Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Woolsey Family during the War.

October 7, 2013

Woolsey family letters during the War for the Union

Point Lookout, Md., Oct. 7th, 1863.

Special Order No. 123:

The female nurses will be relieved from wards 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, is and 14, and they are strictly enjoined to abstain from any intercourse with the Prisoners of War.

A. Heger, U. S. A.

__________

Circular, No. 17.

Point Lookout, Oct. 7, ’63.

Miss G. Woolsey: In accordance with instructions received from the Surgeon-General’s Office, dated October 7th, 1863, the discharge of the female nurses on the 5th inst. refers only to their discharge from the Hospital, not from the service at large. . . Enclosed please find certificates of pay.

By order of the Surgeon-in-Charge.

W. H. G., Assist. Surgeon.

__________

A. Heger, Surgeon-in-Charge Hammond General Hospital: Sir:

I have the honor to enclose four duplicate certificates of pay, for myself and my sister, Miss Jane S. Woolsey. Will you be kind enough to make use of them for the benefit of the hospital fund?

G. M. Woolsey.

__________

Point Lookout, Md., Oct. 7, 1863.

Madam: The transfer of the certificates of pay of yourself and sister to this Hospital is received, and in the name of those poor soldiers who shall enjoy the benefits of your gift, I tender you many thanks for it.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

A. Heger.

Post image for Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd

Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd

October 7, 2013

Diary of Ephraim Shelby Dodd, Co. D of Terry's Texas Rangers

Wednesday, 7th—Piruted around generally. I left Jimmy at Mr. Smith’s and went over to see Miss Kate.

Post image for War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney

October 7, 2013

War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.

7th. A rainy unpleasant day. Wagons up. Tent fly lost. Got one of Lt. Pedrick who had three. Also got hospital fly for the boys. Wrote to friends of Samuel Barnes—said a word in regard to the demise of his brother William. Co. felt sad that no notice had been taken before.

Post image for An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones

An Artilleryman’s Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones

October 7, 2013

An Artilleryman's Diary–Jenkin Lloyd Jones, 6th Battery, Wisconsin Artillery.

Glendale, Miss., Wednesday, Oct. 7. When next I opened my eyes it was daylight and I felt thankful for it. I was cold and numb with a bad headache. I got up, doubled up my poncho and found that I had escaped a very heavy shower. The train stood on the east side of the town in a deep cut. Fires were blazing all along the track, and I soon was by one. Met my bedfellow Evie. He had slept down-town, but was wetter than I. Had we known we were to stay here all night, we would have spread our blankets and slept comfortably. The train backed up on the side track, and I got some water and a handful of unground coffee, which I boiled. We had soft bread drawn in Memphis, which made up my breakfast. It was 8 A.M. before we started out. The track was full of curves up and down. Ran out seven miles and stopped at what is called Glendale. The only building, a shed one story high, is graced with the name of “Saw and Grist Mill”. On the left hand side is the ”Yates’s Sharpshooters”, and 1st Alabama Cavalry in neat barracks, encircled by a stockade. They have been stationed here nearly a year. On the right are the newly erected tents of the 7th Division and the part of our Battery having come through last night were unloaded and waiting for us. The horses were taken off, having been thirty hours without food and drink. Of course they looked very bad. My team was taken off last night. The Battery was taken into park by noon on a high knoll, but covered with oak brush. Unhitched and watered. By that time the welcome sound of the bugle called us to meat and coffee, and after dinner sufficient room was grubbed out to stretch a picket-rope and tie our horses. Tents were pitched in the thicket of oak and pine so that one could not see his neighbor. Gathered pine twigs enough to make a fine bed and I laid down to rest in this. A ”lodge in some vast wilderness”. A very pretty clear brook runs close by under the hill with several beautiful springs. Fences lay around so we have good wood and water. What more does a soldier want?

Post image for A Soldier’s Diary — David Lane.

A Soldier’s Diary — David Lane.

October 7, 2013

A Soldier's Diary, The Story of a Volunteer, David Lane, (17th Mich. Vol. Infantry)

October 7th, 1863.

