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

October 2012

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

October 27, 2012

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

October 27.—The British steamer Anglia, with an assorted cargo, while attempting to run the blockade of Charleston, S. C, was captured by the United States bark Restless and steamer Flag.— (Doc. 14.)

—A fight took place near Fayetteville, Arkansas, between a force of Union troops, under the command of General Herron, and a large body of rebel guerrillas, resulting, after an hour’s duration, in the utter rout of the rebels, leaving eight dead on the field, some wounded, all their baggage and many of their wagons.

—The United States gunboat Clifton captured a rebel schooner with eighteen bales of cotton on board, in Matagorda Bay, Texas. The cotton was transferred to the gunboat, and the schooner burned.—A fight took place at Putnam’s Ferry, Mo., between a force of Union troops under the command of Colonel Lewis, Twenty-third Iowa, and a body of rebels numbering about one thousand five hundred, in which the latter were defeated with a loss of several killed and over forty taken prisoners.

A skirmish took place near Labadieville, La., between a force of Union troops under the command of General Weitzel, and a body of rebels under Colonel J. P. McPheeters, resulting in the rout of the latter with great loss. Colonel McPheeters was among the killed.—(Doc. 16.)

Pontoon bridge and piers of destroyed bridge.

October 26, 2012

Library of Congress,Miscellaneous document sources

Berlin (now Brunswick), Md. Pontoon bridge and ruins of the stone bridge across the Potomac (destroyed in 1861)

This photograph is by Alexander Gardner at Berlin, – now Brunswick – Maryland and is a cropped portion of the original image.

Library of Congress summary: Photo shows telegraph pole at left and pontoon bridge built by Union troops across the Potomac River at Barry, Maryland (earlier called Berlin and later Brunswick, Md.). This view, looking from Virginia towards the town, features a horse and rider with their reflection in the water and also includes the stone piers of a bridge destroyed by the Confederate Army in 1861. The town is about 30 miles south of Antietam, and the photographer was in the area to document the main eastern theater of the war, Battle of Antietam, September-October 1862.

In his Photographic Sketch Book of the War, Gardner writes,

BERLIN is a quiet little village on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, twelve miles from Point of Rocks. A fine bridge connected it with the Virginia shore until June, 1861, when the Confederates sacrificed it to the spirit of destruction that ruined Harper’s Ferry and laid waste the pleasant places of the border. Its inhabitants, numbering about five hundred, are dependent principally for support upon the business of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, which passes the place, and during the war, from the interruption of navigation necessarily suffered much hardship. The bivouac of the Army of the Potomac in its vicinity in 1862 first introduced its name to the country, and it has fallen again into the partial oblivion that has hidden much more pretentious villages. Here McClellan had his headquarters after the battle of Antietam, and the troops crossed into Virginia, marching down through Loudon to Rectortown and Warrenton, and thence to Fredericksburg.”
The Photograph only shows the village and a small portion of the Maryland shore, from which no adequate impression can be formed of the beauty of the surrounding scenery. The river at this point is obstructed by scattered rocks, and with the wooded hills that slope precipitously to the water’s edge, forms one of the most charming pictures of the Potomac. Game and fish abound, many objects of interest are close at hand, and the summer fugitive from the ills of city life finds here a pleasant halting place in his journeyings for recreation.

Library of Congress image.

Post image for A Confederate Girl’s Diary

A Confederate Girl’s Diary

October 26, 2012

A Confederate Girl's Diary by Sarah Morgan Dawson

Sunday, 26th October.

This place is completely overrun by soldiers passing and repassing. Friday night five stayed here, last night two more, and another has just gone. One, last night, a bashful Tennesseean, had never tasted sugar-cane. We were sitting around a blazing fire, enjoying it hugely, when in answer to our repeated invitations to help himself, he confessed he had never eaten it. Once instructed, though, he got on remarkably well, and ate it in a civilized manner, considering it was a first attempt.

Everything points to a speedy attack on Port Hudson. Rumors reach us from New Orleans of extensive preparations by land and water, and of the determination to burn Clinton as soon as they reach it, in revenge for the looms that were carried from Baton Rouge there, and which can soon be put in working order to supply our soldiers, negroes, and ourselves with necessary clothing. Of two evils, if Baton Rouge is to be overrun by Yankees, and Clinton burned, I would rather await them at home.

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

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

October 26, 2012

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

Sunday, 26th—The Eleventh Iowa was detailed to work on the fortifications under construction down in town. It was quite cold all day, and disagreeable, as the snow is still on the ground.

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

Army life in Virginia by George Grenville Benedict.

