September 23. Stanton tells me that General Meade is in town. I trust some efficient blows to be struck now that Lee is weak. The opportunity should not be lost, but the army is to me a puzzle. I do not find that Stanton has much to say or do. If there are facilities of combination and concentration, it is not developed. No offensive movements here; no assistance has been rendered Rosecrans. For four weeks the Rebels have been operating to overwhelm him, but not a move has been made, a step taken, or an order given, that I can learn. Halleck has done nothing, proposed nothing, and is now just beginning to take measures to reinforce Rosecrans. Has he the mind, energy, or any of the qualities or capabilities for the important position assigned him?
Monday, September 23, 2013
Wednesday, 23rd—Reading Tempest and Sunshine. Went up to see Miss E. to-night. I spent a few hours at Mr. Davis; Miss Mollie and Cousin looking charming.
Colonel Lyons.
Stevenson, Ala., Wed., Sept. 23, 1863.—I write often to you, for I know how anxious you are to hear from me, situated as we are so near the scene of the terrible battles that are raging day after day at the front. I am well, but have a great deal of work to do. This is the nearest post to the front, and everything going to or from the army passes through here. Tonight 1,400 prisoners and several hundred of our wounded came in, all bound farther North. All this adds to my labors. I see no reason to believe that we shall be sent forward unless the emergency is very great. None of our division are in the fights. Those who came in from the front all feel confident that General Rosecrans can hold his own, but he is doubtless largely outnumbered and we can but feel the greatest solicitude for the result.
The carnage has been fearful. We all feel ready to go whenever we may be ordered and to do our duty in this time of peril, although the fate of war may terminate our earthly career. Let us trust all these things to our Heavenly Father, who will order everything wisely and well. You can have no idea of the suffering of the people here. Absolute starvation stares them in the face; and what makes it more painful is the fact that a majority of them are loyal. It would make your blood run cold to hear of the outrages that have been committed upon them by the rebels before our army came here. Oh, my dear, how sincerely do I thank God that you do not feel this war—only in my absence; that I can bear all the suffering and peril of it without your being compelled to share them with me. Colonel Heg is dead and his body is on the way home. He was mortally wounded on Saturday last. [He was killed at the battle of Chicamauga.] He was a noble-hearted, true man, and a brave and useful officer. His loss is a calamity.
September 23 — The raiders advanced to within six miles of us last night, then fell back toward the Robinson River.
We started in pursuit of the Yanks early this morning, but were unable to overtake their fast-retreating column, until late this evening, when our advance guard encountered their rear about five miles from the Robinson River. Our side gave chase and drove the whole concern across the Robinson, without much fighting or resistance. Our route to-day led us through a very rolling and hilly section of country, and we passed through nearly the whole length of Madison County.
Sometimes we passed over hills and through farms, and kept as near the trail of the retiring raiders as possible, which sometimes led us along little winding dells, and then plunged us in deep ravines thickly covered with dense undergrowth and copse-wood. At various places along the track of the retiring raiders I saw dug-up sweet potato patches, robbed gardens, and raided cornfields, which are all telling and striking evidences of the moral stamina, religious principles, and ethical sentiments that pervade the locality whence the raiders hail.
We crossed the Rapidan early in the day, some fifteen miles above Barnett’s Ford. After the Yanks retired behind the Robinson we struck out for Orange Court House, crossed the Rapidan at Barnett’s Ford, and arrived at Orange Court House at ten o’clock to-night. Camped two miles west of Orange Court House. We marched about fifty miles since we left camp this morning.
23rd. Big smoke on Rebel side. Party went down and discovered bridge on fire, rebels all gone. Put out fire, only 20 ft. burned. Soon 2nd in advance and 7th O. moved on across the Watauga and followed Rebs. Co. C in advance, came upon pickets, saw them one and a half miles and came back having learned that they had crossed the river, all but 60. One of C got a prisoner and one shot a horse. Was platooned as flankers, men in reconnoissance. Went back and camped in old rebel camp. Chicken for supper. Exciting day. Hillhouse had few men as extreme advance. None hurt.
Helena, Wednesday, Sept. 23. Had a shake last night of about two hours in length, followed by very heavy fever, and my head ached severely all day. A small mail was received, but none for me. Sadly disappointed. “Christian Commission” came into our camp this afternoon with wagon full of tracts, “Child’s Papers”, “Tract Journal”, etc. which were distributed “without money and without price”. A couple of our boys crossed the river in a dug-out for fresh meat this evening, but were sent back by guerrillas who chased them.
Charles Francis Adams, Jr., to Henry Adams
H.Q. 5th Mass. Cav’y
Point Lookout, Md., September 23, 1864
Today’s steamer will carry out to you the details of Sheridan’s great victory, a victory, to my mind, likely in its consequences to be second to none in importance, and I like to think of you all as you receive such news. How jubilant you will feel! How all the clouds will roll away! Those are the times when I wish I were with you; the moments when, after long days of doubt, anxiety and almost despair, among a foreign and unsympathetic people, you at last suddenly see the smoke of the battle lifted and the country you loved and feared for so much lifting itself up again as strong, as firm and as confident as in the first days of the war. At these times yours is a luxury greater than any we enjoy, and I luxuriate in it, even as reflected back to me in your letters.
