Sunday, 11th—I went out to see Miss Kate this morning, but heard nothing of Jim. Went by Mr. Shamblin’s. Miss Eva and Miss Nannie were at home; two of the prettiest girls I’ve seen in Georgia. I went over to Mr. Smith’s and heard of Jimmy; had gone on to Camp. I went back to Camp and found him there.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Colonel Lyons.
Stevenson, Ala., Sun. P. M., Oct. 11th, 1863.—We have been cut off from the United States for several days. The first train came through from Nashville last night. We were all out of forage and rations were running unpleasantly low. Now we have large quantities of supplies, or will have immediately. I think our communications are comparatively safe, General Hooker having used every possible precaution against further interruption. We have an additional brigade here of General Hooker’s command, but I am still left in command of the post.
General Hooker came yesterday and asked me if I belonged to General Morgan’s Division. I answered in the negative. He replied that he was glad of it, because he had orders to send Gen. Morgan’s command to Anderson’s Cross Roads, twenty miles this side of Chattanooga. Gen. Morgan left this morning, but only goes to Battle Creek, 16 or 18 miles from here on the river
The presence of Gen. Hooker here does not relieve me from any of my labors or responsibilities, for he does not interfere at all in the management of the post.
Those Virginia troops did not get here a day too soon. The rebels sent a large force of cavalry and artillery to cut the railroad in our rear, expecting to do it before those troops got here. We learn that it was their intention to keep on this way, destroying the railroad and the supplies at this place, scattering the forces guarding the road, which they were strong enough to do; but when they got to the railroad they found so large a force in their neighborhood that they did but comparatively little mischief and hurried on. Our cavalry were in close pursuit of them, and on Thursday last overhauled and repulsed them at Shelbyville, killing, wounding and capturing several hundred.
So you see a protecting Providence has saved us once more from a great peril. We are now safe from any mere raid. Nothing less than an army has any business on this side of the Tennessee river.
All the troops which were left behind when Gen. Rosecrans advanced from Murfreesboro in June were organized into what is called the ‘Reserve Corps.’ This corps is divided into three divisions, the first commanded by Gen. Steadman, the second by Gen. Morgan, and the third by Brigadier-General R. S. Granger, the whole under command of Major-General Gordon Granger. We are in the 1st Brigade of the Third Division.
The Reserve Corps numbers some 25,000 men, 8,000 of whom—from the 1st and 2nd Divisions, were in the Chickamaugua battles. The Corps is badly scattered and I think will be reorganized. Our brigade is strung all the way from Ft. Donelson to Stevenson. We are nearest the front of any regiment of our division.
Gen. Rosecrans has made his position at Chattanooga too strong for the rebels to attack him, and they will hardly attempt to cross the Tennessee river with our army there. Oh! for 50,000 more men, and the rebellion would be crushed in the West in ninety days; but the men are not here and we must do the best we can.
Sunday, 11th. Enemy found to have gone. Infantry pursue. Pass them before reaching Greenville. Hear of the enemy at Henderson and Rheatown, and Foster heading them. Trotted and loped much. Could hear artillery from Henderson to R. Then dismounted and part of regiment went in. Enemy break, then again pursue. Keep the advance till sundown. Then camp where night found us. Plenty of forage and good night’s rest.
Glendale, Sunday, Oct. 11. Fine day, cold night. Last night Griff slept with us. Breakfast of coffee, hard-tack and sow belly, as we are now reduced to the strict army-rations, but we have apple sauce and it goes good. Company and knapsack inspection at 8 A. M. by Lieutenants Clark and Hood. Forage train was sent out this morning, two of our teams went out with eight men. Returned late in the afternoon with two loads of poor corn, having been out eight miles towards Burnsville where the 3rd Brigade is stationed. Report the country scoured of all forage by Osterhaus’s Division which has gone ahead. There is a report in camp General Sherman and staff have been taken prisoners at Lafayette by 15,000 cavalry who made a dash on the train in which they rode. It comes by telegraph from Corinth but not creditable. On guard, third relief.