October 26, 2012

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

October 26.

We had a regular soaker to-day—hard rain all day; tents soaked through; camp ground swimming; mud from five to fifteen inches deep; nothing done but to keep the water out and eat our meals. It is raining harder than ever since dark. I have just been out and made a raise of a couple of shelter tents, which we have thrown over our tent and hope thus to keep the water from dripping on us. The ground is soaked so that the tent pins have but a slight hold and a gust of wind would bring down half the tents in the regiment.

The Fourteenth regiment was sent up to Chain Bridge night before last, which shows that the Vermont regiments are not to be brigaded together at present.

I think, from what I hear to-night, that we are likely to remain here a while longer; but all is uncertainty as to army movements.

Yours, B.

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

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

October 26, 2012

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

Sunday, 26th.—Our mess has drawn pretty good tent; snowed all night and almost all day.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

October 26, 2012

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

Sunday, 26th. Cold but pleasant morning. Made a forage detail to go out with brigade teams. Several of the boys played poker. Read some in Pope. The Iliad. Gibbs strange fellow. Came into the army a professing Christian, a class leader, today he is playing poker with the boys. I occasionally hear an oath from him. Never saw a man more egotistical. Eats more than any three men. Still a harmless fellow. Good talk about going home with Co. H boys around a big fire.

Post image for Letters and diary of Laura M. Towne.

Letters and diary of Laura M. Towne.

October 26, 2012

Letters and diary of Laura M. Towne

Written from the Sea islands of South Carolina.

Diary] October 26.

At church to-day Captain Randolph and Colonel Elwell were present. They came to see the colored men and to recruit, or rather with an eye to recruiting. But there were no able-bodied young men to be seen. They had all taken to the woods at the sight of epaulets, guessing the errand. The seizure and transportation to Pulaski of those men from the village has had a very bad effect. No man likes to be seized and taken from home to unknown parts — especially as they were taught to expect it by their masters; these people hate it, for they think they will surely be sent to Cuba.

Post image for “Troops have been crossing the pontoon bridge all day long, and to-morrow we expect the Second corps to cross.” –Diary of Josiah Marshall Favill.

“Troops have been crossing the pontoon bridge all day long, and to-morrow we expect the Second corps to cross.” –Diary of Josiah Marshall Favill.

October 26, 2012

Diary of a Young Officer–Josiah Marshall Favill (57th New York Infantry)

October 26th. The fall campaign opened with the usual accompaniment of rainy weather. The general supposition is, that we are to march through the Loudon Valley, seizing the several gaps in advance, and occupy Pope’s old lines along the Rapidan and Rappahannock. The Twelfth corps is to remain and hold Harper’s Ferry, while the cavalry, or some part of it, is in advance at Cumberland. Harper’s Ferry will remain the base of supplies until we reach the ancient Manassas railroad, when it is to be used again. So we shall be exactly in the same position as before the second Bull Run campaign. We understand the present advance has been ordered peremptorily by the President, who is disgusted with McClellan’s torpidity, and is bound to make him take the offensive. Report says Lee’s army has been greatly reinforced, and is in excellent condition again. The season is so late it is not likely we shall accomplish much. Mais, nous verrons! Troops have been crossing the pontoon bridge all day long, and to-morrow we expect the Second corps to cross.

Post image for Kate Cumming: A Journal of Hospital Life in the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

Kate Cumming: A Journal of Hospital Life in the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

October 26, 2012

Kate Cumming: A Journal of Hospital Life in the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

Sunday, October 26.—On looking out of the window this morning, I saw that snow had fallen heavily through the night. The first thing I thought of was a few lines of an old Scotch song:

“A’ the hills are covered wi’ snow;

It’s surely winter fairly.”

Lookout, and the adjoining hills and valleys, arrayed in their snowy attire, looked really beautiful. I should have enjoyed the scene but for the knowledge of what our men were suffering—our half-clad soldiers.

“——Wheresoe’er they are,

That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,

How shall their houseless heads and unfed sides,

Their loop’d and window’d raggedness, defend them

From seasons such as these?”

 

It is said the army is very much demoralized by the retreat from Kentucky; but, I trust, when they get rested, all will be right again.

Dr. H. has written to one of the ladies of the Military Aid Society in Mobile, to sec if she can not send us some bedding, as we have scarcely any.

Last night one of my patients died. His sufferings were so great it was a relief to see him go; he was entirely covered with erysipelas. He seemed well prepared for the change. His name was Newbern— was a member of the Thirty-second Alabama Regiment, and was from Citronelle, Miss.

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