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

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

January23.— A band of Tories, (loyalists,) about seventy in number, “under an outlaw named Taylor,” were this day attacked by a body of rebels under Colonel Folk, in Johnson County, East-Tennessee. “The Tory cavalry and infantry were parading in a field near the Fish Springs. Colonel Folk ordered his men to swim the river and charge them. The Tories seeing this, abandoned their horses and took shelter upon the summit of a large ridge. Folk’s men were then dismounted, and charged up the ridge, completely dispersing the Tories. All of their horses were captured. Four of the Tories were killed, and a number wounded, and captured. The captured were immediately hung, by order of Colonel Folk. Taylor was killed.”—Richmond Dispatch.

—A severe snow-storm prevailed at Staunton, Charlotteville, and other points in the Shenandoah Valley, Va.—The National army and gun boats at Arkansas Post, Ark., having blown up the fortifications and demolished every thing that could be made a means of offence or defence, evacuated the place and proceeded to Vicksburgh.—Simon Cameron resigned his position as American Minister to Russia.

Bumtyn Station, Friday, Jan. 23. Spent the day in darning stockings. Listened to Brownlow read in tent. But when night came there was a scene at once ludicrous and deplorable. Music was started in the 4th Platoon tent; Parker with his fiddle, Bill Bailey with the banjo, Day’s tambourine, Byness with the bones, and Goodman’s clarinet. But Quartermaster had brought some bottled whiskey into camp and it broke up in a drunken row. * * * Deplorable, deplorable sight. Rec’d a letter from Thomas and a Milwaukee Sentinel of the 18th, mailed on the 20th inst.