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

Monday, October 21, 2013

Post image for A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

A Rebel War Clerk’s Diary

October 21, 2013

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

by John Beauchamp Jones

            OCTOBER 21ST.—Gen. Lee telegraphed last night that our cavalry had routed the enemy’s horse on Monday, capturing some 200, etc. etc.

            The Legislature passed a series of resolutions yesterday, requesting the Secretary of War to impress free negroes for the public works; to detail the 2d class militia (over 45); and to order into the ranks the thousands of detailed soldiers and conscripts seen everywhere. The report of a committee states that conscripts and soldiers pay bonuses to contractors to have them detailed, and then they furnish negroes as substitutes to perform the work, engaging themselves in speculation. Also that one-third of the conscripts of one county have been detailed to get wood for certain iron works which have a year’s supply on hand. Surely the Secretary will attend to this.

            There is a row about passports. It appears that Judge Campbell and Gen. Winder are competitors in the business. Judge C. yesterday remarked that, at Gen. Winder’s office, he understood a passport could be bought for $100; and this was repeated by Mr. Kean, the young Chief of the Bureau, and it somehow reached the ears of Gen. Winder. Perhaps Judge C. reported the fact of his belief to Mr. Secretary Seddon, who had ceased to grant any himself (to the United States), and of course was not aware of the great number his assistant, much less Gen. W., issued and if so, it is probable he called Gen. W. to an account. The general, in a rage, charged Mr. Kean with the propagation of a damaging report. Mr. K. said he heard Mr. Chapman (a clerk) say so—and so off they started in pursuit of Chapman, who could not be found up to 3 P.M. By to-morrow Gen. W. may hear of Judge Campbell’s remarks and agency, and a pretty kettle of fish they will have, if Judge C.’s record be brought to the notice of the Secretary! It is all wrong, and if the business be not better regulated or terminated, it will terminate the government. Gen. Lee’s reputation as a great captain will be ruined, if the blockade-runners be allowed to continue to give information to the enemy of all his movements.

Post image for A Diary of American Events.

A Diary of American Events.

October 21, 2013

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

October 21.—This morning the United States steamer Nansemond, Lieutenant R. H. Lamson, commanding, captured and destroyed the rebel steamer Venus, from Nassau to Wilmington, with a cargo of lead, drugs, clothing, coffee, and bacon for the rebels. The Venus was one of the very finest and fastest steamers engaged in running the blockade. She was two hundred and seventy feet long, one thousand tons burthen, and had the finest engines of any steamer in this trade, and could run sixteen knots per hour. The Nansemond fired one shell through her foremast, another burst in the centre, a third passed through forward, killing one man, (this is the first man killed running the blockade,) and a fourth struck under the guard, near the waterline, knocking in an iron plate, which forced her to run ashore to keep from sinking. She was boarded so quickly that her captain, officers, and most of her crew were captured. As she could not be got off, she was entirely destroyed, under a heavy fire from the rebel batteries ashore.— (Doc. 204.)

—Warrenton, Va., was entered and occcupied by the National cavalry.—An engagement took place at Cherokee Station, Alabama, between the National forces under General Osterhaus, who was moving eastward from Corinth, and the rebels under Generals S. D. Lee, Roddy, and Richardson, numbering over four thousand. The fight lasted an hour, when the rebels were driven back with severe loss.—(Doc. 205.)

—Opelousas, La., was entered by General Franklin’s column of General Banks’s army at noon to-day. The rebels made a stand at a point about five miles in front of the town, with a body of troops composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, but they were quickly driven from the field. At Vermillion Bayou, where the rebels held a strong position, an engagement might have been expected; but the threats made on their rear by General Dana’s forces compelled the rebel commander to divide his troops, and so weakened the force on the bayou, that it was easily turned.

Post image for Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier by Louis Léon

Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier by Louis Léon

October 21, 2013

Diary of a Tar Heel Confederate Soldier By Louis Léon [53d North Carolina Regiment, infantry]

October 21—We were sent to Kelly’s Ford on picket.

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