22nd. Last night was quite cold, suffered a little. Rash troubles me. Up at sunrise, breakfast of ham, potatoes and coffee. At 6 commenced falling back. No rebels near by. Seem to have gone to Knoxville. Reached Monticello at about 4 P. M., where found rations for ourselves and horses. Took care of Rowena and made our beds. Passed through a miserable country—poor country and people.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
22d June (Monday).—We started without food or corn at 6.30 A.M., and soon became entangled with Pender’s Division on its line of march, which delayed us a good deal. My poor brute of a horse also took this opportunity of throwing two more shoes, which we found it impossible to replace, all the blacksmiths’ shops having been pressed by the troops.
The soldiers of this Division are a remarkably fine body of men, and look quite seasoned and ready for any work. Their clothing is serviceable, so also are their boots; but there is the usual utter absence of uniformity as to colour and shape of their garments and hats: grey of all shades, and brown clothing, with felt hats, predominate. The Confederate troops are now entirely armed with excellent rifles, mostly Enfields. When they first turned out, they were in the habit of wearing numerous revolvers and bowie-knives. General Lee is said to have mildly remarked, “Gentlemen, I think you will find an Enfield rifle, a bayonet, and sixty rounds of ammunition, as much as you can conveniently carry in the way of arms.” They laughed, and thought they knew better; but the six-shooters and bowie-knives gradually disappeared; and now none are to be seen among the infantry.
The artillery horses are in poor condition, and only get 3 lb. of corn[1] a-day. The artillery is of all kinds — Parrots, Napoleons, rifled and smooth bores, all shapes and sizes; most of them bear the letters U.S., showing that they have changed masters.
The colours of the regiments differ from the blue battle-flags I saw with Bragg’s army. They are generally red, with a blue St Andrew’s Cross showing the stars. This pattern is said to have been invented by General Joseph Johnston, as not so liable to be mistaken for the Yankee flag. The new Confederate flag has evidently been adopted from this battle-flag, as it is called. Most of the colours in this Division bear the names Manassas, Fredericksburg, Seven Pines, Harper’s Ferry, Chancellorsville, &c.
I saw no stragglers during the time I was with Pender’s Division; but although the Virginian army certainly does get over a deal of ground, yet they move at a slow dragging pace, and are evidently not good marchers naturally. As Mr Norris observed to me, “Before this war we were a lazy set of devils; our niggers worked for us, and none of us ever dreamt of walking, though we all rode a great deal.”
We reached Berryville (eleven miles) at 9 A.M. The headquarters of General Lee were a few hundred yards beyond this place. Just before getting there, I saw a general officer of handsome appearance, who must, I knew from description, be the Commander-in-chief; but as he was evidently engaged I did not join him, although I gave my letter of introduction to one of his Staff. Shortly afterwards, I presented myself to Mr Lawley, with whom I became immediately great friends.[2] He introduced me to General Chilton, the AdjutantGeneral of the army, to Colonel Cole, the Quartermaster-General, to Major Taylor, Captain Venables, and other officers of General Lee’s Staff; and he suggested, as the headquarters were so busy and crowded, that he and I should ride to Winchester at once, and afterwards ask for hospitality from the less busy Staff of General Longstreet. I was also introduced to Captain Schreibert of the Prussian army, who is a guest sometimes of General Lee and sometimes of General Stuart of the cavalry. He had been present at one of the late severe cavalry skirmishes, which have been of constant occurrence since the sudden advance of this army. This advance has been so admirably timed as to allow of the capture of Winchester, with its Yankee garrison and stores, and at the same time of the seizure of the gaps of the Blue Ridge range. All the officers were speaking with regret of the severe wound received in this skirmish by Major Von Borke, another Prussian, but now in the Confederate States service, and aide-de-camp to Jeb Stuart.
After eating some breakfast, Lawley and I rode ten miles into Winchester. My horse, minus Ms foreshoes, showed signs of great fatigue, but we struggled into Winchester at 5 P.M., where I was fortunate enough to procure shoes for the horse, and, by Lawley’s introduction, admirable quarters for both of us at the house of the hospitable Mrs ——, with whom he had lodged seven months before, and who was charmed to see him. Her two nieces, who are as agreeable as they are good-looking, gave us a miserable picture of the three captivities they have experienced under the Federal commanders Banks, Shields, and Milroy.