October 11 — The Yankee picket lines along the north bank of the river stole silently away last night, like a ghost when it scents the morning air. Early this morning a brigade of Yankee cavalry crossed the Rapidan at Mitchell’s Ford and drove our pickets back a mile; then General Lomax’s brigade of cavalry and the first piece of our battery hurried to the rescue, and were soon engaged in a spirited fight. We opened fire on their cavalry with one gun, and after an hour’s fighting we drove the enemy back across the river. There they held a strong position, with two pieces of artillery in battery. We advanced our gun to within about a thousand yards of their battery and opened a rapid fire on their position. The Yankee battery had the advantage in position, as it was on higher ground than we, and their shell and shrapnel shot raked the sod and tore the ground around our gun; but at last they were compelled to abandon their position, both by our artillery fire and General Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry, which had crossed the river and successfully charged and routed their cavalry support, which rendered their artillery position untenable, and the two Yankee guns struck out for the Rappahannock. After the enemy was dislodged from the banks of the Rapidan they commenced to retreat toward Brandy Station. Then we crossed the Rapidan at Mitchell’s Ford, pursued and fought the retiring foe all day, with cavalry and artillery.
The enemy at a few places retired slowly and fought stubbornly; nevertheless we drove them back ten or twelve miles to-day, sharpshooting and skirmishing nearly all the way. At Brandy Station they made a desperate effort to check and stay our advance, by making a bold stand with dismounted sharpshooters, artillery, and cavalry drawn up on a little elevation in a splendid line of battle. Like a tiger that is pursued too dangerously near its lair and at last turns in desperation on its pursuer and offers deadly combat, so the Yanks that we chased all day at last turned and attacked us with such determined vigor and dashing intrepidity that for a little while it was difficult to see or tell how the spirited little struggle would terminate, and in which camp the bird of victory would roost tonight. When our cavalry first assailed the Yankee line it stood firm and received the fire of our cavalry with undaunted firmness and courage, and very soon afterwards advanced with a bold front on our position. Our cavalry wavered under the vigorous onset and at last gave way in a sort of stampedy, mixed-up, conglomerate style. Our men were falling back rapidly before the Yankee fire, some of them mounted and leading horses, others were dismounted and trying to sharpshoot; but the Yanks still kept coming on in good order and firing as they came, which hastened the ripening of our disordered mixture into that which came very near proving to be a full-fledged stampede. At that critical juncture of affairs Captain Chew, who had gone toward the front, came hurriedly back to where our guns were halted, and said to me: “For God’s sake unlimber your gun quick, and fire; and rally this cavalry, or we are gone.” I had nothing to fire at, as the struggling mass of mixed-up cavalry was right in our front, in a low strip of woods not more than a hundred yards from our guns. However, I unlimbered my gun and fired a few rounds across some pasture fields on our left, where my shell could neither do any good nor harm. Our firing had the desired effect of rallying our cavalry, and the sound of my gun also quenched the ardor and partially checked the vehemency of the blue line in our front, which but a moment before was boldly moving toward an anticipated victory.
When the enemy’s line was checked, and while they paused for a moment in hesitation whether to hold their ground or advance and taste some Rebel canister, our cavalry rallied, took a long breath, assaulted the halting Yankee line, and drove it back whence it came. Just as the fierce conflict was subsiding at that point, it received a fresh impulse from another direction. General Kilpatrick, with a host of Yankee cavalry, came rushing down from the direction of Culpeper Court House, and rather in our rear, with General Stuart at his heels in hot pursuit, driving the Yankee column in whirlwind style toward the Rappahannock.
I saw General Kilpatrick’s troops pass over the fields on our left seeming to move in tolerable good order for a large body, but were traveling at a top speed, without making any endeavors to check or resist the pursuing Rebels that were yelling on their trail; and in order to favor the retreating true blue with timely assistance in keeping up their rapid pace before the flashing sabers of Stuart we fired a few shell into the flying column as it passed us.
