Saturday, 10th.—Passed Tuscaloosa 2 P. M. Main streets very wide, with nice row of shade trees through centre of each street.,
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Washington Saturday Jan’y 10th 1863
It has been a miserable cold rainy day, tonight it has poured right down since dark and has not ceased raining all day. I ran to my room from the office after three o’clock and by virtue of rubbers, cloak, and umbrella did not get wet much. One of our Boarders here is named George Johnson, an Englishman who was in the Crimean War and what is more was one of the immortal “Six hundred” which made the celebrated “Charge at Balaclava.” He is about 28 years old, very modest & I should think a thorough Soldier. He is Captain in the Penna Cavalry. We do not dine till five o’clock, that is too late for me. It suits Englishmen to eat their dinner after dark. But not Americans. However our dinners are very nicely gotten up and the dishes are of the best in market & well cooked. There is said to be small pox occasionaly breaking out in the Hospital over our heads in the Patent office. That is not a very pleasant idea. Such cases (I presume) are immediately sent off to the irruptive Hospital at Kalorama, the former home of the celebrated Joel Barlow of revolutionary memory. Barlow was Minister to France afterwards and died on his way to meet the Emperor Napoleon at Wilna in 1812. No news of importance. “All quiet on the Potomac.” Banks getting ready at Baton Rouge to go up to Vicksburgh to help Sherman take that stronghold. Rosecrans is in pursuit of the Rebels since the Battle at Murfreesboro. Some movement is said to be on foot from Suffolk V.A. towards North Carolina. I could not go out tonight on account of the rain to take my accustomed walk. I fear I shall not be able to sleep well tonight.
The New Year And The Emancipation Proclamation.
Camp Near Fairfax C. H., Va., January 10, 1863.
Dear Free Press:
I must alter the 62 I have written by force of a twelve month’s habit, to 63—which reminds me that the old year has been made into the new since I wrote you last. The old year has taken with him three months of our term of service. We cannot hope that the coming months will deal with us as gently as have the past. Rough as portions of our army life have been, we have thus far seen but little of the roughest part of war. But it must come, though its approach is so gradual that we hardly perceive it. From the security of our camp of instruction on Capitol Hill we passed to the more arduous duties of work on intrenchments and picket service, at Camp Vermont. We exchanged that for our present more exposed position, where picket duty means watch for rebel cavalry, and where some of us have met and drawn trigger on the enemy. In time, no doubt, will come the still harder experience of protracted marches, of the shock of battle, of wounds and capture and death for some of us. More than this, the war as a whole is to be more desperate and deadly in future, because waged with a foe maddened by privations and loss of property, and especially by the President’s Proclamation of Freedom. We have already ceased to hear much talk about “playing at war.” It is owned to be work and pretty earnest work, now; and if it grows hotter as a whole, it will of course be the harder in its parts. But come what will, I for one—and I believe I am one of many thousand such—shall “endure hardness” more cheerfully, and fight, when called to, more heartily, because Freedom has been proclaimed throughout the land for whose unity and welfare we struggle, though its full accomplishment may cost years of trial and trouble.
Our present camp is on a pleasant slope, stretching out to the south-east to a broad campus on which take place the brigade drills to which General Stoughton treats the brigade almost daily. In the rear, the lines of tents extend into a fine grove of pines which kindly protect us from all winds but the east. A brook near by on our left, affords us water. A regimental order forbids the cutting of trees within 200 yards of the camp, and ensures to us the protection of our tall evergreens. The ground has been cleared and leveled, and the underbrush cut away from under the trees. On the whole, it is the pleasantest spot we have as yet occupied, and if we must spend the winter in this region, we shall be content to spend it here. The colonel and his staff have had their tents surrounded by sides of split logs with fire-places and chimneys of brick, and the men have raised their tents on stockades of logs, which detract somewhat from the appearance of the company streets, for it is impossible to give to a row of little log huts, plastered with mud, the neat appearance of a line of tents.
Our camp is graced by the presence of the accomplished wives of Colonel Blunt, Lieut. Colonel Farnham and Captain Ormsbee, who interest themselves in the hospitals and sick men, and give to us all, in a measure, the refining influence of woman’s presence, without which any collection of men becomes more or less of a bear garden.
The time of the regiment, at present, is mainly devoted to drill, with occasional episodes of picket duty; and we are on the whole making marked progress in discipline and drill. General Stoughton, in a general order issued a day or two since, declares that in these respects this brigade already compares well with the troops of other States, around us.
January 12.
My letter was interrupted by an order which sent the right wing of the Twelfth out on picket duty at Chantilly. The twenty-four hours did not pass without some incidents, which, if they were the first of their kind, might deserve mention; but having already given you some idea of picket duty here, I let them pass.
We are enjoying, this evening, a visit from our friend, and fellow-townsman to many of us, J. A. Shedd.
Yours, B.
January 10, Saturday. The President sent for Stanton and myself; wished us to consult and do what we could for the employment of the contrabands, and as the Rebels threatened to kill all caught with arms in their hands, to employ them where they would not be liable to be captured. On the ships he thought they were well cared for, and suggested to Stanton that they could perform garrison duty at Memphis, Columbus, and other places and let the soldiers go on more active service.