The unfortunate town of Winchester seems to have been made a regular shuttlecock of by the contending armies. Stonewall Jackson rescued it once, and last Sunday week his successor, General Ewell, drove out Milroy. The name of Milroy is always associated with that of Butler, and his rule in Winchester seems to have been somewhat similar to that of his illustrious rival in New Orleans. Should either of these two individuals fall alive into the hands of the Confederates, I imagine that Jeff Davis himself would be unable to save their lives, even if he were disposed to do so.
Before leaving Richmond, I heard every one expressing regret that Milroy should have escaped, as the recapture of Winchester seemed to be incomplete without him. More than 4000 of his men were taken in the two forts which overlook the town, and which were carried by assault by a Louisianian brigade with trifling loss. The joy of the unfortunate inhabitants may easily be conceived at this sudden and unexpected relief from their last captivity, which had lasted six months. During the whole of this time they could not legally buy an article of provisions without taking the oath of allegiance, which they magnanimously refused to do. They were unable to hear a word of their male relations or friends, who were all in the Southern army; they were shut up in their houses after 8 P.M., and sometimes deprived of light; part of our kind entertainer’s house was forcibly occupied by a vulgar, ignorant, and low-born Federal officer, ci-devant driver of a street car; and they were constantly subjected to the most humiliating insults, on pretence of searching the house for arms, documents, &c. To my surprise, however, these ladies spoke of the enemy with less violence and rancour than almost any other ladies I had met with during my travels through the whole Southern Confederacy. When I told them so, they replied that they who had seen many men shot down in the streets before their own eyes knew what they were talking about, which other and more excited Southern women did not.
Ewell’s Division is in front and across the Potomac; and before I left headquarters this morning, I saw Longstreet’s corps beginning to follow in the same direction.
[1] Indian corn.
[2] The Honourable F. Lawley, author of the admirable letters from the Southern States which appear in the ‘Times’ newspaper.
Monday, 22d—It is quite still along the lines today and there is no news of importance. Some troops were sent out in the rear today, and our regiment received orders to be ready to march at any time. It is thought that Johnston is trying to break the siege by attempting to make a move from the Big Black river, and by Pemberton’s striking our lines at the same time and place, they hope to effect a union and escape. But General Grant is leaving nothing open. He has ordered the felling of large trees across the highways to prevent the moving of their artillery.
June 22.—Three steamers laden with military stores, and convoyed by two Union gunboats, were fired into by rebels at Cypress Bend, on the Mississippi River, and a number of persons were killed and wounded. The rebels were finally driven off by the gunboats.—The correspondence between James M. Mason, the rebel commissioner at London, and Moncure D. Conway, was made public.—The rebels were driven out of Cumberland, Md., by the National forces under General B. F. Kelley. — The schooners Marengo and Florence, and the fishing-vessels Elizabeth Ann Thomas, Rufus Choate, and Ripple, were captured by the confederate privateer Tacony.—At Acquia Creek, Va., the quartermaster’s buildings, left standing by the Union troops on the evacuation of that place, were burned by the rebels.—Mr. Vallandigham, who was banished to the Southern States for a stated period, arrived at Bermuda in the confederate steamer Lady Davis, from Wilmington. It was reported that Mr. Vallandigham was on his way to Canada, and there to await coming events.—Bermuda Royal Gazette, June 23.
—The case of the seizure of the suspected gunboat Alexandra, at Liverpool, England, was announced in the Court of the Queen’s Bench at London, before Chief Baron Pollock.—(See Supplement, Vol. II.)
Before Vicksburg, Monday, June 22. Quiet, dull day. Very little firing by artillery. Ammunition, scarce. Eben Davis of 20th Iowa visited us in the afternoon. Report says fighting on Black River with Johnston. Ambulance gone back. 3rd Brigade of our Division under marching orders. Wrote two letters which occupied most of my time.
June 22 — The enemy that drove us so persistently yesterday fell back last night, and this morning we started in their pursuit. We moved toward Middleburg.
We marched down toward Upperville a mile, then waited in the road until about ten o’clock, when we advanced rapidly toward the retreating foe. We passed through Upperville and went as far as Middleburg. Near Middleburg we shelled a while with a Yankee battery, but they still kept falling back and we gave up the pursuit and moved back about four miles to Rector’s Crossroads and camped. Middleburg in Loudoun County is a beautiful little town, a row of locust trees on each side of Main Street extending from one end of town to the other.
