Friday, April 17th. I left Rusk on the morning of the 16th on a six passenger coach; there were fourteen aboard; the driver was skillful and the road good; I was suffering intensely from dysentery and had a high fever from breakfast time until sundown; oh, the long, long weary miles pent up in that crowded coach; I slept half an hour at Henderson; at the next stand I bathed in the horse bucket and my fever left me; I chewed a piece of salt ham; it was now dark; I laid down on top of the stage coach and was very comfortable about half of the night, but suffered tortures during the latter part of the night; reached Marshall about 7 o’clock in the morning; sent for a physician and will remain here for a day or two, until I am able to travel; Lieutenant Selman had a cup of genuine coffee made for me which I enjoyed very much; Burwell Aycock is trying to get a soft boiled egg for me; I think I will be well in a day or two; this attack was brought on by a check of perspiration after becoming overheated in the walk of four miles to Palestine.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
April 17th. Commences with warm and pleasant weather. At five-thirty A. M., called all hands, and hove up anchor; got under way, and were once more stemming the current of the Mississippi, which is none other than a four-knot one, by the way. In many instances the residences of the rich and affluent planters or merchants looked to be deserted by the owners, and the overseer and negroes working in the fields were the only parties to be seen. What an example of the ravages of war! and how many fair ones occupy apartments in some of these dwellings, closed up, as I have said, as if they were haunted and deserted, who have a husband, father, brother, or other relative, in this war, fighting against their country, and, according as they have been made to believe by corrupt politicians and arch traitors, for their rights, their altars, and their firesides; when, if the truth were known, they had taken up arms to overthrow the best government the sun ever shone upon, and substituted a monarchy, placing bad men in power—a government for a few, not for a whole. How men can, in this enlighted age, become so deluded, is a wonder.
17th April (Friday).—Having spent last night in a Mexican saddle, our bullock-rug in the sand appeared to me a most luxurious bed.
We hitched in at 5 A.M., and struck water at 9 A.M., which, though muddy in appearance, was not so bad to drink.
I walked ahead with the Judge, who, when sober, is a well-informed and sensible man. Mr Sargent and I are great friends, and, rough as he is, we get on capitally together.
A Mr Ward, with three vehicles—a rival of Mr Sargent’s—is travelling in our company. He drove his buggy against a tree and knocked its top off, to the intense delight of the latter.
We breakfasted under difficulties. The wind being high, it drove up the sand in clouds and spoiled our food. Our travelling companion, Mr ——, is a poor little weakly Israelite, but very inoffensive, although he speaks with a horrible Yankee twang, which Mr Sargent and the Judge are singularly free from.
We went on again at 2 P.M. I had a long talk with a big mulatto slave woman, who was driving one of Ward’s waggons. She told me she had been raised in Tennessee, and that three years ago she had been taken from her mistress for a bad debt, to their mutual sorrow. “Both,” she said, “cried bitterly at parting.” She doesn’t like San Antonio at all, “too much hanging and murdering for me,” she said. She had seen a man hanged in the middle of the day, just in front of her door.
Mr Sargent bought two chickens and some eggs at a ranch, but one of the chickens got up a tree, and was caught and eaten by the Ward faction. Our camp tonight looks very pretty by the light of the fires.
17th. In the morning got breakfast and brushed my clothes. Went to town with the Lt. to get five days’ rations. Saw Gen. Carter, a man slightly gray, whiskers and a good kind look. Took dinner on Co.’s account. 3rd Battalion came in. Saw Bob. Issued rations before dark. Wrote to Fannie in the evening. Ordered to march to Somerset at 10. Up till 2 A. M. Then slept again till morning.
April 17. —I have to drop and catch my pencil as I can; for we are doing tremendous work. O people who clamor for rapid movements! if you only knew what forced marches after a flying enemy cost us poor fellows, who have to make them! — the burden being: so heavy, the roads so dusty, and the noon-sun so burning hot. It is Saturday morning. Since Wednesday morning, we have pursued the flying rebels fifty miles. I have just seated myself, with my stiff limbs stretched on the grass, under the shadow of a rough stable belonging to a miserable plantation in these back regions of Louisiana. I only make this little note; for the pursuit is not ended, and I ought to use this respite for sleeping and eating; rather than writing.