What do you think of Sherman’s letter to Hood! What a “buster” that man is! No wonder they said in the early days of the war that he was either a drunkard or a crazy man. How he does finish up poor Hood! He really seems to be the most earnest and straightforward man of the whole war. In him and in him alone we seem to get glimpses of real genius. To be sure old Farragut now and then has a smack of the same sort. At any rate, here, at last, is the most scathing exposition of rebel nonsense of old standing, which has yet enlightened the world. . . .
Here everything is quiet all day long, and every day I live surrounded by my “nigs” and very busy, for everything is to be done and be done by me. I no longer am surrounded by skilled white labor and am forced to study subjects which I don’t know anything about. For instance, with 700 horses here I did n’t have one tolerable blacksmith. Before a horse could be shod I had to go to work and show the smiths what a good horseshoe is. So it is with almost everything. Owing to Colonel Russell’s long absence and my delay in reporting, the Regiment has fallen sadly into arrears, and the officers have never been under one able commander long enough to become homogeneous. The result is that I am pulling things to pieces and building up with all my might. If left alone, I should see no reason to doubt my ultimate success; but, as Colonel Russell will soon be here, he may go to work anew in his way, perhaps better than mine, but still another and unfortunate change. . . .
September 23. — News better. Rosecrans defeated but not badly. Enemy probably suffered too much to take advantage of their victory.
September 23.—The blockade-running steamer Phantom was chased ashore near Rich Inlet, N. C., by the Union gunboat Connecticut, and afterward deserted by her crew, who set her on fire before leaving; in the afternoon, men were sent on shore from the Connecticut, to destroy the boats of the steamer that had been drawn up on the beach. While in the act of destroying them, the men were attacked by a party of concealed rebels, who succeeded in driving them back to the gunboat with a loss of one killed and one wounded.—Lieutenant-general Longstreet issued General Orders to his troops, congratulating them on the brilliant victory which had crowned their heroic efforts at Chickamauga.— At one o’clock this morning, a raid was made upon a telegraph office opposite Donaldsonville, La., by a band of rebel guerrillas, who captured and carried off fourteen men of the Fourteenth regiment of New-York cavalry and the telegraph operator.—The English steamer Diamond, while attempting to run the blockade, was captured by the United States steamer Stettin, off St. Simon’s Sound, Ga.—A secret expedition from Beaufort, S. C., to the mainland, under Captain J. E. Bryant, of the Eighth Maine volunteers, and consisting of two companies of colored troops, the chaplain of Colonel Higginson’s regiment, a telegraph operator, and a lieutenant of the Fourth South-Carolina volunteers, returned with only partial success. The expedition started by order of General Gillmore, with the view, not of cutting the rebel telegraph between Charleston and Savannah, but of attaching a wire and receiving their despatches. Owing to the carelessness of the operator, the wire, instead of being hid behind the pole, was allowed to hang in plain sight, and was discovered by the passengers in the first passing train; not, however, until some very important messages had been received, and among others a telegram to the commander of the rebel troops in Savannah from Beauregard, ordering all his forces to Charleston, to engage in an attack on Folly Island.
by John Beauchamp Jones
SEPTEMBER 23D.—We have nothing additional up to three P.M. to-day; but there is an untraceable rumor on the street of some undefinable disaster somewhere, and perhaps it is the invention of the enemy. We still pause for the sequel of the battle; for Rosecrans has fallen back to a strong position; and at this distance we know not whether it be practicable to flank him or to cut his communications. It is said Gen. Breckinridge commanded only 1600 men, losing 1300 of them! Gen. Cooper and the Secretary of War have not been permitted to fill up his division; the first probably having no desire to replenish the dilapidated command of an aspiring “political general.”
A Mr. G. Preston Williams, of Eden, Chatham County, Ga., writes to the President, Sept. 7th, 1863, saying he has lost three sons in the war, freely given for independence. His fourth son is at home on furlough, but he shall not return unless the President gives up his obstinacy, and his favorites—Bragg, Pemberton, Lovell, etc. He charges the President with incapacity, if not wickedness, and says our independence would have been won ere this, but for the obstacles thrown by him in the way. He threatens revolution within a revolution, when Congress meets, unless the President reforms, which will cause him to lose his office, and perhaps his head. To which the President replies thus, in an indorsement on the envelope :
“SECRETARY OF WAR.—This is referred to you without any knowledge of the writer. If it be a genuine signature, you have revealed to you a deserter, and a man who harbors him, as well as incites to desertion, and opposition to the efforts of the government for public defense. Sept. 19th, 1863.—J. D.”
The indorsement was written to-day, since hearing of Bragg’s victory.
