Sunday,11th.—Cross Black Warrior River 11 A. M.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Washington Sunday Jan’y 11th 1863
Attended religious service in the Senate Chamber this morning. If the service was not so very interesting, one can endure even a dull sermon while lolling in a Senatorial chair. Chaplin Stockton held forth in the other chamber. The crossings are very muddy since the rain of last night, but the weather has not been unpleasant today. We had roast goose with celery and a variety of vegitables for dinner, had a talk at dinner with Johnson of the “Light Brigade.” He gave me a minute account of the “Charge.” Only 180 men rode out of the scrape, near one hundred afterwards straggled in who were not wounded, the bal. were killed and wounded. He (Johnson) had his horse killed and got a shot through the leg. I was down to Willards this evening an hour or so. Always see a number there that I know who tell me the news if there is any. Was told by Maj Chase that the Rebels are reported to have retaken Galveston Texas with 600 prisoners and the Steamer Harriet Lane. I think it is a “Secesh” lie. There is a great deal of growling among the shirking officers and soldiers about the War. They are “tired of fighting for the Nigger.” I think Mr Lincoln intended to give the Rebels a hard blow by his Proclamation of freedom, careing less about abolishing Slavery than crushing the Rebellion. Interested and short sighted men declare it is all for the abolition of Slavery. Went over on to 9th Street and spent an hour with Chas & Sallie. A lady from Gloucester Mass presented her with a $15.00 Photograph Album. Her son was in Chas Hospital. They had been spending the afternoon at Father Woodwards with the baby, which is growing fat rapidly.
Sunday, January 11.—The hospital is filled with badly wounded, from almost every state. Many are getting furloughs to go home.
Instead of going to church I spent the day talking to the men. We have a badly wounded captain, named De Graffenread—a member of the 151st Tennessee Regiment. He is said to be one of the richest men in the state. One of his men is with him, and very much devoted to him. He generally has two negro servants who go to the army with him. At present he has one waiting on him, who is attentive, and an excellent nurse, and he dotes on his master.
We do not have many of the wounded die, comparatively speaking. A few days ago I saw two handsome lads breathe their last . 1 do not know their names. The fact is, Mrs. W. and myself have so many to attend that we find it impossible to devote our time to them separately; and we are far from being well.
Mrs. Gilmer, whom I met in Corinth, is in the hospital. She has been for some time in the service in Mississippi.
Sunday, 11. — Moved into my new quarters last night. Ratherish damp; roof and gables of “shakes,” a little open; no ceiling or flooring above; altogether cool but not unpleasant. A letter from Dr. Joe. Lucy and Birch and Webb to come up and give me a visit. Right jolly! A letter from Uncle also.
Rosecrans by his fiery and energetic courage at Murfreesboro or Stone River saved the day. Not intellectually an extraordinary man, but his courage and energy make him emphatically the fighting general of this war.
The Capture of Arkansas Post, Arkansas. – General S. G. Burbridge, Accompanied by his Staff, Planting the Stars and Stripes on the Rebel Fort Hindman, January 11. (Published in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, February 14, 1863)
11th. Sunday. Stayed at home again and read the Independent and home letters telling of M.’s marriage.
Sunday, 11th—We received orders to be ready to march early in the morning for Memphis. The report in camp is that we are to go on down the Mississippi river. The Fourth Brigade of the Third Division came in at 5 o’clock in the evening and relieved our brigade. A detail from the Eighty-first Illinois Infantry furnished the picket guards to relieve our post where I was on guard with Corporal McBirney and Privates John Esher and George Eicher, all of my company. We are all glad to leave this place, as it is low, damp and unhealthy, which with the smallpox makes it a bad camp.
Sunday, 11th—Came out on a reconnoitering expedition, past Col. Lytle’s. I stopped on return and saw Misses Mollie and Alice. Miss Molly T. had returned home. From this time until the 27th we did nothing but picketing. I piruted a little on Duck River, spent a night or two with Mr. Stewart, took dinner twice at Mr. Wilhoit’s and thus the time passed. On 27th came in to Camp and on 29th we were relieved by Wheeler’s Brigade and with three days’ rations started on a scout down on Cumberland, passed through S. and out on Eaglesville pike to E. Camped near the place.
January 11.—The United States steamer Hatteras, under the command of Lieutenant R. G. Blake, was sunk off the coast of Texas, by the rebel steamer Alabama, after an engagement of twenty minutes.—(Doc. 100.)
—The steamer Grampus No. 2, lying at the mouth of Wolf River, Tenn., was surprised and captured by thirteen rebels, taken five miles above Memphis, and there stripped and burned. —The Virginia Legislature passed a resolution, directing the Special Committee appointed to consider the resolution touching the legal tender of confederate notes, to inquire into the expediency of “punishing by suitable penalties, any citizen of the commonwealth who shall refuse to receive the Treasury notes of the confederate States, in discharge of any debt or obligation for the payment of money.”—Richmond Inquirer. —Fort Hindman, Post Arkansas, was this day captured by the National army of the Mississippi, under the command of Major-General McClernand, in conjunction with the fleet of gunboats, under Admiral Porter, after a combat of three and a half hour’s duration, with a loss of nearly one thousand Union men killed, wounded, and missing.—(Doc. 101.)
—Colonel Penick, Fifth Missouri cavalry, commanding military post at Independence, Mo., reported that the rebel guerrillas were committing horrid barbarities on the Union soldiers and citizens of that State.—(Doc. 102.)
—A fight took place to-day near Hartsville, Mo., between a detachment of Union troops, under the command of Colonel Merrill, Twenty-first Iowa, and a force of rebels under General Marmaduke, resulting in a retreat of the latter with great loss.—(Doc. 99.)