April 17 — I saw the Maryland Line of infantry drill to-day. The men are well drilled and their regimental maneuvers were as regular and precise as clockwork.
April 17, Friday. No reports from Charleston. Am in hopes that side issues and by-play on the Mississippi are about over and that there will be some concentrated action. Porter should go below Vicksburg and not remain above, thereby detaining Farragut, who is below, from great and responsible duties at New Orleans and on the Gulf. The weak and sensitive feeling of being outranked and made subordinate in command should never influence an officer in such an emergency. Porter has great vanity and great jealousy but knows his duty, and I am surprised he does not perform it. Wrote him a fortnight since a letter which he cannot misunderstand, and which will not, I hope, wound his pride.
But little was before the Cabinet, which of late can hardly be called a council. Each Department conducts and manages its own affairs, informing the President to the extent it pleases. Seward encourages this state of things. He has less active duties than others, and watches and waits on the President daily, and gathers from him the doings of his associates and often influences indirectly and not always advantageously their measures and movements, while he communicates very little, especially of that which he does not wish them to know.
Blair walked over with me from the White House to the Navy Department, and I showed him the correspondence which had taken place respecting captured mails. Understanding Seward thoroughly, as he does, he detected the sly management by which Seward first got himself in difficulty and is now striving to get out of it. My course he pronounced correct, and he declared that the President must not be entrapped into any false step to extricate Seward, who, he says, is the least of a statesman and knows less of public law and of administrative duties than any man who ever held a seat in the Cabinet. This is a strong statement, but not so overstated as would be generally supposed. I have been surprised to find him so unpractical, so erratic, so little acquainted with the books, — he has told me more than once that he never opened them, that he was too old to study. He has, with all his bustle and activity, but little application; relies on Hunter and his clerk, Smith, perhaps Cushing also, to sustain him and hunt up his authorities; commits himself, as in the case of the mails, without knowing what he is about.
Millikens Bend, Friday, April 17. Were ordered to prepare for general inspection at 9 A. M. Got off from guard in time to mount my team. Formed three lines on the plain in front, viz: 1st line, 3rd Brigade; 2nd line, 3 batteries of artillery; 3rd line. 1st Brigade. (2nd Brigade not yet arrived from above). Were inspected by Adjutant General Thomas of Washington and Colonel Sanborn ( commanding Division in sickness of Quinby) and staff. After inspection the troops were brought in a solid square when General Thomas was introduced by General Grant, and spoke of the policy of the administration in regard to the contrabands, which was received with cheers; followed by Colonel Sanborn and lieutenant colonel of the 72nd Volunteers.
Went to the convalescent camp of the 23rd, found Hugh Hughes very low in body and mind. Returned just in time to receive my pay up to the first of March, $13.00 here, $40.00 per allotment. Heard soon the tremendous roar of artillery. Heard last night seven gunboats and two or three transports run the blockade at Vicksburg, burning one transport. Hospital cleared off as fast as possible, expecting to get some wounded in soon. Great activity all around. 2nd Brigade arrived at night.
Friday, 17th—The Sixth Division was reviewed today by General McArthur. We heard some very heavy cannonading last night down toward Vicksburg. The report is that four gunboats and six transports with five hundred thousand rations on board ran the blockade. Another large fleet loaded with troops went down the river today.
Hi all,
Once again, I got behind on some of these diaries, journals and other works from 1863. I thought I had more margin than I did – and neglected to make sure. When I did, I found that a number of the writers had no posts for several weeks.
I’m in the process of correct that and, when I’m caught up, will provide a summary of all of the posts, with links, in chronological order.
In the meantime, I do have one new 1863 writer, Sir Arthur James Fremantle, a British Coldstream officer that recorded his 1863 journey through the southern states in a diary that was subsequently published. This diary started in March 1863.
