July 30, Thursday. John P. Hale is here in behalf of certain contractors who have been guilty of bad faith. The Chairman of the Naval Committee is not on this service without pay. Commander Wise, who is Acting Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, wants Aulick appointed Assistant. This will aid him to the position of actual Chief, should Dahlgren not return, and increase Aulick’s pay. There will be no change of duties.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
July 30.—A brief skirmish occurred at Irvine, Estelle County, Ky., between the Union forces of Colonel Lilly, commanding two squadrons of the Fourteenth Kentucky cavalry, and the rebels. The latter, under Colonel Scott, after their failure to take Lexington and Paris, commenced beating a hasty retreat for Irvine. They were hotly pursued .by the Federal forces. Skirmishing commenced at or near Winchester, and continued for a long distance. Irvine is some thirty miles from Winchester, where the Fourteenth were stationed. The rebels came upon them unawares, but this not discomfit them in the least, nor did they stop to calculate how far they were outnumbered, which they were, fully four to one. As soon as the attack was made by the rebels, the Fourteenth was ready for them, and gave them such a battle as they have cause long to remember. Every assault was bravely met and withstood, and notwithstanding the enemy gained some little advantage at one point, and captured some of the Nationals, the tide of battle was soon turned again, and the Nationals recaptured, together with eighty odd prisoners of the enemy, and their whole force driven across the Kentucky River, with the loss of all their wagons and stolen mules. At this point the pursuers came up and crossed the river and continued the pursuit. The Union loss was four killed, fifteen wounded, and ten prisoners. The rebel loss was seven killed, from sixteen to eighteen wounded, and seventy-five prisoners.—The Fifty-second regiment of Massachusetts volunteers, under the command of Colonel Greenleaf, arrived at Cairo, 111., en route to Boston, to be mustered out of the service.— President Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring that the United States would protect its troops of all colors.—(Doc. 137.)
—In Saline County, Mo., Captain Cannon, with about seventy-five men of the Fourth enrolled Missouri militia, attacked a band of sixty-three bushwhackers, under one Captain Blunt, and supposed to belong to Quantrell’s command. The militia lost two men killed and one wounded, and a horse killed. The rebels had several men wounded, and Blunt’s horse received a fatal shot. The militia then retreated, and the enemy fell back to the brush, cheering for Quantrell as they retired. The rebels next attacked a smaller party of militia, fifteen in number, belonging to the First enrolled Missouri militia, acting as a guard to a paymaster, who had about fifty thousand dollars. The money escaped observation, but two militiamen were captured and paroled, and seven of the best horses belonging to their comrades taken. The enrolled Missouri militia squad finally got safe within a brick church, and were not again molested.—The rebel guerrilla Mosby entered Fairfax Court-House this evening, and captured a number of sutlers’ wagons, together with stores and other property valued at nearly ninety thousand dollars.—General Grant, from his headquarters at Vicksburgh, Miss., issued a general order regulating the transportation on the river steamboats.—The bombardment of Fort Wagner was continued to-day, by the Ironsides and two monitors. Two men were killed in the Fort.
July 30 — Went on picket this morning on the Warrenton road and near Hazel River; all quiet in front. Late this evening we moved back about four hundred yards from our picket post and camped for the night.
July 30—Still in camp. Hugh Sample and myself were out on a forage and milked a cow in his hat, the only thing we had.
July 30th. At one thirty A. M. gunboat Albatross went down the river; at ten o’clock gunboat Katandin got under way and steamed down the river; at one P. M. received on board some of Admiral Farragut’s baggage. During the afternoon Mr. Van Denhougle, late Admiral Farragut’s Secretary, reported on board for passage to New York. Sent aloft topmast and topgallant studding sail booms; at four thirty P. M. U. S. steam sloop-of-war Richmond got under way, turned around, and went down the river. As she passed, our lads manned the rigging and gave them three hearty farewell cheers, which they returned. We were well aware our day for following in her path homeward-bound was now near at hand, and she was the messenger sent to announce our coming. The reader need not be informed of the feelings of all on board the Hartford, since he knows all must have been in high spirits.
July 30.—Yesterday Miss E. and myself visited Rome, for the purpose of doing some shopping for the hospitals and ourselves.
I was very much pleased with the appearance of Rome. Like the renowned city, the name of which it bears, it is built on several hills. It has some very handsome buildings; the principal streets are broad and clean. It resembles ancient Rome in another respect, that of having had a conquering hero march into it in triumph; although not a Caesar in name, yet equal to any of them in bravery.
