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

Monday, October 22, 2012

Post image for Journal of Julia LeGrand.

Journal of Julia LeGrand.

October 22, 2012

The Journal of Julia LeGrand

October 22nd [1862]. Sent this note, or got Mrs. Richardson, who has great influence with the Federals, to do it for me:

General Shepley:

Sir: Some months ago I enclosed to Mrs. S. N. Chilton, a sister of Mrs. Shepherd Brown, eighty dollars. The envelope containing the money was given by Mrs. Brown to a Mr. Burkett, who was afterwards arrested for matters wholly unconnected with it. I applied to General Weitzel, who promised to procure the money and leave it with my friend, Doctor Cartwright. Since that time I have heard nothing of it.

Eighty dollars is a sum which is a mere nothing to a Government authority, but ’tis really something to a gentlewoman, away from her connections, who has been surprised by a blockade. I hope General Shepley will suffer me to remind him that no matter of justice is too small to be regarded by one who wishes to represent a kindly Government.

Respectfully,

J. E. LeGrand.

Afterward called to see General Shepley; got promises and nothing more, as might have been expected. Federals, in the city at least, don’t disgorge. General Shepley is a deceitful-looking, querulous man, but has the ambition to be thought a gentleman, and therefore does not show off with Butler’s brutal and theatrical manner.

Packing up to go to Mississippi City with Mrs. Norton and Mrs. Dameron.

Later: Disappointed, no passports, those given by General, or Governor Shepley as they call him, proving worthless, Butler having refused to place his glorious autograph to one for less than a clear thousand or two—sub-rosa.

Post image for A Confederate Girl’s Diary

A Confederate Girl’s Diary

October 22, 2012

A Confederate Girl's Diary by Sarah Morgan Dawson

Wednesday, 22d October, Linwood.

We left Clinton this morning, and have just now arrived by the cars. Charlie came in last evening, to our great surprise, so we did not scruple to leave Lilly. . . .

The Baton Rouge party returned late this evening. In spite of all preparation, Gibbes was horrified at the appearance of home.

Post image for Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

October 22, 2012

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry

Wednesday, 22d—We had brigade inspection today with all accouterments on. There is a report in camp that the army is soon to make an important move south into Mississippi. It is rumored that there are soon to be some changes of brigade and division commanders.[1]

[1] There was a sentiment even then among the rank and file of the men, that General Grant was the man to lead them. Some expressed the opinion that in the course of time he would be placed in command of all the armies of the United States. The men had the utmost confidence in his leading the army to complete victory.—A. G. D.

Post image for Reminiscences of the Civil War by William and Adelia Lyon.

Reminiscences of the Civil War by William and Adelia Lyon.

October 22, 2012

Reminiscences of the Civil War, William and Adelia Lyon

To Mrs. Lyon.

Fort Henry, Tenn., Wed. a. m., Oct. 22, 1862.— There is a boat going down and I think I will write a few lines to let you know that I am well. We are having beautiful weather now, Indian summer days and cool nights. This morning we had quite a frost and but little fog. When these fogs disappear and the ague subsides it will be safe for you to come. I think that, we shall remain here the most of the winter.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

October 22, 2012

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

Wednesday, 22nd. After breakfast went out on Culver’s horse foraging with Spurgeon and Bushnell. Got some apples and a sheep. At one house where we stopped, two sons were forced into the army. The people felt very badly. The old lady, 70 years old, prayed very earnestly and loudly for mercy and protection—quite touching.

Post image for Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy.

October 22, 2012

Robert M. Magill—Personal Reminiscences of a Confederate Soldier Boy, 39th Georgia Regiment of Infantry

Wednesday, 22d.—Started at 6:30 A. M. Passed through Cumberland Gap at 1:30 P. M. W. E. Storey and L. B. Smith detailed to cook three days’ rations.

Post image for An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones.

An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones.

October 22, 2012

An Artilleryman's Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones, 6th Battery, Wisconsin Artillery.

Corinth, Wednesday, Oct. 22. While on drill in the afternoon, I, in attempting to mount, lost my balance and fell, the hind wheel of the caisson running over my left ankle, luckily without any dislocation. After drill I was taken to the hospital, my foot being very painful during the night.

Signal Tower, Elk Mountain, Maryland.

October 22, 2012

Library of Congress,Miscellaneous document sources

Cropped from the photo in Alexander Gardner’s Photographic Sketchbook of the War.

Signal station on Elk Mountain, Md., overlooking battlefield of Antietam, October 1862

To the hero of Antietam belongs the credit of first developing and fully appreciating the value of a corps of signalists to an army throughout its active operations in the field, and especially during a great battle. His signal officers were most intelligently and advantageously posted, and seldom, even in later campaigns, has their assistance to a commanding general been more valuable, or more frankly and handsomely acknowledged, than in the momentous struggle on the Antietam. At intervals along our line of battle, and on the most prominent points in the vicinity, were stationed the Federal Signal Officers, detecting by their skill, vigilance, and powerful glasses, every movement of the enemy, reporting them instantly by a few waves of their flags to the Union Commander, and in return, transmitting by the same means the orders to the subordinate generals, which were to check or defeat the manœuvres of the enemy. The adjoining sketch represents the most important of those signal look-outs, and was located on the summit of Elk Mountain, one of the South Mountain Range of the Blue Ridge, and overlooking the battle-field.

