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

Friday, May 31, 2013

Post image for An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones.

An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones.

May 31, 2013

An Artilleryman's Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones, 6th Battery, Wisconsin Artillery.

Before Vicksburg, Sunday, May 31. Awoke by the side of my team when the sun was high. Went up the hill to see the pieces, but was timely warned by a “whist” by my ear to keep low, as we were within 300 yards of the enemy’s fort, and at the first indication of a man’s head a leaden messenger was sent to him, and safety only existed in keeping out of sight by lying low. Nelson brought our breakfast from camp. Unharnessed our horses and went to water back to our old watering place, exposed to the fire of the sharp-shooters. One of our horses was struck in the neck.

Very warm. Built a shade and lay down to sweat and sleep. At 3 P. M. the rebs opened a fire with a piece of artillery which was returned by a dozen. One of the 10th Iowa killed in rifle pit by our piece.

Post image for Cruise of the U.S. Flag-Ship Hartford. – From the Personal Journal of Wm. C. Holton.

Cruise of the U.S. Flag-Ship Hartford. – From the Personal Journal of Wm. C. Holton.

May 31, 2013

Cruise of the U.S. Flag-Ship Hartford–Wm. C. Holton

May 31st. At three A. M., mortar vessels below still firing upon the rebel batteries at Port Hudson; at 10 o’clock called all hands to muster on the quarter-deck, and performed Divine service; nothing of importance occurred during the remainder of this day. The weather continues pleasant, and occasional guns were heard at Port Hudson and in rear of same.

 

Post image for Civil War Diary of William Raleigh Clack, defending Vicksburg.

Civil War Diary of William Raleigh Clack, defending Vicksburg.

May 31, 2013

Civil War Diary kept by W. R. Clack, Co. B, 43rd Regiment, Tennessee Volunteers.

May 31 — 3 o’clock a.m. — heavy cannonading going on along our line on the left. 4 o’clock a.m. — Gun boat shelling us. One man belonging to the battery was wounded last night by a shell from the mortar. 6 o’clock a.m. — All appears quiet on our lines at this hour. The Yankees threw shells at us occasionally all day. W.R.C.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

May 31, 2013

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

May 31.—A battle occurred in Lincoln County, Mo., between a large body of guerrillas, and the enrolled militia of the county, resulting in the defeat of the latter, with a loss of ten men.—The National gunboat Alert, lying at the navy-yard at Norfolk, Va., took fire this morning. The fire soon reaching her magazine, a shell exploded, which went through her bottom, and she sank immediately. — A cavalry reconnoissance was made from Somerset, Ky., to within four miles of Monticello, during which, sixteen rebels, with their arms and horses, were captured.

—A force of Union cavalry, under the command of Colonel F. M. Cornyn, Tenth Missouri cavalry, returned to Corinth, Miss., after the successful raid into Alabama. They were absent five days, during which time, they had a fight (May twenty-seventh) with a body of rebel guerrillas, under Colonel Roddy, at Florence, Ala., routing them with considerable loss; they destroyed seven cotton factories, with all their contents, valued at one million five hundred thousand dollars; a number of steam flour-mills and sawmills, a number of blacksmiths’ shops, a large number of wagons, an immense quantity of powder, and other ammunition, and a large quantity of English-manufactured arms. The bridge at Florence, and a number of houses were burned, and the Nationals returned with six hundred head of horses, mules, and oxen, one hundred prisoners, and a large number of negroes.

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

May 31, 2013

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

by John Beauchamp Jones

MAY 31ST.—The commissioners, appointed for the purpose, have agreed upon the following schedule of prices for the State of Virginia, under the recent impressment act of Congress; and if a large amount of suppliess be furnished at these prices—which are fifty, sometimes one hundred per cent. lower than the rates private individuals are paying—it will be good proof that all patriotism is not yet extinct :

” Wheat, white, per bushel of 60 pounds, $1.50; flour, superfine, per barrel of 196 pounds, $22.50; corn, white, per bushel of 56 pounds, $4; unshelled corn, white, per bushel of 56 pounds, $3.95; corn-meal, per bushel of 50 pounds, $1.20; rye, per bushel of 56 pounds, $3.20; cleaned oats, per bushel of 32 pounds, $2; wheat-bran, per bushel of 17 pounds, 50 cents; shorts, per bushel of 22 pounds, 70 cents; brown stuff, per bushel of 28 pounds, 90 cents; ship stuff, per bushel of 37 pounds, $1.40; bacon, hoground, per pound, $1; salt pork, per pound, $1 ; lard, per pound, $ ; horses, first class, artillery, etc., average price per head, $350; wool, per pound, $3; peas, per bushel of 60 pounds, $4; beans, per bushel of 69 pounds, $4; potatoes, Irish, per bushel of 69 pounds, $4; potatoes, sweet, per bushel of 69 pounds, $5; onions, per bushel of 60 pounds, $5; dried peaches, peeled, per bushel of 38 pounds, $8; dried peaches, unpeeled, per bushel of 38 pounds, $4.50; dried apples, peeled, per bushel of 28 pounds, $3.”

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