Washington Sunday March 1st 1863
Old winter has taken his flight and left us deep in mud and water and a dense fog. But we will now look for clear weather and the usual drying winds of March will soon render the roads passable and the armies can move. Armies did I say? (for I sometimes forget that we are in the midst of a gigantic War, and following the usual routine of daily duty I awake as from a dream to realize that fact). Yes, Armies, three or four, each numbering near a hundred thousand, besides tens of thousands of men scattered all over Slavedom. We cannot have at present less than six hundred thousand Soldiers under arms altogether, engaged in sustaining the Union and puting down rebellion. Attended religious Service at the “House” Chamber this morning. After the service John A Fowle and Miss Rumsey (the Singer) were married before the congregation. An Episcopal clergyman performed the Ceremony. After the newly married couple had received the congratulations of their friends a few minutes, the first thing the new wife did was to sing (alone) the “Star Spangled Banner” for the crowd. I spent an hour at A B Williamss with Alexander Tower and his wife Harriet W. that was. Went in the evening to Doct Gurleys church. A Stranger preached. I do wish that Preachers would learn to read.
Memphis, Sunday, March 1. To-day we were ordered to prepare for an inspection by Major Maurice, chief of artillery, but instead of that came marching. We broke up camp at 9 A. M. and marched with the whole of Quinby’s Division into Memphis. There was a busy scene. Infantry and artillery and baggage and wagons, all in a rush embarking on the transports. 6th and 12th “Wisconsin Batteries were ordered on the “Robert Campbell Jr.” but we could not get out on first Section, it being too crowded. The 2nd and 3rd Sections with the battery and forage wagons were pushed in front of the “Tecumseh” and there guarded for the night.
1st. Stayed at home in the morning. Snow. Chester came in. Made a little taffy and ate apples. Read the Independent and Cincinnati Commercial. Col. Abbey was in and told his usual number of stories. Knew Pa well. Wrote a short letter home.
Sunday, 1st March—Got his wagon and hauled one load to Camp. Camp moved three miles further up the pike. I went up Creek and got Mr. Jonichin to start with his wagon. Went on top the mountain to get two more wagons and as I came back the Yanks ran our pickets in. I came near being caught by them. Came back down Creek and told J. He turned back. I and Polk then went on to Camp. After going to bed, all waked up and fell back to the other Camp.
MARCH 1ST. —To-morrow we remove to new quarters. The lady’s husband, owning cottage, and who was confined for seven months among lunatics, has returned, and there is not room for two families. Besides, Mrs. G. thinks she can do better taking boarders, than by letting the house. What a mistake! Beef sold yesterday for $1.25 per pound; turkeys, $15. Corn-meal $6 per bushel, and all other articles at the same rates. No salaries can board families now; and soon the expense of boarding will exceed the incomes of unmarried men. Owners and tenants, unless engaged in lucrative business, must soon vacate their houses and leave the city.
But we have found a house occupied by three widows in Clay Street. They have no children. They mean to board soon among their relatives or friends, and then we get the house; in the mean time, they have fitted up two rooms for us. We should have gone yesterday, but the weather was too bad. The terms will not exceed the rent we are now paying, and the house is larger. I espied several fruit trees in the back yard, and a space beyond, large enough for a smart vegetable garden. How delighted I shall be to cultivate it myself! Always I have visions of peas, beans, radishes, potatoes, corn, and tomatoes of my own raising! God bless the widows sent for our relief in this dire necessity
Met Judge Reagan yesterday, just from the Council Board. I thought he seemed dejected. He said if the enemy succeeded in getting command of the Mississippi River, the Confederacy would be “cut in two;” and he intimated his preference of giving up Richmond, if it would save Texas, etc. for the Confederacy. Texas is his adopted State.
March 1.—A scouting-party of Union troops, under the command of Adjutant Poole, made a dash into Bloomfield, Mo., early this morning, and killed the rebel recruiting officer, Lieutenant Brazeau, captured the Provost-Marshal, with all his papers, twenty rebel guerrilla prisoners, a number of fire-arms, and a quantity of ammunition.—Missouri Democrat.
—The English steamer Queen of the Wave stranded while endeavoring to run into Georgetown, S. C, and soon after was taken possession of by the crew of the United States gunboat Conemaugh.—Fifty men of the First Vermont cavalry, under Captains Wood and Huntoon, were surprised by a party of rebels at Aldie, Va.
—To-day a fight took place in the vicinity of Bradyville, Tenn., between an expeditionary force of Union troops under General Stanley, and a body of rebel guerrillas under Colonel Duke, in which, after a stubborn resistance of twenty minutes, the latter were routed with great loss.— (Doc. 128.)
