact; that the President had declared the whole coast and all ports blockaded from the eastern line of Virginia to the Rio Grande, with the exception of Key West. Congress, though preferring the closing of the ports, had recognized and approved the fact, and authorized the President from time to time, as we recovered possession, to open ports at his discretion by proclamation. That he had so opened the ports of Beaufort, Port Royal, and New Orleans, but not Norfolk. If he was disposed to raise the blockade of that port, I should not oppose it but be glad of it. That I had so informed the President and others, but there was unqualified and emphatic opposition in the War Department to such a step. If he would persuade the Secretary of War to favor the measure, there would be little resistance in any other quarter. Perhaps he and General Halleck could overrule the objections of the Secretary of War. That I intended to occupy no equivocal attitude. This was not to be a sham blockade, so far as I was concerned. I thought, with him, that as Norfolk was in the military occupancy of our armies and to continue so, there was no substantial reason for continuing the blockade; that not only humanity towards the people but good policy on the part of the Administration required we should extend and promote commercial intercourse. Commerce promotes friendship. It would induce the people in other localities to seek the same privileges by sustaining the Union cause. That, as things were, Admiral Lee was doing his duty and obeying instructions in rigidly enforcing the blockade. That I was opposed to favoritism. There should be either intercourse or non-intercourse; if the port was open to trade, all our citizens, and foreigners also, should be treated alike.
“But,” said General Dix, “I don’t want the blockade of Norfolk raised; that won’t answer.”
“Yet you tell me there is no blockade; that it has ended, and cannot exist because we are in military possession.”
“Well,” said he, “that is so; we are in military occupancy and must have our supplies.”
“That,” I replied, “is provided for. Admiral Lee allows all vessels with army supplies, duly permitted, to pass.”
“But,” continued he, “we must have more than that. The people will suffer.”
“Then,” said I, “they must return to duty and not persist in rebellion. The object of the blockade is to make them suffer. I want no double-dealing or false pretenses. There is, or there is not, a blockade. If there is, I shall, until the President otherwise directs, enforce it. If there is not, the world should know it. Should the blockade be modified, we shall conform to the modifications.”
The General thought it unnecessary to tell the world the blockade was modified or removed. I thought we should make the changes public as the declaration of blockade itself, if we would maintain good faith. He seemed to have no clear conception of things; thought there ought to have never been a blockade. In that I concurred. Told him I had taken that view at the commencement, but had been overruled; we had placed ourselves in a wrong position at the beginning, made the Rebels belligerents, given them nationality, — an error and an anomaly. It was one of Mr. Seward’s mistakes.
A letter has been shown about, and is to-day published, purporting to be from General Kearny, who fell at Chantilly. The letter is addressed to O. S. Halstead of New Jersey. It expresses his views and shows his feelings towards McClellan, who, he says, “positively has no talents.” How many officers have written similar private letters is unknown. “We have no generals,” says this letter of Kearny.
Wednesday, 15th—We are once more getting settled in camp. Our duties are not as laborious as they were at Bolivar and Iuka. We have begun the building of forts and rifle-pits, close in, all around Corinth, so that a small force can hold the place. We are pulling down some of the vacant houses to make room for fortifications. But the fortifications will not be on as grand a scale as those built here during the summer. They will be smaller, too, than the fortifications which protected us during the battle here.
To Mrs. Lyon.
October 15, 1862.—The river is still low and nearly isolates us from civilization. I am slowly gaining strength. I ride some, but find it rather fatiguing. The position of Colonel of a regiment is no sinecure, I assure you. I think that I shall earn my wages.
I see that those terrible battles of Corinth have struck close home. You have, of course, heard that Sperry Northup was killed. A letter from Andrews, the sutler, informs me that he was shot through the heart while skirmishing on Saturday morning, the 4th inst. Poor Katie and the children! My heart bleeds for them.
I see, too, that the 8th has lost heavily, but am without particulars, except that Lieut. Fellows of Company K is wounded, also two or three of the boys. There are doubtless many more of them hurt, but I have not seen the full list.
Although by coming to this regiment I have escaped a terrible peril, perhaps death, yet I almost regret that I was not with the brave boys that I led for a year, in the hours of their recent terrible peril. But God governs, and we may safely trust our destinies to Him.
There is no prospect of any fighting in this vicinity at present. There are a few ragged guerilla bands thirty or forty miles from here, but they run whenever our cavalry comes near them. It begins to look as though we should winter here. We are moving the camp a short distance to better ground, and I am making all my arrangements with reference to your coming. I have taken a little stock in the contraband line, having a man and his wife on trial. I think they will suit me. Their names are ‘Jerry’ and ‘Minerva,’ aged 32 and 27, respectively— no children. The wench is supposed to be the most ill looking one in the camp. She is washing for me today.
I think that I am rapidly gaining the confidence and respect of the officers and men of the regiment. I have really a very fine regiment, indeed. Almost the entire membership was recruited from residents of Rock county and closely contiguous territory, and embraces the best material in that favored portion of our state. A large number are either graduates from or students in Milton College. Company K, commanded by Captain Norcross, a graduate of the State University, is composed largely of members of this class. I feel honored to be assigned to the command of such men. As soon as I have strength I shall commence drilling it thoroughly, thus fitting it to fight if we are sent into the field. I shall make no effort to get into the field. That is a responsibility which I dare not assume.
Wednesday, 15th. Paymaster started for the fort—9th Kansas and 3rd Wis. escort—made the picket detail. Man wanted to buy salt at most any price—the article is very scarce.
Wednesday, 15th.—Started at midnight, marching in direction of Big Hill; rather think we are leaving the State; halted within two miles of Big Hill; detail of fifteen men from Company F.
Fort Craig, Va., Oct. 15, 1862.
