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

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Post image for Army life in Virginia by George Grenville Benedict.

Army life in Virginia by George Grenville Benedict.

October 28, 2012

Army life in Virginia by George Grenville Benedict, 12th Regiment Vermont Volunteers.

Organization of the Second Vermont
Brigade.

Camp Casey, East Capitol Hill,
Washington, Oct. 28, 1862.

Dear Free Press:

All the Vermont regiments are now here, the Sixteenth having arrived yesterday. As the Fourteenth and Fifteenth were sent across the Potomac on their arrival, we had about given up the expectation that the new Vermont regiments would be brigaded together. But last night an order came, brigading them together. The New Jersey regiments with which we have been brigaded are on the march to-day, and the Vermont regiments which were sent across the river will come back and be posted near us. The Sixteenth went into camp right over against us last night. They slept under the little shelter tents—if sleep they could, for it was a very cold night, the ground damp and covered with white frost this morning. They would have had a rather poor look, too, if left to themselves, for something to eat, but they were not allowed to go hungry. The Thirteenth regiment had them to supper last night and the Twelfth invited them to breakfast this morning. Each company entertained the company of the corresponding letter, and Company C of the Sixteenth, who were the guests of the Howard Guard, got a first-rate breakfast and acknowledged our hospitality before they filed away, with three hearty cheers for the Twelfth. The men of the Sixteenth are a fine, hearty looking set of men, and behaved like gentlemen, as they are.

The brigading of these Vermont regiments is particularly satisfactory to us, and we of the Twelfth were also gratified that command of the brigade should fall to our colonel. Company C first got the news, just after dark last evening, and turning out, they filed down to the colonel’s tent, led by Captain Page, and gave three cheers for the Second Vermont brigade, and Colonel Blunt commanding. This called out the colonel who made one of the little speeches which he makes so happily, stopping when he gets through. He congratulated the men on the brigading of these five fine Vermont regiments, which, he felt sure would fight side by side like true comrades. He explained that the command fell to him by virtue of his rank as senior colonel; that it was merely temporary and could last only till a brigadier general should be placed over us, as he trusted a good one soon would be. “We have hitherto, my boys,” he said, “seen but the pleasantest part of a soldier’s life. Thus far we have known little of trial and suffering, and nothing of danger. The rough times are yet to come. When they come we must meet them like men, each doing the very best he knows how to do, for the cause of the country, for the honor of our State, and for the credit of the Twelfth, and looking to God to grant us success.”

Other companies came up in succession, each to cheer the colonel and call him out for a speech, the drum corps winding up the series with a salute and Yankee Doodle. On the whole, it was quite a little time, for an impromptu one.

I wrote of dust the other day. We have had a touch of a different kind of storm since. Day before yesterday our first steady rain set in. All the orders for the day with the exception of guard-mounting and calls to meals, had the go-by, and the men kept closely within their tents. At nightfall the air grew colder, the wind higher, and the rain heavier. Our tents, which are not new, had hitherto kept out the rain pretty well, but did not prove impervious to the big drops driven by the storm. They came right through the canvas, spattering in our faces, covering our blankets with a heavy dew, and running down the inside of the tent in streams.

Things began to have a decidedly damp look for the privates. There is considerable virtue, however, in good woolen and India rubber blankets; and most of us succeeded in cuddling on and under them, in some shape, so as to get some sleep without dreaming of Noah’s flood. About four o’clock in the morning it stopped raining and began to pour down in sheets. Our company streets became rivers; the water in parts of the camp overran the trenches around the tents, and poured in upon the inmates. The ground, soaked to mud, ceased to hold the tent pins, and many a luckless soldier had to turn out in the storm and drive his stakes anew. It was a juicy time all around. But daylight came, at last, with much apparent difficulty, and the question of breakfast began to stare us in the face. We were cold, wet and hungry. The storm had filled the kitchen trenches with water, instead of fire. There was no chance for anything hot; should we have anything but rain-soaked bread? Some companies did not. The good cooks of Company C, however, had been equal to the emergency, had kept their fires burning while there was any possibility of so doing, and had provided in the night against the contingencies of the morning. We had a good breakfast of bread, beef and pork, and, thus fortified within, possessed our souls in patience till the storm broke away about 9 o’clock. It was a hard storm, even for this locality, and left a pond of many acres where our parade ground has been heretofore. The day came off clear and cold, and before night the blankets were sufficiently dried to sleep comfortably in. Another wet night would probably have added considerably to the length of our sick list; as it was but a few over the average were reported.

Yours, B.

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

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

October 28, 2012

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

Tuesday, 28th—The regiment worked on the fortifications today for the third day in succession. I was not with my company though, being on other fatigue duty. The forts under construction are arranged so that if one fort should be captured, the guns of two other forts could be turned upon the enemy in that one. The floors of the forts and the rifle-pits are raised from four to ten feet by filling in earth, and then laid with the lumber from the houses which were pulled down to make room for the fortifications. The ramparts are faced on the outside with long woven baskets of hickory withes and filled with earth to keep them in shape. The forts are built with a view of standing some time, and should last for four or five years. We commenced drawing bread instead of crackers.

