Friday, 27th—Remained in Camp all day.
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Henry Adams to Charles Francis Adams, Jr.
London, November 27, 1863
We received this week your two letters of 29th October and 5th November, for which we were very grateful. Your trials have my earnest sympathy, but I hope they are now drawing to a close. Mr. Lawley’s last letter to the London Times from the rebel army at Chickamauga is chaotic. He says it took him forty hours to go by rail the hundred and thirty miles from Atlanta to Chattanooga, in the filthiest, meanest cars he ever saw. They are wearing out, down there. Do you observe how they have concentrated? They meet us only at points now, and our cavalry cut into their sides and meet no resistance. A few plunges more! Some desperate kicking that will yet disturb our nerves, and I trust the end will come. They are looking for it here, and the worthy British people are turning their eyes away from the gashed and mangled giant whom their aristocracy wished so much to see successful.
Meanwhile you cannot conceive how differently we feel here in these days. There is no longer any perpetual bickering and sharp prodding necessary to exasperate this Government into doing its duty. All is oil and spikenard; attar of roses and eau sucrée. I have n’t succeeded in getting my eyes shut yet at the astounding energy with which they are making war here on the rebel outfits of vessels. Every day I am bewildered by new instances of the radical change of policy. Certainly the rebs put their foot very far into it, when they assumed such a high tone here against the Government, and if their policy is sound, then I’m sorry that their case is so hard. . . .
Meanwhile, the cloud that seems at length to be breaking away and letting sunlight over us, is settling down darker and darker over Europe. England has refused to join the Congress; so that chance is over. I am no Solomon, but such as I am, I read the English reply as the elegy over the entente cordiale. Napoleon must have allies. If England won’t, then who will? Germany won’t; that we know! Italy alone is not enough. Evidently the Emperor has no choice! He must draw up to Russia, and if he and Russia once declare that the Polish question and the Eastern question go hand in hand, and that free Poland means Russian Turkey, then there’ll be the devil to pay in Europe, and you’ll see a row in which the democracy is sure to come up in the end! That is the problem of the day, and I consider that Europe has practically already declared that our rebels must expect no aid or countenance from here, with such emergencies staring kings and aristocracies in the face. . . .
Graysville, Ga., Friday, Nov. 27. Started at 8 A. M. Our march lay through a poor country, thinly settled, covered with small pine, swampy soil. All along the road evidence could be seen of the haste of the enemy. Wagons, limbers, wheels, harness, etc. left, but all were destroyed. Reached Graysville at 3 P. M. and came into camp on a steep hillside, a lively little R. R. station on Chickamauga Creek, good water power, cabinet works and flouring mill. The latter was kept running by soldiers of the 11th Corps. A range of mountains commenced here, and our advance came upon the rear of the enemy here this morning, capturing a battery commanded by Beauregard’s son. It was harnessed up and ready to move. General Thomas manned it with infantry, took it after them. A brisk fight could be heard at Ringgold, five miles distant. Prisoners and deserters came in thick and fast from every direction. They say they are tired of running and being hunted like beasts. Bragg promised victory and gain to them, instead of which they received nothing but a dastardly retreat and shame with empty bellies.
Foragers doing a good business in the shape of geese, chickens, sheep, etc., few hogs. I was sent by Dixon after hay for the horses. Went about two miles south, and returned with a good bundle, quite tired in carrying it, but horses fared well for it.
Sat up till late cooking “dodgers” for the morrow’s march. It looked like rain, so we ditched about our bed, spread our ponchos over and laid down, tired and sleepy, and I felt nearly worn out, but the thought of following a retreating line kept up my strength and spirit.
Chapin’s Farm, Va.,
Sunday Eve., Nov. 27, 1864.
My Dear Sister L.:—
I have been pretty busy the past week in getting my new house done in addition to my other duties, and to-day I have just moved in. I could not get my “details” to-day, being Sunday, so I had to turn to myself and put the floor in this morning. Perhaps you think it bending the Sabbath to build while I should be at church, but I cannot see it in just that light. The colonel burned up his tent the other day and to-morrow we have a new major coming and I have to give up my tent to him, so I made the excuse of necessity, rolled up my sleeves and finished my house so that I could occupy it, and moved in, and I am so comfortable to-night! I have a little the most gorgeous residence I have had since I came to the army. It is about the size of your parlor, perhaps a little larger, with a canvas roof which also serves for window, and then the beauty of it is the fireplace, a regular old-fashioned kitchen fireplace that I can have a group sitting around and enjoying themselves.