The Elk Mountain Signal Station was operated by Lieutenants Pierce and Jerome, and the view was taken whilst the former officer was receiving a dispatch from General McClellan, probably requesting further information in regard to some reported movement of his wary foe, or sending an important order to a Corps Commander.

A rebel correspondent of a Richmond paper, who claims to have been an eye-witness of that battle, thus writes on the succeeding day, of the part taken in it by the Signal Corps of the Union Army: “Their signal stations on the Blue Ridge commanded a view of our every movement. We could not make a manœuvre in front or rear that was not instantly revealed to their keen look-outs and as soon as the intelligence could be communicated to their batteries below, shot and shell were launched against the moving columns. It was this information, conveyed by the little flags upon the mountain-top, that no doubt enabled the enemy to concentrate his force against our weakest points, and counteract the effect of whatever similar movements may have been attempted by us.

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Library of Congress image.

Post image for Rebel War Clerk

Rebel War Clerk

October 22, 2012

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones

OCTOBER 22D.—Back at the department at work, but not much to do yet. The mails are not heavy.

We have Bragg’s report of the battle of Perryville. He beat the enemy from his positions, driving him back two miles, when night set in. But finding overwhelming masses accumulating around him, he withdrew in good order to Bryattsville. Thus Kentucky is given up for the present!

McClellan has retired back into Maryland, hoping, I suppose, Lee will follow and fall into his ambuscade.

The President will call out, under the Conscription Act, all between the ages of eighteen and forty. This will furnish, according to the Secretary’s estimate, 500,000, after deducting the exempts. A great mistake.

A letter from Gen. Lee indicates that he is in favor of making Treasury notes a legal tender. It was so with Washington concerning Continental money—but Congress pays no attention to the subject. Why does not the President recommend it? It would then pass—for, at present, he is master.

The paper from the Provost Marshal, referred by the latter to the President, came back to-day. The Secretary, in referring it, seems to incline to the opinion that the writ of habeas corpus not being suspended, there was no remedy for the many evils the Provost Marshal portrayed. The President, however, did not wholly coincide in that opinion. He says: “The introduction and sale of liquors must be prevented. Call upon the city authorities to with-hold licenses, and to abate the evil in the courts, or else an order will be issued, such as the necessity requires.”

Judge Campbell, late of the United States Supreme Court, has been appointed Assistant Secretary of War.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

October 22, 2012

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

October 22.—General Blunt with a division of Union troops this day attacked a force of rebels five thousand strong at Old Fort Wayne, near Maysville, Ark., and after an hour’s sharp fighting completely routed them and captured all their artillery, a large number of horses, and a portion of their transports and garrison equipage, the rebels retreating toward Fort Smith.—General Schofield with a Union force this day drove the rebels under General Hindman, through Huntsville, Ark., to a point beyond the Boston Mountain.—(Doc. 12.)

— Yesterday an expedition of troops, gunboats, and transports, under command of General J. M. Brannan, left Hilton Head, S. C, by way of the Coosahatchie and Pocotaligo Rivers, to destroy the bridges and tear up the track of the Charleston and Savannah Railroad. One wing of the expedition under command of Colonel W. B. Barton, to-day marched upon the village of Coosahatchie, attacked a passing train, killing and wounding several, afterward tore up the railroad track, cut the telegraph wires, and marched upon the bridge, but was prevented from burning the bridge at this point by the presence of a superior rebel force. The other wing of the expedition, under command of General Brannan, landed at Mackay’s Point, marched ten miles inland to Pocataligo bridge, skirmishing with and routing the rebels as they advanced. At the bridge a superior force was encountered well intrenched, and after a warm engagement and considerable loss, the expedition was compelled to abandon its object and return to the boats.—(Doc. 13.)

—A sharp fight took place near Van Buren, Ark., between a force of Union cavalry under the command of Major B. F. Lazcar, and a body of rebel guerrilla cavalry, numbering four hundred and fifty men, under Boone, resulting in a complete rout of the latter, with considerable loss.

—The Twenty-fourth Texas Rangers to-day captured a train of thirty wagons, of the Fifth and Ninth Illinois cavalry, near Helena, Ark., and took several prisoners.—The Fourteenth regiment of Vermont volunteers, under the command of Colonel W. S. Nichols, passed through Springfield, Mass., en route for the seat of war.— Springfield Republican.

A skirmish took place between the Union and rebel pickets in the vicinity of Nashville, Tenn., terminating in a retreat of the Unionists to their intrenchments at Nashville, with some loss.—The British brig Robert Bruce, of Bristol, England, Captain Muir, was this day captured off Shallotte Inlet, N. C, by the United States gunboat Penobscot, while attempting to run the blockade.—Two squadrons of the Fourth Pennsylvania cavalry, under the command of Captain Duncan, made a reconnoissance to-day in the vicinity of Hedgesville, Va. Captain Duncan drove the rebel pickets into the town, and then charged the main body, routing them and taking nineteen prisoners, including three officers.