Tuesday, 10th—Remained in Camp.
Sunday, February 10, 2013
February 10.—George P. Hodges, of Kentucky, introduced the following preamble and resolution in the rebel House of Representatives, which was agreed to:
Whereas, information has reached this Congress of the passage by the Congress at Washington, D. C, of a bill for the enlistment of negroes as soldiers in the armies of the United States, which armies are to be engaged in the further invasion of the confederate States of America;
And whereas, the Constitutions both of the confederate States and the United States recognize Africans and their descendants as property;
And whereas, we cannot consent to any change in their political status and condition; therefore,
Resolved, That the Committee on the Judiciary be instructed to inquire into the expediency of bringing in a bill providing the proper forms for the disposition of all negroes or mulattoes who may be captured from the enemy in such manner that those of them who are fugitives from their masters may be returned to their rightful owners, and those for whom no masters can be found shall be sold into perpetual bondage, for the purpose of raising a fund to reimburse citizens of this Confederacy who have lost their slave property by reason of the interference therewith by the enemy.
—A fight took place at Old River, La., between a National force, under Captain T. Tucker of the First Kansas volunteers, and the First battalion of the Third regiment of Louisiana cavalry.—(Doc. 120.)
—A. D. Mahony, President of the “Prisoners of State Association,” published a notice calling upon “all such persons as had been arrested without charge, imprisoned without trial, and discharged from confinement on the mere order of Abraham Lincoln, or of some one of his subordinates, to convene on the fourth day of March next, in the city of New-York, for the purpose of devising, adopting, and putting into practical effect, such means as might be deemed best to obtain satisfaction for the outrages to which we, prisoners of state, have been subjected, and reparation done us in person and property, and for the further purpose of doing what becomes us as American patriots to preserve our Constitution and Government from total subversion, and the liberties of the people from subjection to arbitrary power.”
—Information was received at the War Department at Washington, that a party of loyal Delaware and Shawnee Indians, of Kansas, had taken the rebel Wachita agency in Texas, killed Leoper the agent, and captured a hundred disloyal Indians, together with a large number of horses, papers and rebel bonds. Among the papers were treaties made with the rebel government, and signed by Albert Pike. The party returned to Kansas, with the loss of four men.
Feb. 10th. Still aground; at two P. M., succeeded in getting off by the assistance of two river tugboats which had been sent to our assistance; in the meantime the steamer Che Kiang had been sent down the river with despatches for the Admiral to return to the city. Just as we got nicely over the bar, the despatches were brought on board; the ship was immediately turned around, and back we started again, and in attempting to cross the bar the second time we grounded; the tugboats fastened to us again the Che Kiang hitched on, and with considerable difficulty we succeeded in getting over. If we had not been so unfortunate as to run our ship’s nose into the mud in our first attempt at crossing the bar, the Che Kiang, in my opinion, would have had a fine time in overhauling us, and at the same time we might have enjoyed a fine sea breeze.
February 10, Tuesday. Presented Colonel Hawley’s name to the President for Brigadier-General with expressions of my regard. Was kindly received but no assurance given. Informed the President I should put Preble’s case in his hands to be disposed of.
The nomination of Mark Howard for Collector of the Hartford District has been suspended in the Senate. Howard is a very faithful, competent, and excellent man for the office, but he and Senator Dixon, neighbors and formerly intimate friends, have latterly had some differences. Dixon takes advantage of his position as Senator to stab Howard in secret session, where H. can have no opportunity for self-defense. Senator Sumner, whom I met this evening, says Dixon came to him and asked, if a personal enemy, who abused, slandered, and defied him were before the Senate, would he vote for him. Sumner replied, No. Senator Doolittle admits he was in like manner approached; says it was embarrassing, for there is an implied understanding — a courtesy among Senators — that they will yield to the personal appeals of a Senator in appointments to office in his own town. I asked if it was possible that the Senate prostituted itself to gratify private animosities, — made itself a party to the personal quarrels of one of its members and gave him the means to wreak his vengeance on a worthy person without cause or justification? Doolittle attempted no defense; evidently did not like the attitude in which he was placed.
