Monday, February 23d.
Here goes! News has been received that the Yankees are already packed, ready to march against us at any hour. If I was up and well, how my heart would swell with exultation. As it is, it throbs so with excitement that I can scarcely lie still. Hope amounts almost to presumption at Port Hudson. They are confident that our fifteen thousand can repulse twice the number. Great God! — I say it with all reverence — if we could defeat them! If we could scatter, capture, annihilate them! My heart beats but one prayer — Victory! I shall grow wild repeating it. In the mean time, though, Linwood is in danger. This dear place, my second home; its loved inhabitants; think of their being in such peril! Oh, I shall cry heartily if harm comes to them! But I must leave before. No use of leaving my bones for the Yankees to pick; better sing “Dixie” in Georgia.
To-morrow, consequently, I go to that earthly paradise, Clinton, thence to be re-shipped (so goes the present programme) to Augusta in three days. And no time for adieux! Wonder who will be surprised, who vexed, and who will cry over the unforeseen separation? Not a single “good-bye”! Nothing —except an old brass button that Mr. Halsey gave me as a souvenir in case he should be killed in the coming assault. It is too bad. Ah! Destiny! Destiny! Where do you take us? During these two trying years, I have learned to feel myself a mere puppet in the hands of a Something that takes me here to-day, to-morrow there, always unexpectedly, and generally very unwillingly, but at last leads me somewhere or other, right side up with care, after a thousand troubles and distresses. The hand of Destiny is on me now; where will it lead me?
February 23, Monday. General Halleck informs me there is a rumor via Richmond that the steamer Queen of the West has been captured. He doubts its truth. I fear it may be so.
February 23.—A bright, beautiful day. Had a visit from Mrs. Dr. Hopping and Mrs. Moore; also Mr. Weaver; the latter brought me a letter from home.
A few days ago we received our first pay. I received one hundred and twenty dollars, for three months; Mrs. W. one hundred and five. Our first feeling was not to take it, but then we remembered we could make good use of the money. Mine is nearly all gone already. I bought a common cotton delaine dress, for which I paid three dollars per yard; in good times it would have been twenty-five cents. I also bought a common calico, at two dollars and a quarter a yard, and a common pair of leather boots for sixteen dollars. These articles would have been higher in Mobile.
A day or two ago I received a letter from Lieutenant Goodman of the Ninth Mississippi Regiment—one of my old patients. I met him while in Mobile, and he kindly brought a parcel from there for me, and through mistake took it to the army. They sent it back by express; and, on receiving it from that office, the agents would accept no money when they knew it was for me, because I am in the hospital.
23rd. Cleared off pleasantly. Busy in morning getting memorandum receipts of the stores for the month. Afternoon rode to town and beat Melissa at a game of chess. F. gone. Had a good time. Spent the evening. M. and N. went to theatre to hear Macbeth.
Monday, 23d—General Logan’s division arrived today, accompanied by the Seventeenth Engineers’ Corps with pontoon bridges.
They bring the news that our men are still throwing shells into Vicksburg, and that the rebels are vacating the place. Our quartermaster went out into the country with the teams and brought in nineteen loads of cotton.
Memphis, Monday, Feb. 23. Very pleasant. Health little better. The long looked for “to-morrow” at last arrived and the paymaster paid us off. Rec’d $13.80. $20.00 sent per allotment, being up to Oct. 31, 1862.
Washington Monday Feb 23rd 1863
A cold winters day, but thawing in the sun. Some faint attempts at sleighing in the streets and some jingling of bells which sounds like old times. The like has not been heard here for the past two or three years. But the snow will all be gone in a day or two and then it will be mud. The dearth of news still continues. Nothing from the armies today. Genl Hooker is in town tonight perhaps concocting some scheme to bring the rebels to grief. I think the weather for the past two or three days has been severe enough to bring his own army to “grief.” But I have great faith in Hooker. I have spent most of the evening with Genl Havelock at his room. He gave me his “cart de visite” for Julia and showed me his Medals and his Commission from the Sultan, presented in a silk bag with a large Medal. Took wine with him and sat and conversed for two hours. Capt Thornett called with me. Rcd a letter from my dear Sister Harriet Northam, which gave me much pleasure. Also rcd one from Home & from “Willie.” Sent ten photographs by mail to Julia, postage two cents. Shall be glad if they arrive in safty. Business dull in the office, plenty of time to read and write letters. Spent an hour at Charleys after I left the office, baby improves every day.
February. — The members of our society sympathized with General McClellan when he was criticised by some and we wrote him the following letter:
“Canandaigua, Feb. 13, 1863.
.
“Maj. Gen. Geo. McClellan:
“Will you pardon any seeming impropriety in our addressing you, and attribute it to the impulsive love and admiration of hearts which see in you, the bravest and noblest defender of our Union. We cannot resist the impulse to tell you, be our words ever so feeble, how our love and trust have followed you from Rich Mountain to Antietam, through all slanderous attacks of traitorous politicians and fanatical defamers—how we have admired, not less than your calm courage on the battlefield, your lofty scorn of those who remained at home in the base endeavor to strip from your brow the hard earned laurels placed there by a grateful country: to tell further, that in your forced retirement from battlefields of the Republic’s peril, you have ‘but changed your country’s arms for more, — your country’s heart,’ — and to assure you that so long as our country remains to us a sacred name and our flag a holy emblem, so long shall we cherish your memory as the defender and protector of both. We are an association whose object it is to aid, in the only way in which woman, alas! can aid our brothers in the field. Our sympathies are with them in the cause for which they have periled all — our hearts are with them in the prayer, that ere long their beloved commander may be restored to them, and that once more as of old he may lead them to victory in the sacred name of the Union and Constitution.
“With united prayers that the Father of all may have you and yours ever in His holy keeping, we remain your devoted partisans.”
Signed by a large number.
The following in reply was addressed to the lady whose name was first signed to the above:
“New York, Feb. 21, 1863.
“Madam—I take great pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of the very kind letter of the 13th inst, from yourself and your friends. Will you do me the favor to say to them how much I thank them for it, and that I am at a loss to express my gratitude for the pleasant and cheering terms in which it is couched. Such sentiments on the part of those whose brothers have served with me in the field are more grateful to me than anything else can be. I feel far more than rewarded by them for all I have tried to accomplish. — I am, Madam, with the most sincere respect and friendship, yours very truly,
“Geo. B. McClellan.”
Title: Aquia Creek Landing, Virginia. Group of Commissary clerks
Creator: Alexander Gardner, photographer
Date Created: 1863 Feb.
Library of Congress image.
FEBRUARY 23D.—I saw a letter from Gen. Lee to day, suggesting to the government on appeal to the Governors of the States to aid more directly in recruiting the armies. He says the people habitually expect too much from the troops now in the field; that because we have gained many victories, it does not follow that we shall always gain them; that the legitimate fruits of victory have hitherto been lost, for the want of numbers on our side; and, finally, that all those who fail to go to the field at such a momentous period as this, are guilty of the blood of the brave soldiers who perish in the effort to achieve independence.
This would be contrary to the “rules and regulations” as understood by the Adjutant and Inspector-General (a Northern man), and no doubt the Secretary of War and the President will reject the plan.
The petition of forty members of Congress in my behalf came from Mr. Seddon, the Secretary, to our bureau to-day. He asks the superintendent if there is a necessity for such an officer, one whose rank is equal to that of a commandant of a camp of instruction. He says important services only should require the appointment of such an officer. Well, Gen. Rains recommended it. I know not whether he can say more. I shall not get it, for Congress has but little influence, just now.