June 22, Monday. The rumors yesterday of a fight near Aldie are fully confirmed, but as yet no definite information. It is not always pleasant to go to the War Department to have news verified, even if they have the facts. Often there is unaccountable, and I think inexcusable, want of correct information at Army Headquarters; if there is a reverse, or if there is want of information in relation to rumors that reach us, there is always prevarication and sometimes a sullen reserve. Generally I have found Stanton affable and communicative when alone, but not always, especially if there has been disaster or unpleasant news. Halleck is worse. There has never been intimacy between him and me; probably there never will be. I have not called over to-day, for those who have, and are entitled to know what was doing, have been unsuccessful or met with an unpleasant rebuff.
Monday June 22nd 1863
I have hardly fulfilld my purpose of noting down “important events as they occur” for many important events have occured since my last writing. No very important Battle has been fought by the “Army of the Potomac” with the exception of that while Hooker was across the Rappahannock about the first of May. Vicksburg has not yet been captured, but Genl Grant has it closely invested and I think there is no doubt of its capture in a very few days. Genl Banks is also investing Port Hudson with a like prospect of success. There has been much hard fighting at both places and near them. Genl Rosecrantz has remained quiet at Murfreesborogh Tenn. the past two months watching Genl Bragg. For the past few days it has been quite exciting times here as the Rebels are again in Maryland and Pennsylvania in force. They crossed above Harpers Ferry. They have been to Chambersburgh P.a. and now hold some points in that State and Frederick City, and other places in the Western portion of Maryland. Hookers and Lees armies have been near each other for the past week not far from the old Bull Run Battle ground. There has been much heavy skirmishing betwen the Cavalry the past few days and it is supposed that there was a sharp fight yesterday some twenty miles from here in the direction of Bull Run, as heavy guns were heard for some hours in quick succession. A general Battle is expected to occur very soon. They (or rather) we are fortifying Harrisburg P.a. and at Baltimore the Streets are Barricaded and prepared for cavalry “raids.” The sick and wounded from the Army of the Potomac were all sent up here when the Army moved from Falmouth, some seven thousand in number filling the Hospitals. But they are being sent North rapidly. Chas goes every day with his train coming back nights. He still runs to Phila. Frank has been here and stayed some weeks. He came in April and returned to Waterloo the forepart of this month, he writes that he was married to Miss Stiles on the 16th Inst. I intend to make a visit home by the first of Agust. My health is good but I am falling off in weight some as I usualy do in the summer. I am rooming at Mr Bartletts 379 11 St betn K & L Streets. I Board at Doct Munsons, my old Boarding place. I will endeavor to note down events oftener in future and the “events” are likely to take place.
June 22—Left this morning at 8 o’clock, got to Middleburg, Pa., at11, passed through it, and got to Green Castle at half past one. Eleven miles to-day. The people seemed downhearted, and showed their hatred to us by their glum looks and silence, and I am willing to swear that no prayers will be offered in this town for us poor, ragged rebels.
JUNE 22D.—Johnston is getting lively again, and beginning to kick up a dust in the rear; so we have orders to move tonight, with three days’ cooked rations. One regiment from each brigade in Logan‘s division constitute our expedition, which, I think, will find him, and if we get sight of his army, somebody will be likely to get hurt.
It is now just a month since we made the charge on the enemy’s line which proved to us so disastrous, and our cannon now are too close to act on Fort Hill, so a wooden gun has been made, which, charged with a small amount of powder, throws the shell inside the fort—a new device, but working well, for it can drop its missile where the cannon cannot.
We have eaten pretty well in camp to-day, and cooked everything we had on hand, since we may not get so good an opportunity again upon the march. When hard tack was first issued there was but one way to eat it, and that was dry, just as it reached us. Practice, however, taught us to prepare a variety of dishes from it. The most palatable way to dispose of hard tack, to my taste, is to pulverize, then soak over night, and fry for breakfast as batter-cakes. Another good way is to soak whole, and then fry; and still another is to soak a little, then lay it by the fire and let grease drop on it from toasted meat, held to the fire on a pointed stick. This latter is the most common way on a march. Sometimes the tack is very hard indeed by the time it reaches us, and it requires some knack to break it. I have frequently seen boys break it over their knees. Just raise your foot up so as to bring the bent knee handy, and then fetch your hard tack down on it with your right hand, with all the force you can spare, and, if not too tough, you may break it in two. But one poor fellow I saw was completely exhausted trying to break a hard tack, and after resorting to all the devices he could think of, finally accomplished it by dropping on it a 12-pound shell. The objection to that plan was, however, that the fellow could hardly find his hard tack afterward.
At midnight we crept out of camp unobserved—everything being quiet except now and then a shot on picket line.