Little below Brandy Station Kilpatrick’s command formed a junction with Buford’s, and both together made their last stand for the day. They formed their line along a low ridge and rising ground, with their horse artillery in a strong position on higher ground in rear of their cavalry. After a little reconnoitering and careful maneuvering General Stuart and General Fitzhugh Lee attacked the enemy in their new position. For a little while the fight was severe, and the crash of small arms crept out over the evening air with a similar fierceness and frightful roar of an infantry battle, and the deadly music was well interspersed with a deep hoarse growl of booming cannon on all sides. When our cavalry first attacked the enemy’s position the Yankee batteries opened a rapid fire from the crest of the ridge, to which we promptly replied with a fire of like vigor. When the fight was in full blow General Stuart came up to our battery and requested a rifled gun to follow him to the Barbour house on a prominent hill on the right of the Yankee line, which position afforded an almost enfilade fire on the enemy’s batteries. Consequently the first gun was detached, and we followed the feather to where the great and indomitable Stuart led. As soon as I saw the situation I at once perceived that the position, though a commanding one, was circumstantially hazardous in the extreme, from the fact that we had an enfilade fire with but one gun, on a four gun battery. The position was prominent, the range comparatively short, and an enfilade fire never fails to draw a redoubled fire from an enfiladed battery.
When we put our gun in position right near the Barbour house the Yankee battery was firing on our cavalry and artillery in its immediate front, and paid no attention to us; but when we opened fire the whole Yankee battery turned its fire on my one lonely gun, and before I could make my third shot a thunderbolt from a twelve-pound gun struck my piece and crushed one of the wheels to smithers, and slightly wounded two of my cannoneers. We had just loaded our gun and were ready to fire when the twelve-pound solid shot came crashing through a little house that stood near our position and struck the gun carriage, then whizzed past us at a fearful speed and unhealthily close. When I saw the debris of the little house, such as shivered weather boarding, pieces of window sash, and fractured glass flying at us, and very sensibly felt the concussion of the solid shot, I thought that the hill had exploded.
The Yankee battery fired some six or eight shots at our position after our gun was disabled, but they were wasting their ammunition on a dead gun, for the time being. Soon after the Yankee battery ceased firing at our hill our cavalry made a bold advance on the enemy’s whole line, and successfully charged and captured the battery that disabled my gun.
This last fight occurred just as the sun dipped behind the crest of the distant Blue Ridge, and by the time the twilight changed into the dusky shades of night the last sound of battle had died away and the Yankee cavalrymen were moving once more with their faces turned toward the friendly infantry camps along the banks of the Rappahannock.
We are camped to-night one mile south of Brandy Station.
Sunday Oct 11th 1863
This has been a delightful day but rather cool. I got up this morning and took a long walk before breakfast. Spent some time in the Stanton Hospital and heard Dr Gurley preach this evening. He gave an interesting account in his Sermon (or remarks) of the Life and Martyrdom of Ignatius Bishop of Antioch, who was thrown to the wild beasts in the Roman Amphitheatre in the year 107. The forrest leaves are changing a little and falling. But there has been no frost of any account and the woods have not assumed that beautiful appearance which is so much admired north at this season of the year. I wrote home today suggesting that if I did not go to Lyons this month that Julia should come here and make me a visit. I think that will suit her quite as well as going to Lyons with me. But it is a little doubtful whether it will suit her mother as well. She is rather fearful of the influence of Washington society and justly so. But I think it would be quite safe for her here with me for a few weeks. Called to see Chas & Sallie, found them in Mr Woodwards room. Staid an hour or so conversing with the old man who was very sociable.
Sunday, 11th—We left this morning according to orders and marched fifteen miles, when we stopped to eat dinner. We then continued our march about five miles farther, and at 4 o’clock we reached the Black river bridge, just ten miles out from Vicksburg, thus making a circuit of twenty miles to reach this important point.
October 11.—The English steamer Spaulding was captured by the steam transport Union whilst attempting to run the blockade of Charleston, S. C.—The blockade-running steamer Douro was run ashore and afterward burned by the National gunboat Nansemond, under the command of Lieutenant Lamson.—A battle occurred near Culpeper, Va., the rebels losing four hundred, and the Nationals one hundred and fifty in killed, wounded, and missing.—(Doc. 196.)
by John Beauchamp Jones
OCTOBER 11TH. —I attended a meeting of “mechanics” and citizens at the City Hall last night. The prime mover of this organization is E. B. Robinson, some twenty years ago one of my printers in the Madisonian office. It was fully attended, and although not so boisterous as might have been expected, was, nevertheless, earnest and determined in its spirit. Resolutions instructing Mr. Randolph (State Senator, and late Secretary of War) to vote for a bill before the General Assembly reducing and fixing the prices of the necessities of life, were passed unanimously also one demanding his resignation, in the event of his hesitating to obey. He was bitterly denounced by the speakers.
