Monday, 22nd—All quiet.
Saturday, June 22, 2013
June 22d. Firing of musketry and artillery the whole forenoon of this day, in rear of Port Hudson. At nine P. M. steamer Laurel Hill arrived from Natchez.
June 22. — Went over to General Howard’s this morning, and gave him a dispatch from General Reynolds. Left here at 10.36 and arrived there at 11.20, not meeting any bushwhackers on the way. The general had a dispatch this evening from General Meade, saying that he had laid a trap to catch Mosby, but that M. with 30 men drove our 40 cavalry and then escaped from 30 infantry. Tried to buy me some trousers this afternoon, but did not succeed. Weather cool and pleasant. Saw Colonel Asmussen, whom I met once at Stafford Court House, at General Howard’s headquarters.
June 22 — At 12 o’clock last night Co. B and G. and one Co. of 57 Ga. was ordered outside of our entrenchments to attack and drive the enemy from the ditches which was near our picket post. We succeeded in driving them from their first ditch. But we were forced by over whelming numbers to fallback as their ditch did not give us any protection from the enemies fire; which we did in good order. Lieut. Crookshanks was killed; Sargeant Denton and Gilbert Murray was wounded of Co. G -Capt. Cawood, Sargent Miller and Wm. Brady of Co. B was wounded. One of the Ga. was killed and two wounded. It was with great reluctance that I went into it, but I said nothing. I saw it could not profit us anything for we could not hold it when taken. I thank God that we escaped as well as what we did. Sharp shooting going on as usual today. Oh Lord my heavenly Master deliver us from this unhappy state.Hear my prayer Oh! God and save us from the destruction of our enemies. W.R.C.
Harry, the innocent contraband.
Drawing by Edwin Forbes; June 22, 1863.
Library of Congress image.
__________
Note – This image has been digitally adjusted for one or more of the following:
- fade correction,
- color, contrast, and/or saturation enhancement
- selected spot and/or scratch removal.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JUNE 22D.—To-day I saw the memorandum of Mr. Ould, of the conversation held with Mr. Vallandigham, for file in the archives. He says if we can only hold out this year that the peace party of the North would sweep the Lincoln dynasty out of political existence. He seems to have thought that our cause was sinking, and feared we would submit, which would, of course, be ruinous to his party! But he advises strongly against any invasion of Pennsylvania, for that would unite all parties at the North, and so strengthen Lincoln’s hands that he would be able to crush all opposition, and trample upon the constitutional rights of the people.
Mr. V. said nothing to indicate that either he or the party had any other idea than that the Union would be reconstructed under Democratic rule. The President indorsed, with his own pen, on this document, that, in regard to invasion of the North, experience proved the contrary of what Mr. V. asserted. But Mr. V. is for restoring the Union, amicably, of course, and if it cannot be so done, then possibly he is in favor of recognizing our independence. He says any reconstruction which is not voluntary on our part, would soon be followed by another separation, and a worse war than the present one.
The President received a dispatch to-day from Gen. Johnston, stating that Lt.-Gen. Kirby Smith had taken Milliken’s Bend. This is important, for it interferes with Grant’s communications.
Gov. Shorter writes that a company near Montgomery, Ala., have invented a mode of manufacturing cotton and woolen hand-cards, themselves making the steel and wire, and in a few weeks will be turning out from 800 to 1000 pairs of cards per week This will be a great convenience to the people.
Gen. Whiting writes that the river at Wilmington is so filled with the ships of private blockade-runners that the defense of the harbor is interfered with. These steamers are mostly filled with Yankee goods, for which they take them cotton, in the teeth of the law. He pronounces this business most execrable, as well as injurious to the cause. He desires the [click to continue…]
Monday, 22d.—Still unwell; various reports about Johnston, but don’t think any of them are reliable.