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Preface
At the outbreak of the American war, in common with many of my countrymen, I felt very indifferent as to which side might win; but if I had any bias, my sympathies were rather in favour of the North, on account of the dislike which an Englishman naturally feels at the idea of Slavery. But soon a sentiment of great admiration for the gallantry and determination of the Southerners, together with the unhappy contrast afforded by the foolish bullying conduct of the Northerners,, caused a complete revulsion in my feelings, and I was unable to repress a strong wish to go to America and see something of this wonderful struggle.
Having successfully accomplished my design, I returned to England, and found amongst all my friends an extreme desire to know the truth of what was going on in the South; for, in consequence of the blockade, the truth can with difficulty be arrived at, as intelligence coming mainly through Northern sources is not believed; and, in fact, nowhere is the ignorance of what is passing in the South more profound than it is in the Northern States.
In consequence of a desire often expressed, I now publish the Diary which I endeavoured, as well as I could, to keep up day by day during my travels throughout the Confederate States. The latter portion of the Diary, which has reference to the battle of Gettysburg, has already appeared in ‘Blackwood’s Magazine;’ and the interest with which it was received has encouraged me to publish the remainder.
I have not attempted to conceal any of the peculiarities or defects of the Southern people. Many persons will doubtless highly disapprove of some of their customs and habits in the wilder portion of the country; but I think no generous man, whatever may be his political opinions, can do otherwise than admire the courage, energy, and patriotism of the whole population, and the skill of its leaders, in this struggle against great odds. And I am also of opinion that many will agree with me in thinking that a people in which all ranks and both sexes display a unanimity and a heroism which can never have been surpassed in the history of the world, is destined, sooner or later, to become a great and independent nation.
2d March 1863.—I left England in the royal mail steamer Atrato, and arrived at St Thomas on the 17th.
22d March. — Anchored at Havana at 6.15 A.M….
23d March. — Left Havana in H. M. S. Immortality, at 11 A.M. Knocked off steam when outside the harbour.
1st April.—Anchored at 8.30 P.M., three miles from the mouth of the Rio Grande, or Rio Bravo del Norte, which is, I believe, its more correct name, in the midst of about seventy merchant vessels.
2d April. — The Texan and I left the Immortalité in her cutter, at 10 A.M., and crossed the bar in fine style.
3d April (Good Friday).—At 8 A.M. I got a military pass to cross the Rio Grande into Mexico, which I presented to the sentry, who then allowed me to cross in the ferry-boat.
4th April (Saturday).—I crossed the river at 9 A.M., and got a carriage at the Mexican side to take my baggage and myself to the Consulate at Matamoros.
5th April (Sunday).—Mr Zorn, or Don Pablo as he is called here, Her Majesty’s acting Vice-Consul, is a quaint and most good-natured little man—a Prussian by birth.
6th April (Monday).—Mr Behnsen and Mr Colville left for Bagdad this morning, in a very swell ambulance drawn by four gay mules.
7th April (Tuesday).—Mr Maloney sent us his carriage to conduct Captain Hancock, Mr Anderson, and myself to Brownsville.
8th April (Wednesday).— Poor Don Pablo was “taken ill” at breakfast, and was obliged to go to bed.
9th April (Thursday).—Captain Hancock and Mr Anderson left for Bagdad in Mr Behnsen’s carriage at noon.
10th April (Friday).—We roused up at daylight, and soon afterwards Colonel Duff paraded some of his best men, to show off the Texan horsemanship, of which they are very proud.
11th April (Saturday). — Mr ——, the Unionist, came to me this morning, and said, in a contrite manner, “I hope, Kernel, that in the fumes of brandy I didn’t say anything offensive last night.”
12th April (Sunday).—I took an affectionate leave of Don Pablo, Behnsen, Oetling, & Co., all of whom were in rather weak health on account of last night’s supper.
13th April (Monday).—I breakfasted with General Bee, and took leave of all my Brownsville friends.
14th April (Tuesday).—When we roused up at 4 A.M. we found our clothes saturated with the heavy dew; also that, notwithstanding our exertions, the hogs had devoured the greatest part of our pet kid, our only fresh meat.
15th April (Wednesday).—I slept well last night in spite of the tics and fleas, and we started at 5.30 P.M. After passing a dead rattlesnake eight feet long, we reached water at 7 A.M.
16th April (Thursday).—Now our troubles commenced.