Thurlow Weed is in town. He has been sent for, but my informant knows not for what purpose. It is, I learn, to consult in regard to a scheme of Seward to influence the New Hampshire and Connecticut elections.
Some days since, Seward handed me a dispatch as I entered the President’s office on Cabinet day, from Mr. Dayton at Paris, stating the French Government was pressing friendly mediation. I handed it back after reading, with the remark that it was wholly inadmissible. Seward made no reply, but handed the dispatch to others to read as they came in. There was, I think, a response similar to mine from each. When I heard that Seward’s factotum, Weed, had been called here I thought at once of Dayton’s dispatch and schemes of adjustment. Nous verrons.
[In the lower House of Congress] after a violent attack by Calvert, Washburn, and a few others [on the subject of appointment of midshipmen], I was sustained by a vote of two to one, to the great chagrin of the clique, who, I am told, did not conceal their vexation.
10th. After breakfast we four started out to visit the penitentiary. Called at Mr. Rice’s. Got Mary and Mrs. Hickox and went to the Asylum instead. Was deeply interested and affected. So many pretty and talented little creatures among the sufferers. Saw Fanny H. off at 1 P. M. Uncle dead. Went with Brougham to Penitentiary, then to camp for the night. Answered a good letter from Fannie.
Tuesday, 10th—This is a clear, warm day. We disembarked early this morning and marching out about one mile from the river to Sparrow’s plantation, we pitched our tents on the large lawn of the plantation house, bordering the lake. Mr. Sparrow, the owner, is a congressman in the rebel congress, and he and his family having gone away, left their negroes in charge of the plantation. Our colonel has established his headquarters in the plantation house. The First Kansas out on scout duty today got into a skirmish with the rebels and lost two men killed and eight wounded.
Memphis, Tuesday, Feb. 10. A fine spring rain fell nearly all day, nevertheless we covered our shanty and built our chimney.
February 10.—Arrived at Chattanooga at 7 A. M. Left Mobile on the 5th, by steamer to Montgomery. Captain Finnegan was very kind to myself and Miss Groom, who was with me. He did not charge us for our passage. We had transportation tickets for the cars, which only pays for half on the boat.
The Alabama River is formed of the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers, which unite some ten miles north of Montgomery. It then flows west to Selma, below which point it is very tortuous, flowing south-west until it unites with the. Tombigbee, forty-five miles north of Mobile. The river formed by this confluence is the Mobile, which empties into the Mobile Bay. It is three hundred miles in extent, and is navigable for large boats. Along its banks are immense cotton plantations. In peace times hundreds of thousands of bales of cotton pass down this river yearly, to be transported from thence to all parts of the world.
Had quite a pleasant trip. Duke Goodman, one of our wealthy planters, and his wife were on board. The latter showed us some very pretty homespun dresses. The material was grown, spun, and woven on her own plantation. The colors were very pretty, dyed from the bark of trees and wild roots.
We reached Selma early on the morning of the 7th. It is situated on a high bluff on the west bank of the river, seventy miles below Montgomery. It is in Dallas County, and is the terminus of the Alabama and Tennessee Railroad. The Central Railroad of Alabama extends west from it. We arrived too late to see a fine gunboat launched. There are one or two others being built; they are to be used for the protection of Mobile Bay. Quantities of government work of all kinds are done here. There are some two or three large founderies.
Miss G. and myself paid a visit to Mrs. D., in the city, who gave us a delightful cup of tea, which is rather a delicacy these times.
On the way from Selma to Montgomery we made the acquaintance of a very nice lady, Mrs. Turner, and her brother, Mr. Davis. He is on his way to the army, and the lady to visit her husband, who is surgeon of the Seventh Arkansas Regiment.
We arrived at Montgomery on Sunday, the 8th, an hour too late for the West Point train, and put up at the Exchange Hotel, which is a very fine house. We paid three dollars each for our dinner, and a splendid one it was. Every thing was there, the same as in peace times. The house was filled with refugees, fashionably dressed, and evidently making the best of their condition.
At the table I met some old friends from Mobile. Miss G. and I went to St. John’s Church, and before service had a talk with Rev. Mr. Mitchell. He gave me some prayer-books, which were very acceptable. One of my old friends, Dr. Scott, a refugee from Pensacola, preached an excellent sermon.
