Monday, 28th—I went out on picket today, on the public highway from Vicksburg to Warrington. We have to maintain a heavy picket with strong reserve at all the public highways leading from this place.
September 2013
September 28.—President Lincoln directed that the Twentieth and Twenty-first army corps be consolidated and called the Fourth army corps, and that Major-General Gordon Granger be the commander of this consolidated corps. He also directed that a Court of Inquiry be convened to inquire into and report upon the conduct of Major-Generals McCook and Crittenden in the battles of the nineteenth and twentieth instant. These officers were relieved from duty in the army of the Cumberland, and were ordered to repair to Indianapolis, Ind., reporting their arrival by letter to the Adjutant-General of the army.—Lieutenant Earl and thirty men, belonging to the Fourth Wisconsin cavalry, captured a party of rebel guerrillas and cavalrymen, in the neighborhood of the junction of the Amite and Comite Rivers, La., and safely conducted them into Baton Rouge. Among the prisoners were Colonel Hunter (Ten-Mile Bob) and Captain Penny, the leaders in the raids and attacks on the river steamboats in that vicinity.—Fort Sumter, S. C., was bombarded by the National batteries on Morris Island.—Mr. ——Spence, of London, England, ceased to be the financial agent of the rebel government.—Richmond Despatch, Sept. 29.
—An engagement took place at McMinnville, Tenn., in which the rebels were repulsed with a loss of a large number of prisoners.—The rebel steamer Herald was captured by the gunboat Kearny, and carried into Key West, Fla.—Major-General Grant, from his headquarters at Vicksburgh, issued Special Orders authorizing the issuing of rations to such families only, as should “take an oath to support the Government of the United States, and to withdraw all support and countenance from the so-called confederate government”—The entire cotton crop in South-Carolina was seized by order of Brigadier-General Rufus Saxton, by virtue of authority vested in him as Military Governor of the Department of the South. — General Orders were issued by Major-General Banks, at New-Orleans, La., authorizing the Commanding-Central of the Corps d’Afrique “to detail from the line an additional staff-officer, with the rank and pay of captain, to be designated ‘Corps Instructor,’ whose duty it shall be to superintend in garrison, and, as far as may be consistent with military duty, in the field, the education of men engaged in the Corps d’Afrique.”
by John Beauchamp Jones
SEPTEMBER 28TH.—All is reported quiet on the Rappahannock, the enemy seeming to be staggered, if not stupefied, by the stunning blows dealt Rosecrans in the West.
Burnside’s detachment is evacuating East Tennessee; we have Jonesborough, and are pursuing the enemy, at last accounts, toward Knoxville. Between that and Chattanooga he may be intercepted by the right wing of Bragg.
The President had his cabinet with him nearly all day. It is not yet ascertained, precisely, whether Mr. Seward was really on the flag of truce steamer yesterday, but it is pretty certain that Mr. Benjamin went down the river. Of course the public is not likely to know what transpired there—if anything.
The trans-Mississippi army is getting large amounts of stores, etc., on the Rio GrandeRiver. Major Hart, Quartermaster, writes from San Antonio, Texas, on the 13th of July, that three large English steamers, “Sea Queen,” “Sir Wm. Peel,” and the “Gladiator,” had arrived, were discharging, etc. Also that two large schooners were hourly expected with 20,000 Enfield rifles on board. He says Gen. Magruder is impressing cotton to freight these vessels.
So far, 260 Quakers, non-combatants, have been reported, mostly in North Carolina. A few cannot pay the $500—conscientiously.
The papers begin to give the details of the great battle of Chickamauga—the “river of death.“
September 28—Our regiment is on picket; will be relieved to-morrow.
Sunday, September 27.—The weather has turned quite cool. I am glad, as it will be much better for the wounded.
I took a ride this afternoon with Mrs. Johnston; we visited her brother’s grave. I am quite pleased with this place. It is not so hilly nor thickly wooded as North Georgia, but it is quite pretty.
Sunday, 27th—We start up the railroad this morning but turn back and camp on Chickamauga. Here we remain.
Colonel Lyons.
Stevenson, Ala., Sun., Sept. 27, 1863.—No changes at the front that I know of. Our army is in a strong position, close in front of Chattanooga, awaiting reinforcements, but where they are to come from is more than I know. The rebel army is close by ours but don’t seem inclined to attack. I can not learn that there has been any fighting for several days. We do not anticipate any attack here. All the fords of the river are strongly guarded, two brigades of cavalry having just come to this vicinity on that duty.