Dear Family:
The men suffer very much from cold, having had no blankets since the advance, only what they could pick up, and nothing but the soft side of a board to sleep on; but I sleep as well as at home, having nearly all the conveniences of that place.
You think I had better “stop in camp than go out roaming around the country”? Well the fact is, a fellow gets tired of laying round, and another reason is, I want to see the country; it is different from that in Mass., being hills and valleys everywhere. I should like to go to a meeting where there is some kind of a man going to speak; have not heard one since being out here and fear that I am no better on account of it, although but little good our Chaplain would or could do. As for the country being ruined, I think it will get along as well as usual for some time to come. Our men can fight as well as the southerners; but no better. They have got good fighting blood and are as smart as we; but it is supposed we outnumber them; still, don’t know. They have held their own with us so far and should not be surprised if they did to the end. The Capt. has got his papers at last. Shall not expect a box, now the Capt. has gone, till Thanksgiving.
I suppose Frank has got to be quite an old man by this time and thinks he is boss.
About those photographs; we can get fine ones taken over in the city. Which would you rather have, the whole body or the bust? I think the latter for me, as they say I am a tall gawky looking fellow. The report here is now that we have got to go to California; that there is a large fleet off that coast and they want us out there. I should like to go as I could get out free of cost. Do you suppose you could get any pay from the state, on Jere and myself? Seems as though you might, other families do. I will draw up something if you think best and get Lt. H. to sign it and see if that will do. Write if you think best or not. The old members of Co. B are determined that if they get home they will draw a town meeting and vote to give us bounty ($300) and I have no doubt they ‘d get the vote.
Much love to all. Give respects to all inquiring friends.
Yours,
L. B.. Jr.
Oct. 16. I am just out of bed and am going to add a few lines. The new troops are drilling and they have to drill like good ones too. Sitting here at the door of the tent, I get a view of the Potomac. If the Capt. should go home, if you look in his trunk and get the picture of a young lady, keep it for me. It is a Virginia lass.
OCTOBER 15TH.—A young man showed me a passport to-day to return to Washington. It appears that Secretary Randolph has adopted another plan, which must be a rare stroke of genius. The printed passport is “by order of the Secretary of War,” and is signed by “J. H. Winder, Brig.-Gen.” But this is not all: on the back it is “approved—by order of Major-Gen. Gustavus W. Smith,” and signed by one of Smith’s “adjutants.” So the command of the Secretary of War is approved by the New Yorker, Smith, after being first manipulated by Winder. It is an improvement, at all events, on the late mode of sending out spies—they cannot get passports for bribes now, without Smith’s adjutant knowing something about it. Heretofore the “Plug Uglies” might take the bribe, and by their influence with Gen. Winder, obtain his signature to a blank passport.
The following was received yesterday :
..
“WINCHESTER, VA., Oct. 14, 1862.
“HON. G. W. RANDOLPH.
“The cavalry expedition to Pennsylvania has returned safe. They passed through Mercersburg, Chambersburg, Emmetsburg, Liberty, New Market, Syattstown, and Burnesville. The expedition crossed the Potomac above Williamsport, and recrossed at White’s Ford, making the entire circuit, cutting the enemy’s communications, destroying arms, etc., and obtaining many recruits.
“R. E. LEE, General.”
..
Thus, Gen. Stuart has made another circle round the enemy’s army; and hitherto, every time he has done so, a grand battle followed. Let McClellan beware!
A letter, just received from Gen. Lee, says there is no apprehension of an immediate advance of McClellan’s army. This he has ascertained from his scouts sent out to obtain information. He says the enemy is in no condition to advance. Will they go into winter quarters? Or will Lee beat them up in their quarters?
But the government has desired Lee to fall back from the Potomac; and Lee, knowing best what he should do at present, declines the honor. He says he is now subsisting his army on what, if he retreated, would subsist the enemy, as he has but limited means of transportation. He says, moreover, that our cavalry about Culpepper and Manassas (belonging to the command of Gen. Gustavus W. Smith), should be more active and daring in dashing at the enemy; and then, a few weeks hence, McClellan would go into winter quarters. That would insure the safety of Richmond until spring.
There is a rumor, generally credited, that Bragg has led the enemy, in Kentucky, into an ambuscade, and slaughtered 25,000. A traveler from the West reports having read an account to this effect in the Louisville Journal. If the Journal really says so—that number won’t cover the loss. The Abolitionist journals are incorrigible liars. And, indeed, so are many of those who bring us news from the West.
October 15. [Chattanooga] —The day has cleared off beautifully. Good news continues to come in from Kentucky. I have just received a note from a Kentuckian, with a vest, requesting me to enlarge it, as the hope of soon seeing his wife and children, whom he has been separated from for some time, has so inflated him that it needs altering.
J. Tew, a member of the Thirty-second Alabama Regiment, died to-day; is from Red Creek, Ala.; was a married man.
The colonel of that regiment (McKinstry) is from Mobile. He has visited his men in the hospital, and seemed much interested in them. He was post commandant of this place.
Two of our men died to-day: Robert Arnold, member of the Tenth South Carolina Regiment, and Mr. Schoff, member of the Sixteenth Louisiana Regiment.
We are in despair for diet for the men, as our money is all gone. I have written to our friends in Mobile to send us some. If they do not, I do not know what we will do, as we have nothing but beef, bread, and coffee; many of the men can not taste either of these things. I believe that many a man dies for want of proper nourishment. When they have money themselves, they give it to us to buy things with; but money is an article of which they have very little at this time. I hope there will be a change for the better soon, and that we will be able to get plenty of money, as Dr. Stout (who is said to be an excellent manager) is now medical director of the hospital department, from Atlanta to this post.