To-night while I am writing Lieutenant Colonel Cooper, One hundred and seventh Ohio (Captain Cooper of the Eighth), is with me making out his returns preparatory to leaving for his new command, which, by the way, is down in Jacksonville, where we left them. They are supposed to be having a soft thing down there.
I was just sitting down to dinner when a gentleman of color approached bearing in his arms a box which he desired me to accept and give him a “ceipt” for it, which I proceeded to do, and opening it I found the sheets and the fruits and the pickles, etc., in the tip-toppest order. You sent just what I wanted, and you may congratulate yourself on having accomplished a feat that very few who send boxes to the army do. Almost every one sends something that will mold or sour and spoil the rest. I had not the least idea when I asked you to send me sheets that it was going to cause you much inconvenience. Shows how much I know of such things. You must thank Mrs. Ploss for me and remember that I did not think of sending to her for sheets.
Did I write you that Williston Tyler was dead? He died in Louisville, Ky., where he had gone to work for the Government. Denny took the body home. I received a letter from him yesterday containing his photo. He looks just as he used to. Frank says she has heard from you after a long silence.
I suppose you have heard about the Thanksgiving dinner sent to the army. Our part of the army did not get theirs till Friday, but it was good when it came—most of it. The “Field and Staff” of the Eighth got two turkeys, one of which came into my mess, and a cake with a pretty name and Jersey City address and ‘”Tell me how you like my cake” on the bottom of it. I shall proceed to praise the cake (and it would bear praising) after finishing this.
I have got your picture framed and hung up in my new house, and Ed’s and Etta’s and several others.
Friday, 27th—A detail of men, two of them from Company E, was sent as a guard to go up North with some deserters from our army. Upon being caught, the deserters were brought back, court martialed, and will now be confined in one of the United States military prisons.
27th. Lt. Byard started for home. People sick. Sent two letters, one home. Did some writing, business. Near night moved to Bay Springs. Foster’s Brigade passed today on K. road. Crossed Clinch River. Sent Lu Emmons to the Gap to see if he could not get rations. Cattle came up. Gave hogs to the regiments.
November 27 — The Yankee army crossed to the south side of the Rapidan yesterday, and late last night we were ordered to the front. All our baggage and wagons were ordered rearward to Gordonsville, which is a strong indication that there will soon be a large fine battle on hand somewhere not far away, and from the way our infantry is moving there is fight in the air. At nine o’clock last night we left camp and marched down the plank road; little before daylight this morning we arrived at Verdiersville, twelve miles east of Orange Court House.
At sunrise we left Verdiersville and moved in the direction of Germana Ford on the lower Rapidan. We marched on an old road that leads from the plank road to the old Fredericksburg pike; we struck the Fredericksburg pike at Mine Run, and halted for further orders.
This morning we passed General Early’s division of infantry going to the front. A great many of our infantry passed us to-day moving toward Mine Run and falling in line of battle as they arrived at the front. Our line of battle extends along Mine Run, and General R. E. Lee is ready and fixed to give the Yankees a warm reception if they dare to advance on his line.
We remained all afternoon just in rear of General Lee’s line of battle, awaiting and ready for orders. There was some cannonading and sharpshooting in our immediate front during the afternoon, and some heavy cannonading and musketry fire about a mile to our right.
We are bivouacked to-night on Mine Run.
Mine Run is a small streamlet, as crooked as a snake track, traversing the northern part of Orange County, and empties into the Rapidan about five miles below Raccoon Ford. Weather very cold.
Friday, 27th.—Heavy fighting back about Ringgold; this was Pat Cleaborn’s Division, mentioned in another place. 10:30 A. M., Cousin James Anderson came by and said brigade was going to Dalton. Left home at 12:30 P. M.; at Tunnel Hill at 3; Dalton at sundown.
November 27th. Marched to Robertson’s tavern, where a spirited engagement took place, lasting most of the day, resulting in driving the enemy back and occupying their ground; bivouacked here all night.
by John Beauchamp Jones
NOVEMBER 27TH.—Dark and gloomy. At 10 o’clock Gov. Vance, of North Carolina, telegraphed the Secretary of War, asking if anything additional had been heard from Bragg. The Secretary straightened in his chair, and answered that he knew nothing but what was published in the papers.
At 1 o’clock P.M. a dispatch was received from Bragg, dated at Ringgold, Ga., some thirty miles from the battle-field of the day before. Here, however, it is thought he will make a stand. But if he could not hold his mountain position, what can he do in the plain? We know not yet what proportion of his army, guns, and stores he got away—but he must have retreated rapidly.
Meade is advancing, and another battle seems imminent.
To-day a countryman brought a game-cock into the department.
Upon being asked what he intended to do with it, he said it was his purpose to send its left wing to Bragg!