We left Montgomery at 4 o’clock p. M.; arrived in Atlanta on the morning of the 9th, too late to make the connection for Chattanooga. We put up at the Trout House, a very fine hotel, but I do not like it as well as the Exchange in Montgomery. The weather was very cold, and there had just been a heavy fall of snow.
I went out shopping with Mrs. Turner. She bought a very neat straw bonnet, for which I think she paid fifty dollars. We paid five dollars each hotel bill. Left in the afternoon for this place. Our friend, Mr. Davis, in attending to our baggage, forgot his overcoat and blanket-shawl at the Trout House, which is a serious loss in this cold weather, and he on his way to camp. When within a few miles of this place the cars ran off the track, and we came up to town on a wood-car.
There is a great drawback in traveling in this country; the railroad is single, and if the returning train happens to be behindhand the other has to wait at the switches for it. We have been detained a good deal on this account; and another annoyance is the scarcity of wood; for miles the locomotive has gone at a snail’s pace.
There were a number of ladies on the train with us, on their way to visit their husbands in the army.
It is remarked that there never were so many women and children traveling as there are now. Numbers of ladies, whose husbands are in the army, have been compelled to give up their homes for economy and protection, and seek others among their relatives. I know of many, with their children, who have been compelled to seek shelter under the parental roof. We have a large floating population—the people who have been driven from their homes by the invader.
Our friends left us to go to Shelbyville. Mrs. T. has a brother-in-law, wounded, in this hospital. He was much disappointed in not seeing her.
When I arrived at the hospital I found Mrs. W. well, and very busy. All were pleased to see me; but my heart sank within me when I looked around and saw the state of things. I had been away long enough to become demoralized. It had been snowing for some days, and the snow was melting, which made every thing damp and comfortless. A hospital is the most cheerless place in the world, and the last place I would remain in from choice. If it were not for the sake of the wounded and sick men, I do not think I could possibly stand it.
I found few of the patients whom I had left here; some have died, and others have gone to other hospitals. Mr. Noland and Mr. Kelly, two of our best nurses, are not expected to live. They were both here when we first came. Mr. Noland is too low to speak. I am much grieved to find him in this state. He was very kind to me when I was sick; and when buttermilk was ordered, searched the whole town to get it for me.
We have a patient—James Scott—who has been here ever since the army went into Kentucky. He accidentally broke his thigh while on the march. He has lain on his back for nearly four long weary months, and has never been known to murmur. I never saw such patient endurance. He is not eighteen years of age. I brought him a little present from home, which he prizes very highly.
We have a new ward near the river. It holds about fifty patients, and is set apart for cases of erysipelas. I visited it to-day, and found it nearly full. Mr. Kelly is there, with all over his face and head; and Captain De Graffenread, who also has it in his arm.
Washington Tuesday Feb 10th 1863
The weather continues pleasant, and everything quiet as far as the War is concerned. The scene seems just now to be shifting to the South, and we are expecting every day to hear that Savannah or Charleston has been attacked, perhaps both. Genl Fosters N.C. Army has gone to S.C. The “Army of the Potomac” seems to be dropping to pieces, a large portion having gone down the Potomac and and another portion have come up this way. Today I have been engaged in examining copies of the Report of the Indian Agent for the Sioux Tribes on the borders of Minnesota, the Scene of the late Indian Murders. The Report is quite interesting. I went from the office on to the Ave and staid at the Book Stores till near dinner time, bought Thos Buchanan Reads “Wagoner of the Alleghanies” and some Photographs for Julia. I read a good deal at the Book Stores and buy a little. But is usual for gentlemen of anything of a studious turn to frequent the Book Stores here and sit and read any book they choose for hours. I have not been out since dinner but reading the evening papers and the new Book. Capt Thornett came in and sat an hour in my room and smoked his segar. I take care of Maj Austins NY paper during his absence from the house and also “take care” to read it. Rcd letter from wife today, all well.
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Title: Blacksmiths department Hd. qts. Army of the Potomac
Created: 1863 ca. February
Artist: A.R. Waud. (signed lower right)
Published in: Harper’s Weekly, April 18, 1863
Library of Congress image
