Sunday, 19th—Company E with three other companies, one from each regiment, went out on picket this morning. Our company is stationed on the south side of a vacant field. Off to the north on the other side of the field and just in the edge of the timber on high ground, we can see the rebel cavalry, but they are careful to keep their distance. We have fine times on picket now, with little danger of being attacked and plenty of fruit to eat. We have green corn, too, and the fields nearby are being pretty well picked over. One of the boys came in with a hundred ears of corn. He roasted fifteen of them in the campfire ashes, ate all of them, and declared that he could eat two or three more.
Friday, July 19, 2013
July 19.—At Charleston, S. C., a large side-wheel steamer, endeavoring to run into the harbor, was chased by the Canandaigua, and other outside blockaders, and finally driven upon the shoals by Commander George W. Powers, of the Kaatskill, then anchored abreast of Fort Wagner, on picket-duty. The steamer was fired by her crew, and was totally destroyed. —Rear-Admiral Dahlgren’s Report.
—Greenville and Sparta, N. C., were visited by the National forces, under the command of Brigadier-General Potter, and every thing at those places belonging to the rebel government destroyed.—(Doc. 101.)
—James B. Fry, Provost-Marshal General, issued the following circular: “Existing laws make a distinction in the matter of pay, bounties, or other allowances, between soldiers of African descent and other soldiers in the service of the United States. Men of African descent can only be accepted as substitutes for each other, under the Enrolment Act.”—The battle of Buffington Island, Ohio, was fought this day.—(Doc. 47.)
—At Cleveland, Ohio, Bishop Rappe preached a sermon in the cathedral, on the subject of riots in New-York. He was unsparing in bitter denunciation of the mob that had committed such outrages. He warned his hearers against any act that tended in any degree to provoke like scenes there. He said that the laws must be obeyed, and the conscription law quietly submitted to among the rest He urged the members of his flock to attend strictly to their business, and not even to discuss the question of the draft. If any of them were drafted, and could not procure exemption, they must do their duty to the country as soldiers. If the drafted man was poor, and no provision had been made by the city or county for the relief of his family, they should be cared for by the Church.
He warned them not to ill-treat the colored people. A colored man had as much right to live and to labor for his living as a white man had, and their right must be respected. It was cowardly and sinful to molest these people, because their skin was of a different color.
He also spoke against the practice of demanding extortionate wages. It was wrong and wicked to extort from employers more than the fair price of their labor.
Finally, he warned them not to provoke a breach of peace in any manner, and said that he had pledged his word, as a Catholic Bishop, to the citizens of Cleveland, that there should be no disturbance from the Catholic Irish, and he looked to them that his pledge should not be broken.
July 19th. At seven A. M., steamer Albatross came up the river, with the gunboat Sciota in tow, the latter being out of repair; at nine thirty this morning, inspected crew and ship, and at ten, called all hands to muster on quarterdeck, where Divine services were performed, Commodore Palmer’s clerk, Nathaniel P. S. Thomas, officiating. Read General Order No. 16, from Navy Department, Washington, D. C., upon the death of Rear-Admiral Foote, who died at the Astor House, N. Y., lately, surrounded by his numerous friends and associates, who deeply deplore his loss. He had been ordered to relieve Admiral Dupont, in command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, off Charleston, and was on his way to perform that duty, when he was taken sick in the city of New York, and as I have stated, death ensued. This afternoon, gunboat Estrella went down the river, and the Arizona arrived from Vicksburg.
19th. Moved at daylight. Soon came upon rebel pickets and fired. Skirmishing. Dismounted 2 and 7 and went forward. One man wounded soon. Mich. Battery came up and one piece fired shell. Almost simultaneously Gen. Judah and gunboats opened. We heard musketry 10 minutes before ours. Before 10 minutes the rebels broke in a perfect rout, most complete, left wagons, cannon and any amount of plunder. I soon changed clothes, light clothes. Went with skirmishers, got several shots. Rested till 4 P. M. Marched up the river near Tupper’s Plains, and then bivouacked. Rather hungry—all of us.
Sunday, 19th.—Found some of 36th regiment here; having fine time eating watermelons and peaches. Drew three days’ rations; bought a dressed chicken and came very near killing myself eating; very sick for a little while.
19th.—When shall we recover from this fatal trip into Pennsylvania? General Pettigrew, of North Carolina, fell on the retreat, at a little skirmish near the Falling Waters. Thus our best men seem to be falling on the right hand and on the left. When speaking of General P’s death, a friend related a circumstance which interested me. General P. was severely wounded at the battle of “Seven Pines.” He was lying in a helpless condition, when a young soldier of another command saw him, and, immediately stooping to the ground, assisted him in getting on his back, and was bearing him to a place of safety, when he (the soldier) was struck by a ball and instantly killed. The General fell to the ground, and remained there, unable to move, until he was captured by the enemy. He was subsequently incarcerated in Fort Delaware. Having learned from the soldier, while on his back, that his name was White, from Westmoreland County, Virginia, as soon as the General was exchanged he inquired for the family, and found that the mother was a respectable widow who had had five sons on the field, but one of whom survived. He immediately wrote to her, expressing his deep sense of obligation to her son for his gracious effort to save his life, delicately inquired into her circumstances, and offered, if necessary, to make a liberal provision for her. I did not learn the widow’s reply.