Covode called at my house this evening and wanted the President’s card. Said he was likely to get into difficulty and wished his name not to be used in the matter of removing the Navy Agent which he had urged. Would himself see Chambers and advise him what to do. He expects, he says, to be candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania. Covode is shrewd but illiterate, a match and more than a match for men of higher culture, reputation, and acquirements; but I hardly think his gubernatorial expectations will be realized, though they sometimes take strange material for Governor in Pennsylvania.
. . . . . . . . . .
The great problem which is being solved in these days seems to be scarcely realized by our public, and really great, men. It is sad to witness in this period of calamity, when the nation is struggling for existence, and the cause of good government and civil liberty is at stake, the spirit of party overpowering patriotism. The Governors in several of the States have presented their messages during the week. Tod of Ohio exhibits a manly, wholesome, and vigorous tone, others also do well, but the jesuitical and heartless insincerity of Seymour of New York is devoid of true patriotism, weak in statesmanship, and a discredit to the position he occupies. Unhallowed partisan and personal aspirations are moving springs with him. That such a man, at such a time, should have been elected to such a place does no credit to popular intelligence or to public virtue. When Seward, himself, I think, rightly disposed, acquiesced in the debased partisanship of his friend Weed, who in spite wanted Wadsworth, the gallant and patriotic citizen, defeated, he committed a fatal error.
In the insurgent States patriotism seems extinguished, the flag and country are hated. There is great suffering on the part of the people from all the direful calamities which war can bring, yet there is no evidence of returning sense or affection for that union which conferred upon them happiness and prosperity. Greater calamities, greater suffering, must be endured.
Some things have taken place which will undoubtedly for a time exasperate the Southern mind, for they will affect Southern society, habits, labor, and pursuits. For a period emancipation will aggravate existing differences, and a full generation will be necessary to effect and complete the change which has been commenced.
Medium: 1 photograph : half-plate ambrotype, hand-colored ; 15.6 x 12.5 cm (case).
Tom Liljenquist; 2012;
Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs; Ambrotype/Tintype photograph filing series; Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Record page for image is here.
Civil War Portrait 017
10th. Saturday. Robinson and I issued rations for ten days. Col. Abbey went home on the morning train, also Dan Arnold. In the afternoon had baked beans. Capt. Nettleton returned. Left Melissa with his friends near Delaware. Charlie F. returned.
January 10th [1863]. A long train of artillery has just passed. The news is kept from us as much as possible, but it is thought that the men are on their way to attack Port Hudson. The mortar boats have been brought from Mobile and are now lying here, some think, to shell this place in case of attack by Confederates, but for the Port Hudson attack, I think. Many rumors are afloat as to our recognition by France; some think the matter already settled, that Slidell was received by Louis Napoleon on 1st January. We look eagerly for news; we are prepared to fight our own battles, yet recognition is longed for. Once, how the thought of foreign interference would have fired our blood! I can scarcely comprehend my own feelings. I do hate those bloody wretches who have made war upon us, and I glory in our Southern chivalry, but I feel towards the Government of the United States as if it had been seized by usurpers. I feel that we should have retained the old flag, as we alone held fast to the Constitution. The Yankees have no right to it; they have been persecutors and meddlers even from the witch-burning time until now. I wish that we may part with them forever, yet I cannot look at an old map of our country, magical word, without a strange thrill at my heart. Mr. Roselius passed by just now—sneered at our Confederate victories. Says we ‘ll get back New Orleans when the “geese have teeth.” I was informed by a friend later in the day that geese have splendid rows of very sharp teeth. I sent Mr. Roselius a teasing message on the subject. In truth, though, the taking back of the city which involves the misery of so many is no subject for jesting.
Saturday, 10th—Two trains loaded with provisions came through on the railroad from Memphis, and we drew five days’ full rations. This was the first time that we drew full rations in forty days, but we have no way of drawing extra clothing, and our knapsacks in storage again failed to come today. The First Brigade passed by on its way to Memphis.
The Rebels Preparing for the Union Attack on Charleston – The Confederates Building Fortifications on James Island, Under the Direction of Gen. Beauregard , to Repel the Land Attacks of the Union Army. (From a sketch by A.P. Palmer, late of the 21st Regt., S. C. Confederate Volunteers, published in the January 31st issue of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper)
by John Beauchamp Jones
JANUARY 10TH—We have news from the West, which is believed to be reliable, stating that Bragg captured 6000 prisoners altogether in his late battles; took 30 cannon, 800 stand of arms, and destroyed 1500 wagons and many stores. The estimated loss of the enemy in killed and wounded is put down at 12,000. Our loss in killed and wounded not more than half that number.
To-day we have official intelligence confirming the brilliant achievement at Galveston; and it was Magruder’s work. He has men under him fitted for desperate enterprises; and he has always had a penchant for desperate work. So we shall expect to hear of more gallant exploits in that section. He took 600 prisoners.
We have news also from Vicksburg, and the city was not taken; on the contrary, the enemy had sailed away. I trust this is reliable; but the Northern papers persist in saying that Vicksburg has fallen, and that the event took place on the 3d inst.
Six hundred women and children—refugees—arrived at Petersburg yesterday from the North. They permit them to come now, when famine and pestilence are likely to be added to the other horrors of war! We are doomed to suffer this winter!