I understood yesterday, from the butchers, that they have been buying beef cattle, not from the producers, but from a Mr. Moffitt (they say a commissary agent), at from 45 to 55 cents gross and hence they are compelled to retail it (net) at from 75 cents to 1.25 per pound to the people. If this be so, and the commissary buys at government prices, 18 to 22 cents, a great profit is realized by the government or its agent at the expense of a suffering people. How long will the people suffer thus? This community is even now in an inflammable condition, and may be ignited by a single spark. The flames of insurrection may at any moment wrap this slumbering government in its destructive folds; and yet the cabinet cannot be awakened to a sense of the danger. Mr. Seddon (who may be better informed than others), deeply sunken in his easy, chair, seems perfectly composed but he cannot know that his agents are permitted to prey upon the people; and the complaints and charges sent to him are acted upon by his subordinates, who have orders not to permit business of secondary importance to engage his attention and his door-keepers have instructions to refuse admittance to persons below a certain rank.
Nothing but the generous and brave men in the army could have saved us from destruction long ago, and nothing else can save us hereafter. If our independence shall be achieved, it will be done in spite of the obstructions with which the cause has been burdened by the stupidity or mismanagement of incompetent or dishonest men.
“THE SUFFERINGS OF THE BORDER MISSOURIANS.—The people of Missouri, on the Kansas border, are being slaughtered without mercy under the authority of the Yankee commander of that department, Schofield. A letter to the St. Louis Republican (Yankee) says :
“On Sunday last the desire for blood manifested itself in the southeastern part of JacksonCounty, not far from the village of Lone Jack. Although it was Sunday, the people of that region, alarmed and terror-stricken by threats from Kansas, and cruel edicts from headquarters of the district, were hard at work straining every nerve to get ready to leave their homes before this memorable 9th day of September, 1863.
“One party of these unfortunate victims of a cruel order had almost completed their preparations, and within half an hour’s time would have commenced their weary wanderings in search of a home. It consisted of Benjamin Potter, aged seventy-five; John S. Cave, aged fifty; William Hunter, aged forty-seven; David Hunter, aged thirty-five; William C. Tate, aged thirty; Andrew Owsley, aged seventeen; and Martin Rice and his son. While thus engaged in loading their wagons with such effects as they supposed would be most useful to them, a detachment of Kansas troops (said to be part of the Kansas 9th, though this may be a mistake), under command of Lieut.-Col. Clark and Capt. Coleman, came up and took them all prisoners.
“After a little parleying, Mr. Rice and his son were released and ordered to leave; which they did, of course. They had not gone much over three-fourths of a mile before they heard firing at the point at which they had left the soldiers with the remaining prisoners. In a short time the command moved on, and the wives and other relatives of the prisoners rushed up to ascertain their fate. It was a horrid spectacle.
“There lay six lifeless forms—mangled corpses—so shockingly mangled that it was difficult, my informant stated, to identify some of them. They were buried where they were murdered, without coffins, by a few friends who had expected to join them on that day, with their families, and journey in search of a home.
“These are the unvarnished facts with reference to an isolated transaction. There are many, very many others of a similar character that I might mention, but I will not. The unwritten and secret history of our border would amaze the civilized world, and would stagger the faith of the most credulous. In the case just mentioned, we find an old man who had passed his threescore and ten, and a youth who had not yet reached his score, falling victims to this thirsty cry for blood.
“The world will doubtless be told that six more bushwhackers have been cut off, etc. But believe it not, sir; it is not true. These six men never were in arms, neither in the bush or elsewhere, I have been told by one who has known them for years past. The widows and orphans of some of them passed through this city yesterday, heart-broken, homeless wanderers.”
October 11—We forded Roberson River, and marched up and down hollows without singing or making any noise, so that the enemy could not see or hear Us. We heard firing on our left. We are eight miles from Culpepper Court House.