We have had this week a visit of two days from Mrs. General Lee. She was on her way to the Hot Springs in pursuit of health, of which she stands greatly in need. She is a great sufferer from rheumatism, but is cheerful, notwithstanding her sufferings, bodily and mentally. She is, of course, unhappy about her imprisoned son, and, I should suppose, about the overpowering responsibilities of her noble husband; but of that you never hear a word from her. She left us this morning, in a box car, fitted up to suit an invalid, with a bed, chairs, etc. She was accompanied by the lovely wife of her captive son, also travelling in pursuit of health. Greater beauty and sweetness rarely fall to the lot of woman; and as I looked at the sad, delicate lineaments of her young face, I could but inwardly pray that the terrible threats denounced against her husband by Yankee authority might never reach her ear; for, though we do not believe that they will dare to offer him violence, yet the mere suggestion would be enough to make her very miserable. Yesterday morning we had quite a pleasant diversion, in attending a marriage in the village. Mr. —— performed the ceremony, and we afterwards breakfasted with the bridal party. We then proceeded to Richmond—they to spend their honeymoon in and around the city, and we to our duties there.
Sunday, July 19.—This morning Dr. Quintard preached to a crowded house. Almost every general in the army was present. I saw General Polk; he is really a noble-looking man. One of his daughters was with him. She is very pretty.
Dr. Q. preached a very fine sermon. His text was, “For we are journeying unto the place of which the Lord hath said, I will give it you.” In the afternoon Dr. Cannon preached a sequel to it; an excellent one.
The first was reminding us that, whether in peace or war, there was a journey we were all taking, that sooner or later would come to an end; and warning us to prepare to enter into that land which the Lord has prepared for those who keep his commandments. The last was telling us about the blessed rest which God had prepared for his people. How many such teachings do we despise!
“It is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”
We fall down and worship, but certainly not the Maker and Ruler of all things. There are few who would like being called the enemies of God, and yet has he not said, He that is not with me is against me? And are we not commanded to worship him with our whole heart? I know of many, apparently good men, who do not seem to think that they have any right to confess Christ before men; and these men know in their hearts that the Bible is no fable, and yet they reject its teachings every hour of their lives. When I ask these men why they live so, the answer often is that there are so many wicked men in the church. I sometimes ask them if that is the answer they intend giving the Judge of all on that great day when we shall have to give an account, not of what our neighbors have done, but what we ourselves have? I scarcely think the excuse will avail, that we went astray because our neighbor did, and because some in the Church
“Have erred, and some are slow to lead us right,
Stopping to pry, when stuff and lamp should he in hand.”
We do not reason thus about our worldly affairs. Why should we not use common sense regarding our spiritual ones? “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” There is no more sublime sight than the man of intellect and great mind, bowing in adoration to his Maker.
A good moral man without religion is like a mariner trying to find his way through the seas without a compass.
“God never meant that man should scale the heavens
By strides of human wisdom. In his works,
Though wondrous, he commands us in his word
To seek him rather where his mercy shines.”
July 19. — We started at 6 A.M., and moved on to Hamilton, 8 miles distant. We found this town a regular secession hole, like almost all other towns in Virginia. Our headquarters were at a Mr. Janney’s house. He was captured a short time ago trying to run goods over the river at Point of Rocks. Day warm and pleasant.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JULY 19TH.—We have no news this morning. But a rumor prevails, which cannot be traced to any authentic source, that Texas has put herself under the protection of France. It is significant, because public sentiment seems to acquiesce in such a measure; and I have not met with any who do not express a wish that it may be so. Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas are now isolated, and no protection or aid can be given them by the government here; and it is natural, after the fall of New Orleans and Vicksburg, for the people to hope that the invaders may be deprived of their prey just at the moment when they anticipated a realization of its enjoyment.
Hon. Win. Porcher Miles writes that, after consultation, the officers have decided that it would be impracticable to hold MorrisIsland, even if the enemy were driven from it at the point of the bayonet. Therefore they call loudly for Brooke guns of long range, and guns of large calibre for Sumter, so that the fort may prevent the enemy from erecting batteries in breaching distance. They say, in their appeal, that since the fall of Vicksburg there is no other place (but one) to send them. They are now idle in Richmond. I understand the Secretary of War, etc. are in consultation on the subject, and I hope the President will, at last, yield to Gen. Beauregard’s demands.
Gen. Maury also writes for guns and ordnance stores for the defense of Mobile, which may be attacked next. He will get them.
If the insurrection in New York lives, and resistance to conscription should be general in the North, our people will take fresh hope, and make renewed efforts to beat back the mighty armies of the foe–suffering, and more than decimated, as we are.
But if not—if Charleston and Richmond and Mobile should fall, a peace (submission) party will spring up. Nevertheless, the fighting population would still resist, retiring into the interior and darting out occasionally, from positions of concentration, at the exposed camps of the enemy.
Vicksburg, Sunday, July 19. At reveille the gun teams of the third, fourth and sixth Platoons were ordered to harness up, and we started out with Lieutenant Clark before breakfast to haul in rebel guns from the line destined for Helena, Arkansas. Rode all along the line to the left, seven or eight miles, left two 30-pound Parrotts, four 10-pound Dahlgrens, two 12- , pound howitzers, two rifles (James). Did not get back to camp till noon. Hungry and exhausted in the hot sun and dust.