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

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

October 28, 2012

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

Tuesday, 28th.—Marching to-day over the Emory Road in the direction of Lenoir’s, Tenn. Plenty of apples along the road. One fellow of Company D fell out of an apple tree and came very near killing himself.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

October 28, 2012

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

Tuesday, 28th. Reveille at three. Breakfasted and were on the move at 6 in the advance—bound for Maysville. Capt. kept me running a good deal. Passed through Bentonville about noon. Saw several whom I had seen on my other visit there. Passed along two miles. Got plenty of rambow apples at an orchard. Encamped in an orchard. Had to go two miles for water. An old man showed us protection papers, signed by Curtis, given because he went for the old Constitution.

Post image for War Letters of William Thompson Lusk.

War Letters of William Thompson Lusk.

October 28, 2012

War Letters of William Thompson Lusk.

79th Regiment, Oct. 28th, 1862.

Camp Near Southville, Va.

My dear Mother:

We are once more on the march and have recrossed into Virginia. Let us pray for success — and hope. I am in first rate health and spirits. It seems as though exposure was a good thing for a soldier. All the time I lay in camp I did not feel well. The day we marched it rained hard, and the air was excessively cold at night. I was appointed Division Field Officer for the day, and had to spend hours in a cold dark rainy night wandering through marshes and wet fields examining picket posts. Well, instead of killing me, as my good mother would have supposed, I lost all my ill-feelings, and, after a night’s sleep, am in better condition than I have been in for weeks. I regret only one thing — that we can no longer receive our mails regularly. In our last camp things were so arranged that we received the mail daily, which was very pleasant.

I had a letter from Coz. Lou a day or two ago, and enjoyed it greatly. It seems to me that Lilly has forgotten her offer to become my correspondent, that is to say, to do all the corresponding herself. I am sure I grasped her offer most warmly. I received a kind and friendly letter from Col. Farnsworth some days since, which I forwarded to Walter. The Colonel promised me all the influence he possessed for my advancement. A call has been lately made for men of the Volunteer Army to enlist in the Regulars. It speaks well for the discipline of the Highlanders, that, while from other Regiments from 75 to 100 men eagerly sought the opportunity to enter a new service, hardly a dozen of our men have been found ready to change their present condition. In my own company not one has volunteered.

Affec’y.,

Will.

If I get disabled, I think I shall keep a candy store — with so many nephews I would be so popular. Tell Mrs. Dodge that, for the benefit of her little girl, I shall keep an assortment of the biggest goggle-eyed wax dolls.

W. T. L.

Post image for A Soldier’s Diary — David Lane.

A Soldier’s Diary — David Lane.

October 28, 2012

A Soldier's Diary, The Story of a Volunteer, David Lane, (17th Mich. Vol. Infantry)

Camp near Lovetsville, Va., Oct. 28th.

We bade farewell to Pleasant Valley, and started for the land of “Dixie” quite unexpectedly to us privates. Orders were issued on Saturday to the different companies to have their things packed and be ready to move at daybreak next morning. We were aroused at three o’clock, prepared and ate our breakfast, and at five o’clock were on the march. It had rained some during the night, and morning gave promise of a rainy day. Well did it fulfill its promise. About eight o’clock a drizzling rain set in, which continued until about one o’clock, when the wind changed to the north, increasing in violence until it blew a gale, which continued until morning, raining incessantly. The north winds here are very cold, and the poor soldiers, marching or standing all day in the rain, with sixty rounds of ammunition, three days’ rations, knapsacks and blankets on their backs, passed a very uncomfortable day. But they bore it uncomplainingly, and when, about sundown, we pitched our little “dog tents” on the soaked and muddy ground with shouts and merry jests, we made a break for the nearest fence, and soon each company had a pile of dry chestnut rails, with which we kept a roaring fire until morning. Many of the men were wet to the skin, and, too cold to sleep, could be seen at any hour of the night in circles round their blazing campfires, talking over past scenes or future prospects. As I passed from group to group through the brigade, I noticed a feeling of discontent, caused by a lack of confidence in our leaders. The men seemed to feel we are being outgeneraled; that Lee’s army, and not Richmond, should be the objective point; that the rebellion can never be put down until that army is annihilated. When I returned to our company the boys had arranged it all—the President is to retire all generals, select men from the ranks who will serve without pay, and will lead the army against Lee, strike him hard and follow him up until he fails to come to time. So passed this fearful night away.

Post image for Rebel War Clerk

Rebel War Clerk

October 28, 2012

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

OCTOBER 28TH.—Gen. Bragg is here, but will not probably be deprived of his command. He was opposed by vastly superior numbers, and succeeded in getting away with the largest amount of provisions, clothing, etc., ever obtained by an army. He brought out 15,000 horses and mules, 8000 beeves, 50,000 barrels of pork, a great number of hogs, 1,000,000 yards of Kentucky cloth, etc. The army is now at Knoxville, Tennessee, in good condition. But before leaving Kentucky, Morgan made still another capture of Lexington, taking a whole cavalry regiment prisoners, destroying several wagon trains, etc. It is said Bragg’s train of wagons was forty miles long! A Western tale, I fear.

