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

Thursday, October 31, 2013

by John Beauchamp Jones

            OCTOBER 31ST.—Letters came to-day from the President (or rather copies in his own handwriting), relieving Lieut.-Gen. Hardee, in Mississippi, and assigning him to a command under Gen. Bragg. He also writes a friendly letter (from Meridian, Miss.) to Gen. Bragg, informing him that Gen. Hardee had been ordered to report to him without delay, and that two brigades might go with him, if needed. This indicates that the President means to sustain Bragg, nothwithstanding the clamor against him and that Bragg must have an immense army. Lieut.-Gen. Polk (whom the President will always sustain) is assigned to the Mississippi Department.

            The latest accounts from Chattanooga show that the enemy are stirring a little, and trying to flank Bragg’s left wing.

            The bombardment at Charleston is still without decisive result.

October 31.—A. W. Bradford, Governor of Maryland, addressed a letter to President Lincoln, upon the subject of military interference in the election in his State.—The Texas expedition, under the command of General Banks, landed at Brazos.