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

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Post image for Diary of David L. Day.

Diary of David L. Day.

March 24, 2013

David L Day–My diary of rambles with the 25th Mass

Gen. Foster Arrives.

March 24. Gen. Foster arrived this morning and went to work laying out a fort and other defences which we are to build. That job done, he took companies F, I and K of the 25th and H of the 27th Massachusetts with a party of marines, and a boat howitzer (on board his boat, the John Ferrin,) and left on some sort of an excursion up the Chowan river. The general is no idler, he is always on the move and seeing that everybody else is. He is ubiquitous, turning up at any time in all parts of his domain, and keeping everybody within fifty miles on the qui vive.

Post image for War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

March 24, 2013

War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

Headquarters Engineer Brigade,

Camp near Falmouth, March 24, 1863.

Dear Father, — We moved over here to the headquarters of the Engineer Brigade yesterday morning. I am still acting as adjutant-general, but expect to be relieved to-morrow or next day. Last Sunday I went down to the Fifth Army Corps, and inquired about Captain Williams, who is on duty there as additional adjutant-general. He was away on a leave of absence, but from what I could learn, he is a very nice fellow. He will probably be ordered to join General Benham. I am sufficiently acquainted with the duties now to perform them whenever the regular officer is absent. I should not like to be adjutant-general permanently, as there is too much office work, and as it is too confining. I think if the army cross successfully, and everything in our department is done promptly and well, that General Benham will stand a very good chance of promotion. In case he is promoted, I shall be also. We are about a third of a mile from headquarters of the army. It is always the custom, I believe, to have the Engineer Brigade near by headquarters.

We shall move soon, I am quite certain. Orders come in every day, which show that a move is soon to be made.

Lieutenant Perkins, our new aide, joined us to-day. He is a very pleasant fellow. . . .

I have no idea where we shall cross the river. I should think that if we crossed down below, we might move to the York River, and establish our base of supplies there.

We have two regiments in this brigade, the 50th and 15th New York Volunteers, numbering about 7800 men in all. .They are very much scattered though, one company being at Harper’s Ferry, one at Washington, and the rest scattered through this army, some at Aquia Creek, some at Stoneman’s Switch, and some at Belle Plain. There are six pontoon trains with the brigade, only two of which are completely equipped and ready. The others lack transportation, but will soon be complete. . . .

Post image for War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

March 24, 2013

War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

March 24. — General visited detachments at Belle Plain. Confidential circular received from headquarters in regard to leaves of absence after April 1. To-day was set apart for a hurdle race and a good time generally at General Birney’s headquarters, but on account of recent rains it was postponed until Friday.

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

March 24, 2013

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones

by John Beauchamp Jones

MARCH 24TH.—Judge Lyons has granted an injunction, arresting the impressment of flour by the Secretary of War, and Congress is debating a bill which, if passed, will be a marked rebuke to the government.

Notwithstanding the wishes of the Secretary of War, the President, and Gen. Rains, Lt.-Col. Lay is still exempting Marylanders, and even foreigners who have bought real estate, and resided for years in this country, if they have not taken the oath of domicile.

In Eastern Tennessee, 25,500 conscripts were enrolled, and yet only 6000 were added to the army. The rest were exempted, detailed, or deserted. Such is the working of the Conscription Act, fettered as it is by the Exemption Law, and still executed under Judge Campbell’s decision. Gen. Rains has the title, but does not execute the functions of Superintendent of the Bureau of Conscription. The President has been informed of everything.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

March 24, 2013

The American Civil War,The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

March 24.—The rebel steamer Havelock, under the command of Captain L. M. Coxetter, ran the blockade into Charleston, S. C. A correspondent of the Mobile Register, gave the following account of her “narrow escape:” “She had run through the blockaders just before day, having left Nassau on the twentieth instant, bringing a most valuable cargo. After crossing the bar, however, she ran ashore on Drunken Dick Shoals, and it was feared the enemy’s gunboats would run in and endeavor to capture her, which might have been done at the time had they had pluck enough to have attempted it The confederate States rams Chicora, Captain Tucker, and Palmetto, Captain Rutledge, immediately got under weigh and went down to offer battle, should the enemy attempt a capture. There was evidently great commotion among the fleet, who could be seen rapidly signalizing each other. The battery was crowded by spectators watching events, and eagerly looking for some demonstrations on the part of the Federals, as our rams glided down to the scene of action. The British steamer Petrel, which had been delayed in rendering assistance to the French steamer Renaudin, which had just gotten off, was now seen going out at this time, passing Sullivan’s Island. Numerous sail-boats and barges were seen running down the bay, adding to the interest of the scene. For a time the greatest interest and excitement prevailed. By the assistance of the high tide, and after throwing overboard some ten heavy slabs of iron and about forty boxes of tin, the Havelock floated off and came safely up to the city, much to the chagrin of the Federals.”

—Ponchatoula, La., was this day captured, after a brief skirmish with the enemy, by an expeditionary force of National troops, under the command of Colonel Clark.—(Doc. 144.)

—The English schooners Mary Jane and Rising Dawn, while attempting to run into Wilmington, N. C, were captured by the gunboats State of Georgia and Mount Vernon.

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