We hear a report from Ft. Donelson that the 83d Mounted Infantry had a fight near the rolling mill with Hinson’s gang and killed George Hinson, thus cheating the gallows.
Col. Smith of the 83d is at Clarksville with one-half of his regiment. The 102d Ohio is on the railroad, thirty miles above us. Not a regiment is passing through here to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans, and there he is confronted with more than double his numbers. He may get 12,000 or 15,000 of Burnside’s men from Knoxville, but I do not learn that even these have come up yet, and when they do they will not any more than make up his losses in the late battles. I doubt whether we have another General who could have prevented that army from being totally routed and cut to pieces last Sunday. There are but few who could prevent it from being done now. He ought to have 50,000 more men today than he has to make him safe. Still, I believe that he will come out all right.
The agents of the Sanitary and of the U. S. Christian Commission are on hand to take care of the wounded, and are doing (particularly the latter) an immense amount of good. I am glad to be in a position to be able to render them considerable aid in prosecuting their good work.
All of the wounded who are able to travel, I think, have gone on, and we are rid of our prisoners, so matters are not quite as pressing as they have been for a few days past.
September 27.
We sent our sick, nearly 100 in number, by wagon to the Big Black railroad depot, six miles, where they took the cars for Vicksburg. They will there await our arrival. I have now but 31 men in my company in camp. Ten months ago I marched 72 men from Bolivar, Tenn., to Lagrange. Not one has been lost by the bullet, and today a difference of 41 in the duty list. A rumor prevails to-day that Rosecrans has had a severe battle and has been defeated. It is impossible to learn or hear anything in this place until the date alone would make it uninteresting. Blair’s division moved into Vicksburg from the depot to-day to embark. Osterhaus’ division is already on its way up the river. In the evening, with Captains Bishop and Smith and Lieutenant Johnson, had a rather dull game of “California Seven Up.” All kinds of rumors today about the fight in northern Georgia. Have no hope of ever hearing the truth of the matter in camp. We are now 12 days behind in papers. The 3d brigade of our division and some cavalry started, with three days rations, on a scout across the river to-day. Suppose the object is to cover our move to Vicksburg, though I don’t believe there are 100 armed Rebels this side of the Alabama line. The soldiers of our division have been having some high fun for the last two days. Orders are very strict against firing in camp, but the men found out they could get up some artificial firing by putting green can in the fire. The steam from the sap generating between the joints will make an explosion equal to a gun fired. And they got up some artillery firing by putting canteens half full of water, stopping them tightly and then putting them in the flames. They did this just to bore the officers who are held responsible by the general for all firing. To-night the general has ordered all the officers of the 40th Illinois to patrol the camp the whole night. This, of course, tickles the men hugely, and from their beds in their tents they have been talking over the duties of a sentry for the benefit of their officer’s ears. The devilment that soldiers cannot contrive must be unearthly. To-day some of the 6th Iowa filled an oyster can half full of powder, set a slow train to it and planted it in the ground, they then set a cracker box over it and got a negro to dancing on the box A coal was then touched to the train and the “nigger” was blown full 20 feet. He landed, fortunately, without injury, but so badly scared that he was crazy for an hour. In the evening called on Captain Pinney of the 46th Ohio, and spent a very pleasant evening. He says that Vallandigham will poll about ten votes in their regiment; but that his disciples dare not open their mouths to advocate his cause. He says the loyal men would kill them sure if they dared to boast of their allegiance to a traitor.
Sunday, 27th.—Marched from Stone Mountain to Decatur.
Sunday, 27th. Sent out foraging party. Moved at 8 o’clock. Passed through Jonesboro about noon. Camped four and a half miles from town. Co. C detailed as picket. Post northwest of camp on Kinsport road. Two rebel families near by. Made a levy of bacon and potatoes and chickens. Gave receipt Bowman and Matthews. In the evening Major N. came and told me he was going home. Sent Buell and Baker into camp. Gave notes to Case for $80.00 and A. B. for $40.00. Wrote home and to Fannie Andrews. Boys all jolly. Warden officer of the day. (A. B. N. ordered to Cleveland on recruiting service.)
