October 25, Saturday. General Wadsworth,[1] Mr. Fenton, and others urgently insist on some changes in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, of masters who, they claim, are active partisans. But they made no clear case. Told them, I was opposed to the policy of removals of competent officers unless for active, offensive partisanship; that any man was entitled to enjoy and exercise his opinion without molestation. General W. concurred with me but understood there were such masters within the prescribed rules. Told them that from any facts I had received I would only remove Fairion, master machinist, who, it is shown, is so immersed in politics as to neglect his business, and is a candidate for comptroller. As he manifests a willingness and intention to leave the service for another place, I think he can depart a few days in advance without detriment. This taking advantage of an excited election to thrust miserable partisans into places which they are often indifferently qualified to fill, I dislike, and so expressed myself to General W., who assented fully to my views.
Some discussion was had yesterday in Cabinet in regard to the course which should be pursued towards General J. C. Davis, who killed Major-General Nelson. The grand jury, it is reported, have ignored the bill in the civil case. The question was whether the military ought to take notice of the homicide after the civil authorities declined. Chase and Blair thought the military should. Stanton opposed it. Seward thought the affair might be looked into. I remarked that if the transaction had occurred in the Navy, we should at least have had a court of inquiry.
[1] Major-General James S. Wadsworth, United States Volunteers, in charge of the defense of Washington, and later an unsuccessful Republican candidate for Governor of New York.
Saturday, 25th—It is very cold today. It snowed about two inches this afternoon. We are well fixed for a mild winter in camp, with plenty of wood for fires in our Sibley tents.
October 25.
The dust storm is over. The frost lies this morning thick and white on the ground—the first one of the season here. The sick are all doing well, except Captain Savage of Company A, who has been delirious and ran out of camp in his shirt and drawers last evening. He was found after a while in the barracks of a neighboring regiment.
Saturday, 25th.—Started at daylight; in about an hour came by General Reynolds’ tent; looking pretty sour at us; wanted to know to what regiment we belonged, and why we were behind. I told him I had been sick and couldn’t overtake regiment last night; he said, “Aha,” and turned and went into his tent; so we walked on without further ceremony. Overtook regiment at Cedar Ford; arrived at Blain’s Cross-roads at 11 A. M. Some say we are going into camp here; moved one mile in the evening to our old camps.
Saturday, 25th. A cold wintry morning. Never remember of seeing snow so early. Snow fell during the forenoon. Afternoon more moderate. Night cold. Built a big fire of brush. Comfortable.
Written from the Sea islands of South Carolina.
[Diary] October 25.
Captain James has come to this plantation to recruit negro soldiers. I believe they are to be regularly enrolled in the army. All our men are going to volunteer, but with some there is a dismal forlornness about their consent to go. Nelly uses strong persuasions, and, with one or two lazy, bad fellows, even threats of expulsion from the place, if they will not volunteer. Many go willingly.
Corinth, Saturday, Oct. 25. We were moved from the tent this morning to an old deserted house a quarter of a mile from camp. In the afternoon it snowed and by night the earth was clothed in white.
This is an interesting image that features civil war era transportation and infrastructure. The bridge that connected Berlin, Maryland with the Virginia shore was destroyed by the Confederates in June 1861. Two parallel pontoon bridges have been assembled for the Union army to use in crossing the Potomac. In the foreground are supply wagons of the Army of the Potomac. The horizontal trace just behind the tents is a train that was in motion on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, I believe, during the exposure of the film for this photo. On the left are several stationary boxcars, probably on a siding. On the other side of the railroad tracks are more supply wagons and past them is the Baltimore & Ohio Canal.
The photograph is by Alexander Gardner at Berlin, – now Brunswick – Maryland. This is a cropped portion of the original image.
OCTOBER 25TH.—Many severe things are alleged against the President for depriving Beauregard of the command of the Western army. It is alleged that Bragg reported that the enemy would have been annihilated at Shiloh, if Beauregard had fought an hour longer. Now, it appears, that Bragg would have annihilated the enemy at Perryville, if he had fought an hour longer! And just at the moment of his flying out of Kentucky, news comes of Beauregard’s victory over the enemy in the South. Nor is this all. The enemy some time since intercepted a letter from Beauregard to Bragg (a copy of which was safely sent to the government here), detailing his plan of the campaign in the West, if he had not been unjustly deprived of the command. But Bragg chose to make a plan of his own, or was directed to disregard Beauregard’s advice. No one doubts that Beauregard’s plan would have been successful, and would have given us Cincinnati and Louisville; but that of Bragg, as the one sent him by the government, has resulted in the loss of Kentucky, and, perhaps, Tennessee!
Brig.-Gen. Edward Johnson is recommended by Gen. Lee for promotion to major-general, and to be placed in command of the army in Western Virginia.
Camp near Charlestown, October 25, 1862.
This is a dreary, rainy Sunday; every one idle and at a loss for employment. We came down on yesterday to tear up the railroad; the job is about finished, I think, and we would leave now but for the rain. We will return to Bunker Hill, I suppose, to-morrow. It really seems as if the winter would come before we had any further active work. I care but little whether we have any or not, and feel ready for it, whatever it may be. Some indulge a hope that it will be over this winter. I do not know. Our duty is to prepare for a most vigorous prosecution of the war next spring, and be prepared for the worst that may come. We are in the hands of a just God, who will give us peace when we deserve it. I heartily wish, Love, that I was at home with you. No honor or promotion could tempt me to stay here if my duty and my self-respect did not make it imperative. My manhood is involved in a faithful and fearless sticking to the job until it is finished, or it finishes me, as it has done many good men. With such a future before me, dark and uncertain enough, I am sure, I try to do whatever is required of me well and cheerfully. I have much reason to be gratified at the many evidences of good opinion which I have received from Genl. Jackson and all under whom I have served. I trust I may be able to get a short furlough to visit home this winter, and I look forward to it with much pleasure. The first freezing, snowy weather we have to stop all active work, I shall make an effort to spend a few weeks with you.