Letters from Lee urge the immediate completion of the railroad from Danville to Greenville, North Carolina, as of vital importance. He thinks the enemy will cut the road between this and Weldon. He wants Confederate notes made a legal tender; and the President says that, as the courts cannot enforce payment in anything else, they are substantially a legal tender already. And he suggests the withholding of pay from officers during their absence from their regiments. A good idea.

Everything indicates that Richmond will be assailed this fall, and that operations in the field are not to be suspended in the winter.

Polk, Bragg, Cheatham, etc. are urging the President to make Col. Preston Smith a brigadier-general. Unfortunately, Bragg’s letter mentioned the fact that Beauregard had given Smith command of a brigade at Shiloh; and this attracting the eye of the President, he made a sharp note of it with his pencil. “What authority had he for this?” he asked; and Col. Smith will not be appointed.

Post image for Wild Times in Mississippi

Wild Times in Mississippi

October 28, 2012

War Diary of a Union Woman in the South by Dora Richards Miller

Oct. 28, 1862.—It is a month to-day since I came here. I only wish H. could share these benefits—the nourishing food, the pure aromatic air, the sound sleep away from the fevered life of Vicksburg. He sends me all the papers he can get hold of, and we both watch carefully the movements reported, lest an army should get between us. The days are full of useful work, and in the lovely afternoons I take long walks with a big dog for company. The girls do not care for walking. In the evening Mr. W. begs me to read aloud all the war news. He is fond of the “Memphis Appeal,” which has moved from town to town so much that they call it the “Moving Appeal.” I sit in a low chair by the fire, as we have no other light to read by. Sometimes traveling soldiers stop here, but that is rare.

______

Note: To protect Mrs. Miller’s job as a teacher in New Orleans, the diary was published anonymously, edited by G. W. Cable, names were changed and initials were often used instead of full names — and even the initials differed from the real person’s initials.

Some of Mathew Brady’s Team

October 28, 2012

Miscellaneous document sources

 

Brady Gallery photographic team for the Civil War, Berlin, Maryland

A little over a month after the Battle of Antietam, photographer Mathew Brady travelled the nearby Maryland countryside to record a series of images.

From left to right: Silas Holmes, Stephen (a cook), E.T. Whitney,
Hodges, Jim (teamster), Mathew Brady, David B. Woodbury

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

October 28, 2012

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

October 28.—A company of Union troops under Captain Partridge was captured by a force of rebels, while on picket-duty in the vicinity of Pensacola, Fla.—The rebel steamer Caroline, formerly the Arizona, with a cargo of munitions of war, was captured off Mobile, Ala., by the United States steamer Montgomery, and taken to Pensacola, Fla.

—A fight took place at Cross Hollows, near Fayetteville, Ark., between a Union force of about one thousand cavalry, under the command of General Herron, and a large body of rebel troops, consisting of five regiments of Texan Rangers and two pieces of artillery, under the command of Colonel Craven, resulting, after an engagement of about an hour’s duration, in a rout of the rebels with a loss of eight men killed and the whole of their camp equipments left in the hands of the Nationals.—(Doc. 17.)

—General Grant sent the following message from his headquarters at Jackson, Tenn., to the War Department: “The following despatch is just received from Brigadier-General Davis, at Columbus, Ky.: The expedition to Clarkson, Mo., thirty-four miles from Madrid, under command of Captain Rodgers, company K, Second Illinois artillery, has been entirely successful in dispersing the guerrillas, killing ten, and mortally wounding two, capturing Colonel Clark in command, Captain Esther, three lieutenants, three surgeons, thirty-seven men, seventy stand of arms, fifty-two horses, thirteen mules, two wagons and a large quantity of ammunition, burning their barracks and magazines, entirely breaking up the whole camp.”

—General Halleck, Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the U. S., addressed a letter to Secretary Stanton, in reply to general interrogatories concerning the supplies furnished to the army of the Potomac, under General McClellan. From all the information General Halleck could obtain, he was of opinion that the requisitions from that army had been filled more promptly, and that the men as a general rule, had been better supplied than the Union armies operating in the West.

—An expedition, consisting of twelve thousand Union troops, under the command of General John G. Foster, left Newborn, N. C, and proceeded up Albemarle Sound. Its destination was unknown. Part of the force went by land and part on schooners, the latter being convoyed by two gunboats. It was surmised that the expedition was to attack Weldon, N. C, an important railroad centre.

—Mackey’s Point, S. C, was this day bombarded by a part of the Union blockading squadron.—A company of rebel cavalry were captured in the vicinity of Cotton Creek, Fla., by a scouting-party of Union troops.

—The barque Lauretta, Captain W. M. Wells, which left New-York on the twenty-fifth instant, laden with flour, etc., and bound for Madeira and Messina, was this day captured by the rebel privateer Alabama, and destroyed by fire. The cargo was said to be owned by a British merchant.— The Union forces under General Weitzel entered Thibodeaux, La., without opposition.

—The British schooner Trier, of and from Nassau, N. P., laden with salt, etc., was captured while attempting to run into Indian River, Fla., by the U. S. gunboat Sagamore.