July 2—Our division was in reserve until dark, but our regiment was supporting a battery all day. We lost several killed and wounded, although we had no chance to fire—only lay by a battery of artillery and be shot at. The caisson of the battery we were supporting was blown up and we got a big good sprinkling of the wood from it. Just at dark we were sent to the front under terrible cannonading. Still, it was certainly a beautiful sight. It being dark, we could see the cannon vomit forth fire. Our company had to cross a rail fence. It gave way and several of our boys were hurt by others walking over them. We laid down here a short time, in fact no longer than 10 minutes, when I positively fell asleep. The cannonading did not disturb me. One of the boys shook me and told me Katz was wounded by a piece of a shell striking him on the side, and he was sent to the rear. We went on to the Baltimore Turnpike until 3 in the morning of the 3d.
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Thursday, 2d.-—Pretty quiet to-day; think the rations are about out, as we have been getting two small biscuits and a pint of pea soup for a day’s rations for several days; no meat, and pea-bread seems to be out. Various rumors. Tom Meek, Company E, wounded; Jones Greene died of sickness; think the siege of Vicksburg is very nearly at an end.
Thursday, July 2nd—Came on to Deckerd this morning. Prom there took wrong road and came up Cumberland Mountain to the University with Hardee’s Corps. Found there that we had taken the wrong road. John went down to the house to get some information and I lost him. I came down to the railroad and staid all night. Polk’s Corps crossing all night.
July 2 — Firing was kept up all night from the mortar batteries on the opposite side of the river. Sharp shooters as usual this morning. The evening passed off tolerably quiet. WRC
by John Beauchamp Jones
JULY 2D.—The President is unwell again; to what extent I have not learned. But the Vice-President is ready, no doubt, to take his place in the event of a fatal result; and some would rejoice at it. Such is the mutability of political affairs!
The Attorney-General Watts, being referred to, sends in a written opinion that foreigners sojourning here, under the protection of the Confederate States, are liable to military duty, in defense of their homes, against any government but the one to which they claim to owe allegiance. This I sent in to the Secretary of War, and I hope he will act on it; but the Assistant Secretary and Mr. Benjamin were busy to-day—perhaps combating the Attorney-General’s opinion. Will Mr. Seddon have the nerve to act? It is a trying time, and every man is needed for defense.
The enemy were drawn up in line of battle this morning below the fortifications. The Department Guard (my son Custis among them) were ordered out, and marched away; and so with the second class militia. A battle is looked for to-morrow; and there has been skirmishing to-day. A dispatch from Hanover Court House says the enemy is approaching likewise from the north in large force—and 15 guns. This is his great blunder. He cannot take Richmond, nor draw back Lee, and the detachment of so many of his men may endanger Baltimore and Washington, and perhaps Philadelphia.
July 2.—The Richmond Whig of this date contained the following: “If it be true that the confederate forces occupy Harrisburgh, the attention of the commanding general will no doubt be directed to the coal-fields, which lie within forty or fifty miles of that city. His first aim will be to cut all the railroad connections, and thus put a stop to the transportation of fuel. His next will be to destroy the most costly and not easily replaced machinery of the pits. Whether he would stop at this is questionable. He might set fire to the pits, withdraw the forces sent out on this special duty, and leave the heart of Pennsylvania on fire, never to be quenched until a river is turned into the pits, or the vast supply of coal is reduced to ashes. The anthracite coal is found in large quantities in no other part of the world but Pennsylvania. Enormous quantities are used in the United States navy, the countless workshops and manufactories of the North, in the river boats, and even upon locomotives. It cannot well be replaced by any other fuel. The bituminous coal which is found near Pittsburgh would not answer the purpose, even if it would bear the cost of transportation. Our troops already hold the railroads and canals leading from the Cumberland coal-fields. All that is needed is to seize the anthracite fields, destroy the roads and the machinery of the pits, set fire to the mines, and leave them. Northern industry will thus be paralyzed at a single blow.
“These views may have induced General Lee to move upon Harrisburgh. We doubt whether he would fire the mines, but the destruction of the Mauch Chunk Railroad and pit implements would be as legitimate as blowing up tunnels and aqueducts or burning bridges. Of one thing we may be sure, that whatever is best to be done will be done by General Lee, and if he thinks fit to destroy the Pennsylvania mines they will certainly bo destroyed. Should he leave them untouched, it will be for the best of reasons. But it is impossible not to indulge the hope that he will avail himself of the tremendous power which the possession of the coal-flelds, even temporarily, would confer.”
—A skirmish occurred near Bottom’s Bridge, Va., in which Sergeant Barnett, of company C, Fifth Pennsylvania cavalry, was killed. There were no other casualties. The Fifth Pennsylvania captured twenty-five prisoners. — The United States steamer Maumee was launched at Brooklyn, N. Y.
—General Neal Dow was captured by a party of rebel scouts at a private residence near Clinton, La., and sent to Richmond, Va.—The rebel blockade-runner Britannia was captured by the National gunboat Santiago de Cuba.—At Baltimore, Md., the following order was issued by the General Commanding :
“Until further orders, the citizens of Baltimore city and county are prohibited from keeping arms in their houses unless enrolled in volunteer companies for the defence of their homes.” The dwellings of citizens were visited by the Provost-Marshal and the police, for arms, in accordance with this order.
—General William Jackson, with one thousand seven hundred men, and two pieces of artillery, attacked the Union troops at Beverly, Va., but was repulsed and routed with some loss. The rebels expected to make an easy prize of the garrison, which contained the Tenth Virginia infantry, Captain Ewing’s battery, and one company of cavalry, under the command of Colonel Harris, of the Tenth Virginia, who was ordered by General Averill to hold the place until he could reach him with reinforcements, which he did ; but before their arrival, the rebels were repulsed and the Nationals were in pursuit.—The battle of Gettysburgh was resumed at early daylight this morning.—(Docs. 20 and 118.)
—The rebel Impressment Commissioners of the several States, met in convention at Atlanta, Ga., to-day. Virginia, North-Carolina, and Florida were not represented, and the other States only partially. Consequently the Convention adjourned to the twenty-seventh instant for a full attendance.
—A picked force of infantry, artillery, and cavalry, under General Foster in person, left Newbern, N. C., on an expedition inland.—The battle of Cabin Creek, Indian Territory, ended on this day.—(Doc. 30.)
