Picket Duty.
April 5. I fear I was not appreciated on the fort, as I was superseded after my first day’s effort and have since been assigned to other duty; but I nobly served my country, and I know that history will do me justice. Yesterday I was out in the country among the wild flowers. I went out with a picket guard, about three miles in a southeasterly direction, to what is called Mills cross-roads, relieving the old picket. After spreading our blankets on the grass beside the fence, we entered vigorously on our duty of waiting and watching for the rebel Gen. Garnett, and listening to the sweet warbling of the singing birds. There is nothing in picket duty that stirs up a great amount of enthusiasm, but still it is a good steady business, with occasionally a little ray of excitement, as when a darky comes along and one has to examine his pass.
About the middle of the afternoon, we heard the approach of horses, and looking up the road, saw two ladies coming at a swift gallop towards us. My first impulse was to charge cavalry, but I refrained from doing so, as I saw they were not enemies. As they came up, I recognized Mesdames Bartholomew and Cliffton. I turned out the guard and extended to them the customary civilities. They said they were out for an afternoon’s ride and supposed it was as far as they could go in that direction. I told them they might go farther if they wished, and I should be pleased to furnish them an escort, only it would weaken my lines. They laughed and thanked me for my gallantry, but thought they had better not venture farther. I inquired if there were any news stirring in town, and they answered, “All quiet on the Roanoke.” They then bade us good afternoon and started on the retreat. There is no church service today; all hands are busy at work on the fort, and things are beginning to look as though war was liable to break out at almost any time.
by John Beauchamp Jones
APRIL 5TH.—Snow fell all night, and a depth of several inches covers the earth this morning. It will soon melt, however, as it is now raining. The Northern invaders who anticipate a pleasant sojourn during the winter and spring in this climate, have been very disagreeably disappointed in these expectations.
A surgeon was arrested yesterday for saying there was “a power behind the throne greater than the throne.” Upon being asked by the mayor what power he alluded to, he answered “the people.” He was released.
April 5.—The ship Louisa Hatch was captured and burned by the rebel privateer Alabama, in latitude 3° 30′, longitude 26° 25′. — Eight thousand National troops left Newbern, N. C, by the way of the Neuse River, to reenforce General Foster, who was at Washington, surrounded by the rebels, but meeting a superior force of the enemy, they returned to Newborn.—An expedition, consisting of infantry and cavalry, under the command of General Steele, met a small body of rebels at a bridge over the Black Bayou, Miss., with whom they had a skirmish. The rebels were driven across the bayou, when they burned the bridge and retreated. The Union troops rebuilt the bridge, and proceeded on the march. oward Yazoo City.
—To-day the Union gunboats before Washington, N. C, shelled the rebel batteries at Hill’s Point for two hours, but without being able to reduce them.—Boston Traveller.
April 4th. The day has been spent in making arrangements to repel any attack that might be advanced by the enemy at night, by way of putting up boarding nettings, &c. It is rumored that the enemy intends boarding our ship with a large force; if such an attempt should be made, they will find that they have something more than the Harriet Lane to deal with. If the attempt is made, it is my humble opinion that it will only be the means of increasing our present fleet to a somewhat larger number than what it is at present. This afternoon, the Albatross steamed up the river a few miles, reconnoitering; after being absent three or four hours, returned with the cheering intelligence that fresh beef was the order of the day. We were provided with an allowance of fresh pork, beef, chickens, &c., which was very acceptable to all hands. Nothing further has occurred worthy of note. The day has been very warm.
April 4th.—Started back to camp 4 P. M. Regiment had moved three miles north of town, on Chickasaw Bayou.
4th. Went up for the bread and beef. Visited the barber shop. Sleeked up. Examined our new arms. Like them well. We ought to be able to accomplish something with them. At school in the evening. A. B. has telegraphed for Melissa. Hope she can come tonight. He goes to town. Beat and was beaten one game of chess.
April 4, Saturday. Had a message from the President, who wished to see me and also Assistant Secretary Fox. Found the matter in hand to be the Prussian adventurer Sybert, who was anxious his vessel should be taken into the naval service. The President said Seward was extremely anxious this should be done and had sent Sybert to him. I inquired if he had seen Sybert. He replied that he had and that the man was now in the audience room. He learned from Seward and Sybert that he (Sybert) had a vessel of one hundred tons into which he would put a screw, if authorized, would go on blockade, and would do more than the whole squadron of naval vessels. I asked the President if he gave credit to the promises of this man, whom Mr. Seward had sent to me as coming from responsible parties, though I knew none of them, had seen or heard of none but this adventurer himself. [I told him] that he had first applied to me and I would not trust or be troubled with him after a slight examination, but that I had sent him to Seward, who was then pushing forward his regulations for letters of marque, to which he knew I was opposed; and the result was Mr. Seward wanted me to take his first case, and had asked that the Assistant Secretary, Fox, should be present with Sybert. After a little further conversation, the President, instead of sending Sybert back to Seward, said he would turn him over to the Navy Department to be disposed of. This ends Mr. Seward’s first application, and probably it will be the last. Knowing my views, he had gone to the President with his protégé, and knowing my views but in the hope he might have some encouragement from Fox, had requested the President to consult with Fox as well as myself. I know not that he requested me to be excluded on account of my opposition, but he requested that the Assistant Secretary should be consulted. And Fox assures me he has never swerved from my views on this subject. It is a specimen of Seward’s management.
On the Yazoo, Saturday, April 4. Fine day. Boys busy bathing, washing, changing etc. in general, which was very necessary after thirteen days confinement. 10 A. M. crossed the river to the 28th Wisconsin Regiment, Ross’s Division. Found an old acquaintance John Williams of Ixonia. First Section went to the front in view of the fort, threw in a few shells and returned. 7 P. M. ordered to harness up as soon as possible with no unnecessary noise, which was soon done, and in half an hour the center Section, much to their dissatisfaction, were reloading on the “Jesse K. Bell.” All loaded by midnight, and each one shifted the best he could for a short rest. Evie rather unwell.
Headquarters Engineer Brigade,
Near Falmouth, Va., April 4, 1863.
Dear Father, — I received a note from you in regard to George yesterday. . . .
I don’t know how soon we shall move. They are granting furloughs again, on the ground that the roads are bad. These high winds that we are having, however, are drying the roads wonderfully fast. I went out yesterday on the Warrenton road, about to be an important one, I judge, and found it very bad. The mud movement under Burnside cut it up so much that it will be some time before it is decent again. I was going out of the lines on business, but had so much trouble with the pickets that it got too late to go. The President and his wife arc coming down this afternoon, to review the troops. The review will come off to-morrow.
Channing Clapp of the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry will probably be appointed as our adjutant-general. He is a very nice fellow, and will make a pleasant addition to our staff. I am still acting as such.
We have been fixing up our tents and camp-ground the last few days. It looks quite nicely here now. The whole camp is surrounded with a pine hedge, about ten feet high, and the interior is nicely gravelled. . . .
I send you an old copy of the countersigns. A list like the enclosed is sent out every week to the headquarters of each corps.
April 4. — Lieutenant Perkins returned to-day from Washington. He could not get my money, so that I shall be obliged to go to Washington for it myself. The day has been cold and disagreeable, and promised a storm, which began about nightfall. It snowed quite fast, and blew a very heavy gale. No signs of an immediate move. Report says the President and Cabinet will be down tomorrow to see a review of the whole army.
