Wednesday,11th—Sent to Headquarters to draw ammunition as A. O. S. Gen’l Wharton had a ball to-night.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Wednesday,11th—Sent to Headquarters to draw ammunition as A. O. S. Gen’l Wharton had a ball to-night.
Feb. 11th, nine thirty A. M. Arrived off the city and brought the ship to anchor.
11th. After breakfast B. went with me to commissary and then to town. Drew and issued rations for ten days. Rained in the afternoon. Did the work alone. Thede went to town and brought me back Irving’s “Life of Washington.” Commenced it. Case inquired about Thede enlisting in his company.
Memphis, Wednesday, Feb. 11. Warm and sunny. Ball playing and building shanties the order of the day. We completed ours. It consists of an excavation of one foot, then walled two feet with rails and logs, and banked; covered with a double roof, a brick chimney in one end, and door in the other, with the floor boarded. Such is our house.
February 11.—For ten days past I have been at the bedside of my patient in Richmond. The physicians for the third time despaired of his life; by the goodness of God he is again convalescent. Our wounded are suffering excessively for tonics, and I believe that many valuable lives are lost for the want of a few bottles of porter. One day a surgeon standing by B’s bedside said to me, “He must sink in a day or two; he retains neither brandy nor milk, and his life is passing away for want of nourishment.” In a state bordering on despair, I went out to houses and stores, to beg or buy porter; not a bottle was in town. At last a lady told me that a blockade-runner, it was said, had brought ale, and it was at the medical purveyor’s. I went back to Mr. P’s instantly, and told my brother (B’s father) of the rumour. To get a surgeon’s requisition and go off to the purveyor’s was the work of a moment. In a short time he returned, with a dozen bottles of India ale. It was administered cautiously at first, and when I found that he retained it, and feebly asked for more, tears of joy and thankfulness ran down my cheeks. “Give him as much as he will take during the night,” was the order of the physician. The order was obeyed, and life seemed to return to his system; in twenty-four hours he had drank four bottles; he began then to take milk, and I never witnessed any thing like the reanimation of the whole man, physical and mental. The hospitals are now supplied with this life-giving beverage, and all have it who “absolutely require it,” though great care is taken of it, for the supply is limited. Oh, how cruel it is that the Northern Government should have made medicines, and the necessaries of life to the sick and wounded, contraband articles!
Washington Wednesday Feby 11. 1863
Fears are now frequently expressed that we are to have trouble in the free states. There seems to exist a great number of peace men, men who are willing to make peace on any terms “only stop the war.” The “Knights of the Golden Circle” (K.G.C.) a secret Society are said to have become numerous and are ready to overthrow the Govt if necessary to make Peace. “Union Leage” Secret Societies are now forming all over the Country to counteract the K.G.Cs. I intend to Join the U.L. tomorrow night. It is intended to have the unconditional Union Men in this City and all over the Country ready (at a moments warning, “armed to the teeth”) for any emergency. The action of some of the State Legislatures, and conventions of the People, and the tone of some of the Interior Papers is somewhat alarming. There is as this State of things prove a great lack of confidence in those at the head of the Govt and who manage the War. But a Victory or two will put things “all right.” No Separation. “No peace” for ten years to come, unless those in rebellion are willing to lay down their arms and return to their duty as Loyal Citizens, so say I.
There is no particular news today. Some skirmishing in Tennessee, the papers say 600 rebels taken prisoners. Important news expected from Charleston & Savannah, our “Iron Clads” are there. Recd letter from home, no important news in it. The question is do we want the House we occupy another year? from 1st May? I think we will have to say yes.
The Head of the Canal, Opposite Vicksburg, Miss., Now Being Cut by Command of Gen. Grant.
Published in March 28, 1863 edition of Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper.
Wednesday,11th—A large detail from our brigade began work on the canal from the Mississippi river to Lake Providence. About three hundred negroes are working on it. The canal is being cut twenty rods wide and when completed will be three-quarters of a mile long with a fall of twenty feet. I paid out thirty cents for some necessary articles, and also loaned thirty cents to Clark.
FEBRUARY 11TH. —There is a rumor that Major-Gen. Gustavus W. Smith has tendered his resignation.
Some idea may be formed of the scarcity of food in this city from the fact that, while my youngest daughter was in the kitchen to-day, a young rat came out of its hole and seemed to beg for something to eat; she held out some bread, which it ate from her hand, and seemed grateful. Several others soon appeared, and were as tame as kittens. Perhaps we shall have to eat them!
