Morris Island, South Carolina. U.S. Fleet offshore – July or August 1863; from photographs by Philip Haas and Washington Peale.
Library of Congress image.
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Tuesday, 14th.—Brigade started at daylight. No one allowed to go in wagons to-day. J. B. Elrod and myself left behind, not able to march, he having a very bad leg and I given out in my hips. We made an agreement that we would not leave each other, and would move on as best we could.
Dark found us at Cooper’s Wells, only four miles from Raymond. Heavy cannonading towards Jackson.
14th.—To-day spent in the hospital; a number of wounded there from the fatal field of Gettysburg. They are not severely wounded, or they could not have been brought so far. Port Hudson has fallen! It could not be retained after losing Vicksburg. General Lee’s army is near Hagerstown. Some of the casualties of the Gettysburg fight which have reached me are very distressing. The death of James Maupin, of the University of Virginia—so young, so gentle, so brave! He fell at his gun, as member of the Second Howitzers of Richmond. My heart goes out in warmest sympathy for his parents and devoted grandmother. Colonel James Marshall, of Fauquier, has fallen. He is yet another of those dear ones over whose youth we so fondly watched. Yet another was Westwood McCreery, formerly of Richmond. Another was Valentine Southall. They all went with bright hope, remembering that every blow that was struck was for their own South. Alas! alas! the South now weeps some of her bravest sons. But, trying as it is to record the death of those dear boys, it is harder still to speak of those of our own house and blood. Lieutenant B. H. McGuire, our nephew, the bright, fairhaired boy, from whom we parted last summer at Lynchburg as he went on his way to the field, full of buoyancy and hope, is among the dead at Gettysburg. Also, Captain Austin Brockenbrough, of Essex County. Virginia had no son to whom a brighter future opened. His talents, his education, his social qualities, his affectionate sympathy with all around him, are all laid low. Oh, may God be with those of whose life they seemed a part! It is hard to think of so many of our warm-hearted, whole-souled, brave, ardent Southern youths, now sleeping beneath the cold clods of Pennsylvania. We can only hope that the day is not far distant when we may bring their dear bodies back to their native soil.
July 14 — We marched out at 5 o’clock a.m. and came Via Raymond to Coopers Wells — distance 13 1/2 miles. Lieut. Pyott, J.H.C. Pyott and Thomas Roddy were left at Raymond in the hospital sick. WRC
Civil War induction officer with lottery box; circa 1863; photographic print : sixth-plate tintype; 9.2 x 8 cm. (case); Ambrotype/Tintype photograph filing series (Library of Congress)
Library of Congress image.
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Civil War Portrait 039
July 14th, 1863.—Moved yesterday into a house I call “Fair Rosamond’s bower” because it would take a clue of thread to go through it without getting lost. One room has five doors opening into the house, and no windows. The stairs are like ladders, and the colonel’s contraband valet won’t risk his neck taking down water, but pours it through the windows on people’s heads. We shan’t stay in it. Men are at work closing up the caves; they had become hiding-places for trash. Vicksburg is now like one vast hospital—every one is getting sick or is sick. My cook was taken to-day with bilious fever, and nothing but will keeps me up.
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Note: To protect Mrs. Miller’s job as a teacher in New Orleans, the diary was published anonymously, edited by G. W. Cable, names were changed and initials were often used instead of full names — and even the initials differed from the real person’s initials.Headquarters 1st Army Corps,
Camp near Williamsport, July 14.
Dear Hannah, — Johnny Reb has got away from us again, I am sorry to say. They left our front last night, and crossed the river in safety. It is too bad, but I don’t well see how it could have been helped, as it would have been utterly useless for us to have attacked their position with the few men we had. I suppose now that we shall wait here until we get our conscripts, and then move on them again, and have another campaign in that godforsaken, desolated country of Virginia. It is rather discouraging, but I think we ought to be satisfied with having driven them successfully out of Pennsylvania. General Meade has certainly done all that a man could do with the few men under his command. The enemy occupied a strong natural position here, made almost impregnable to our small force by fortifications.
Without disparaging General Meade, one can’t drawing a parallel between McClellan’s campaign at Antietam last year, and this present one. In both of them we whipped the enemy, but he succeeded in crossing the river safely. It seems to me that God has so ordered it that everything should turn out to show that General Geo. B. McClellan was right in his campaigns, and that he acted as every true soldier would act.
I am an acting aide for General Newton, and shall probably remain with him. All the other aides report to the Adjutant-General of the Army.
Please direct your letters to me, as before, to headquarters 1st Army Corps. . . .
July 14.— Went to bed last night wondering whether I should not be waked up by shells, etc., in the morning. We heard none, however, and soon found out that the enemy had evacuated. All the corps were put in motion for Williamsport. I went through Hagerstown and saw lots of pretty females. I met Mrs. Porter there, also. Our corps went on to within a mile of Williamsport, where we established our headquarters at a house owned by Mr. Findlay.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JULY 14TH.—To-day we have tidings of the fall of Port Hudson, on the Mississippi River, our last stronghold there. I suppose some 10,000 or 12,000 of our men had to surrender, unconditionally. Thus the army of Gen. Pemberton, first and last, some 50,000 strong, has been completely destroyed. There is sadness and gloom throughout the land!
The enemy are established on MorrisIsland, and the fate of Charleston is in doubt.
We have nothing authentic from Gen. Lee; but long trains of the slightly wounded arrived yesterday and to-day.
It has been raining, almost every day, for nearly two weeks.
The President is quite amiable now. The newspaper editors can find easy access, and he welcomes them with smiles.
A letter was received to-day from a Major Jones, saying he was authorized to state that the Messrs. engine-makers in Philadelphia, were willing to remove their machinery to the South, being Southern men. The President indorsed that authority might be given for them to come, etc.
Gen. Beauregard writes for a certain person here skilled in the management of torpedoes—but Secretary Mallory says the enemy’s gun-boats are in the James River, and he cannot be sent away. I hope both cities may not fall I
A heavy thunder-storm, accompanied with a deluging rain, prevails this afternoon at 5½ o’clock P.M.
Vicksburg, Tuesday, July 14. All is quiet and still, everybody fixed up comfortably, and an old Welsh farmer’s oven built, so we have soft bread, a great luxury. Trains run regularly to Big Black, taking troops and provisions. Third Brigade of our Division gone back to the rear. A few prisoners came in with the evening train. All is life on the river, crowded with boats, the town swarming with sutlers.
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