I am told that when Forrest entered Rome with his prisoners, he was met by the ladies and presented with a wreath of flowers, and the pathway of his gallant army was strewn with them. They were the heartfelt offerings of a truly grateful people to their deliverers for freeing them from the ruthless invader. The people at present are in daily expectation of another raid; and, as there are very few troops there to defend the place, they expect to be left to the mercy of the foe.
Many persons think that a military necessity may force General Bragg down here, and that Kingston will be his head-quarters. No movement astonishes me now, and, like a true soldier, I obey orders, and try to ask no questions.
There are many handsome store buildings, and they were pretty well supplied with goods, and cheaper than I have seen any place in the Confederacy. I bought a very pretty calico dress for three dollars per yard, and a pretty gray homespun for one dollar and seventy-five cents per yard.
I searched the whole place for a whitewash brush, but failed in getting one.
I have heard much of the kindness of the people here to strangers, and that the society is of the very best.
We took dinner, and were kindly entertained at the house of a very nice lady, a relative of Miss E. There we met an old lady who had been in the Quintard Hospital, in this place, and to judge from her conversation I should think that the ladies and surgeons did not get along very well together. From what I have experienced and seen, I expect there are faults on both sides.
There are a number of hospitals in Rome, which are being broken up. As they seem to be very fine ones, and it is a healthy locality, I am always suspicious of some new movement taking place in the army when I hear of such things.
Rome is in Floyd County, Georgia, at the confluence of the Etowah and Ostenaola rivers, which forms the Coosa River. Steamboats of moderate size navigate the Coosa River, and can ascend as far as this place. Thousands of bales of cotton are annually exported from this point.
30th. After some shopping and looking around went on street cars to Regt. Met it and came back. Found everything all right. Went around with Tod. Many boys congratulated me, did me good. Received two good letters from Fannie and one from home. What a contrast between today and yesterday. In the afternoon helped some about filling furloughs for boys. Applied for leave of absence for ten days. Boys on tiptoe. Saw Bushnell and Shorty who was in Oberlin the Sen. Prep. year. Good men. Went to Wood’s theatre to hear Minstrels. Went for ice cream with Maj. Nettleton.
July 30, 1863.
Another letter from my poor, suffering wife. As I think of her sorrows, cares and perplexities, I cannot force back the thought that will unbidden rise, can so much be required of us; such great sacrifices, not only of property, but our cherished plans, embracing the future welfare of our children, in fact, all of earthly good, while others are exempt—have no part or lot in it—who would not even know that war existed were they not led to inquire the cause of such unexampled prosperity—and, when rebellion at home stares them in the face, and the “fire in the rear” so often threatened really breaks forth, loudly call for soldiers to come and protect their precious lives and property?
Where are those Union Leagues, who were going to “unite the loyal people of the North and subdue Copperheads?” Where are those patriots who could not leave their business to go to the war, but would “take care of the Rebels at home?” But a little cool reflection banishes such thoughts. I have to act only for myself, and answer only to my own conscience.
30th.—Our good President has again appointed a day for fasting and prayer.
The Florida and Alabama are performing wonderful feats, and are worrying the North excessively. Many a cargo has been lost to the Northern merchant princes by their skill, and I trust that the Government vessels feel their power.
Several members of our household have gone to the mountains in pursuit of health—Mr. —— among the rest.
Mrs. P., of Amelia, is here, cheering the house by her sprightliness; and last night we had Mr. Randolph Tucker, who is a delightful companion—so intellectual, cheerful, and God-fearing!
The army is unusually quiet at all points. Does it portend a storm? Many changes are going on in “our village.” The half-English, half-Yankee Wades are gone at last, to our great relief. I dare say she shakes the dust from her feet, as a testimony against the South; for she certainly has suffered very much here, and she will not have as many difficulties there, with her Yankee Colonel father. She professes to outrebel the rebels, and to be the most intense Southern woman of us all; but I rather think that she deceives herself, and unless I mistake her character very much indeed, I think when she gets among her own people she will tell them all she knows of our hopes, fears, and difficulties. Poor thing! I am glad she is gone to those persons on whom she has a natural claim for protection.
Unidentified private in Confederate uniform.
Sixth-plate ambrotype, hand-colored ; 9.4 x 8.1 cm (case)
Deposited by Tom Liljenquist; 2012
Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs; Ambrotype/Tintype photograph filing series; Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Record page for image is here.
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Note – This image has been digitally adjusted for one or more of the following:
- fade correction,
- color, contrast, and/or saturation enhancement
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- cropped for composition and/or to accentuate subject matter
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Civil War Portrait 042
