February 24, Tuesday. At the Cabinet-meeting the President expressed uneasiness at the rumor which he had just heard that the Queen of the West was captured. Told him what I heard yesterday from General Halleck. Stanton said he wholly discredited the story, but went and got the dispatches. On reading them, my apprehensions were increased. The President called on me later in the day, and we both came to the conclusion that the boat was lost to us.
February 2013
[Diary] February 24.
Hurrah! Jubilee! Lands are to be set apart for the people so that they cannot be oppressed, or driven to work for speculators, or ejected from their homesteads. Orders to the superintendents to number the people by families.
24th. The mail brought me three letters, one from Lucy, one from home and one from Fannie. All good and cheering. How much I prize my letters. Back and forth to Post Commissary. In the evening beat Capt. N. two games of chess. Read some. Finished 4th Vol. Thede looks well in “sojer” clothes.
February 24th. Great stir among the Yankees. Much hard riding. They have stolen and forced people to give up every horse in town, even carriage horses. They ride as though the world were coming to an end. Some unhappy-looking troops have just passed our door with knapsacks packed and a pretty flag flying with 12th Battery upon it. The cannon have been sent to the boat; we presume that these people are on their way to Port Hudson.
Tuesday, 24th—There was quite a fire today in the town of Lake Providence, burning several vacant houses. In the excitement our men found two rebel flags. The Eleventh and Thirteenth Iowa received orders to embark with three days’ rations, and taking passage on the “Marie Deming” left for Greenville, about sixty-five miles up the river, to reinforce the brigade there.
Memphis, Tuesday, Feb. 24. Very pleasant spring day. Boys busy setting their accounts. Captain H. Dillon started home on a furlough. Lieutenant Simpson also went with a discharge.
Tuesday Feb. 24th 1863
Pleasant overhead and snow and water under foot and freezing tonight. Went down to Addis Photograph Gallery this morning and sat for my picture. Julia insists upon having my Photograph in her Album. Capt Henry Androus of 17th Mich called on me today. He is a fine looking officer, has been in five or six Battles and not been wounded. He has been home and is now on his way to join his Reg’t in “front.” Called at Maj Williams this evening. Mrs W. is getting much better and is now up all day. Was in to Willards an hour talking with friends. Just before nine, I called at Doct Munsons from whence I did not make my escape till eleven. They had a room full of Company as usual. The three Albany ladies are still there, had a long conversation with Mrs Pruyn discussing Morals and Religion. We agreed in the main, especialy upon the point, that Society is responsible for the Morals of the Community, and that it is Society, the public, that is to blame and guilty of most of the crimes Committed, at least partakers of the guilt. I wrote to Wife today, sent Julia two more Photographs, Genl Havelocks and Henry Androus. I think her Album must be full by this time. I have tonight written a letter to Sis Northam in answer to hers of yesterday.
![Aquia Creek Landing, Virginia (vicinity)]. Group at Captain W.S](https://dotcw.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Aquia-Creek-Landing-Virginia-vicinity.-Group-at-Captain-W.S.jpg "Aquia Creek Landing, Virginia (vicinity)]. Group at Captain W.S")
Title: [Aquia Creek Landing, Virginia (vicinity)]. Group at Captain W.S. Hall’s wagon camp
Creator: Alexander Gardner, photographer
Date Created: 1863 Feb.
Library of Congress image.
Tuesday, 24th—Just before leaving a couple of young lady equestrians passed out of town from Mr. Fisher’s. I jumped on H. Emnoff’s horse and overtook them, rode out a mile with them and turned off pike. If I should ever get back to L. I intend seeking them and make their acquaintance. After dinner we bid our kind friends adieu and put out, overtook the Command about eleven miles from Shelbyville.
FEBRUARY 24TH.—Gen. Longstreet is now in command of Gen. Smith’s late department, besides his own corps. Richmond is safe.
Our papers contain a most astonishing speech purporting to have been delivered by Mr. Conway, in the United States Congress.
Mr. C. is from Kansas, that hot-bed of Abolitionism. He is an avowed Abolitionist; and yet he advocates an immediate suspension of hostilities, or at least that the Federal armies and fleets be ordered to act on the defensive; that the independence of the Confederate States be recognized, upon the basis of a similar tariff; free-trade between the North and South; free navigation of the Mississippi, and co-operation in the maintenance of the Monroe doctrine. I like the indications apparent in this speech. Let us have a suspension of hostilities, and then we can have leisure to think of the rest. No doubt the peace party is growing rapidly in the United States; and it may be possible that the Republicans mean to beat the Democrats in the race, by going beyond them on the Southern question. The Democrats are for peace and Union; the Republicans may resolve to advocate not only peace, but secession.