Colonel Luce is going home again, on furlough, to recruit. He takes with him three officers of the line and ten Sergeants—one from each company. They are to be gone sixty days. If enlisting is “played out,” as many claim, sending men from active service for the purpose of soliciting enlistments is the height of folly. Perhaps there is so little for us to do just now, we may as well be in Michigan as Tennessee. If that is so, why not send all of us home?

Post image for Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

October 7, 2013

Diary of Alexander G. Downing; Company E, Eleventh Iowa Infantry

Wednesday, 7th—Six regiments were stationed at the different roads last night to reinforce the regular pickets. But the rebels did not make their appearance as it was reported they would. Our regiment was relieved at 10 o’clock this morning by the Thirteenth Iowa. We were struck by a fearful rain and windstorm last night.

Post image for Rutherford B. Hayes.

Rutherford B. Hayes.

October 7, 2013

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

Camp White, October 7, 1863.

Dear Uncle: — I am very glad to hear that you are having so little trouble with Birchie. He is of an affectionate disposition, conscientious and truthful. His natural sense of duty is, I think, unusually strong. … I much prefer that he should work or ride or hunt in the open air than read in the house or go to school. I do not care if he is far behind other boys of his age in what is taught in schools. If he has health enough to become a scholar or prepare himself for a learned profession at sixteen, he will have enough time to do it then. If he hasn’t a constitution that will bear a sedentary life, there is more reason for trying to build it up now by work and exercise in the open air.

Lucy is well and enjoys our camp life as well as she could be expected to do away from her boys. In about a week from now I shall probably be able to settle the question as to our winter quarters and as to whether it will be worth while to send for the boys. It looks as if the coming winter would be one of active operations, and if so any plan I may form is likely to be interrupted before spring. Indeed, is liable to be interrupted at any time. In any event, I think we shall stay here watching the gaps in front of us for six or eight weeks longer. After that I think a somewhat smaller force will suffice to defend this region, and we may be sent elsewhere. I think there is no danger of our being seriously disturbed here. . . .

Sincerely,

R. B. Hayes.

S. Birchard.

Post image for Rutherford B. Hayes.

Rutherford B. Hayes.

October 7, 2013

Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard Hayes

October 7. — A rain a few days ago gave us a rise of two or three feet in the Kanawha River. It is falling again, but is raining today again with prospects of water.

Another order to give no passes and take up all old ones. Funny business, this pass business. “Finds something still for idle hands to do.”

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

October 7, 2013

A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, By John Beauchamp Jones

by John Beauchamp Jones

OCTOBER 7TH.—We have not a particle of news from the army today. It may be an ominous calm.

A Mr. Livingstone, from Georgia I believe, has been extensively engaged in financial transactions during the last week. He drew upon the house of North & Co., Savannah, and purchased some $35,000 in gold. After obtaining some $350,000 from the brokers here, he obtained a passport (of course!) and fled into the enemy’s lines.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

October 7, 2013

The American Civil War,The Rebellion Record—A Diary of American Events; by Frank Moore

October 7.—Colonel Harrison’s force of West Tennessee cavalry were attacked at Como, Mississippi, by rebel guerrillas, under Colonels Faulkner and Wilson, and was forced to retreat after an engagement of two hours, with a loss of thirty-seven men. The rebel loss was large, Colonel Wilson being among the killed.—A fight took place at Farmington, Tenn., between the Union forces under General Crook and the rebels commanded by General Wharton.—(Docs. 181 and 191.)

—Acting Volunteer Lieutenant James P. Couthouy, having received information that a rebel steamer was tied up to the bank on Red River, fitted out an expedition, under charge of Acting Chief-Engineer Thomas Doughty, with twenty men and Mr. Hobbs, who crossed over from the Mississippi to Red River, and after great labor in getting through the entanglements of the bushes and other undergrowth, got a sight of the steamer lying at the bank. They managed to get up to her and capture her. A few moments afterward they were enabled to capture another one, and found themselves in possession of two steamers and nine prisoners. One of the prisoners was an aid to the rebel General Taylor who had been sent up expressly for the last steamer.—Admiral Porter’s Despatch.