December 14, Monday. Yesterday was warm and balmy as a day in June. Business so crowded to-day that I was unable to clear my table, which is unusual, for I make it a point to dispose of all current business daily, though to accomplish it I am sometimes unable to get away until late. Had many calls from Members of Congress. The Committees of the two houses are announced. Hale is Chairman of the Senate Naval Committee. In the House, Brandegee of New London is substituted for English. This exchange is not a good one, is made in bad faith, and, after two distinct interviews with Mr. Colfax, without consulting or apprising me. Brandegee’s name was not on the list which Colfax showed me, nor was it mentioned in either of our interviews; on the contrary we had an explicit understanding that the New England Members on the committee would be retained. The President has, I see, a right appreciation of Colfax, but in this instance there is an intrigue lying behind it.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Bean Station, Tenn.
Monday, 14th. Dark, cloudy and foggy. Hear Jacob Smallered of “C” Co. was killed yesterday. At noon Col. Garrard came along with the Brigade. Teams ordered to hitch up. Didn’t feel well but concluded to go out. June went with me to station. Artillery firing commenced. Found rebels near the station in position. Forces were disposed of and work commenced. 2nd Ohio moved from under fire. Ordered back again. Hot fire from 2 till dark, awful firing. Heavy body of rebels on flanks and center.
Monday, 14th—A pleasant day and all is quiet. This is washday in camp. But since there are so many negro women here, thankful for the job, and who do it so cheaply, most of the boys hire their clothes washed. I got my week’s washing done for twenty-five cents. In the early morning we see dozens of negro women going to the springs, each with a tub of soiled clothes on her head and a pail in each hand, singing “the day ob jubilee hab come.” In the evening they return with the clean clothes in the same fashion, many of them singing some quaint negro melody.
December 14 — General Lomax moved camp to-day to the south side of the Rapidan near Barnett’s Ford. We moved up the river and are now camped a mile south of Barnett’s Ford.
December 14.—Between two and three o’clock this afternoon, the forces of Longstreet turned upon and attacked the pursuing column of cavalry under General Shackleford. The line of battle was formed at Bean Station, Tenn., on the Cumberland Gap and Morristown road; and a fight ensued which continued until nightfall, when the rebels succeeded in driving the Nationals about half a mile. Colonels Wolford, Graham, Foster, and others were engaged. The musketry fire was very heavy. The whole movement was made with a well-contrived plan to cut off and capture General Shackleford and command; and a heavy force of rebel cavalry moved down the left bank of the Holston River, with the intention of crossing at Kelly’s Ford and coming in his rear. This portion of the programme was checked by General Ferrero, who sent the brigade of General Humphrey to hold the ford. The rebels fired across the river with artillery upon the brigade, but with little effect—(Doc. 36.)
—The United States bark Roebuck captured a small sloop-boat called the Gopher, containing two men, sixteen bags of salt, and one box of notions, off Indian River, Florida.—Governor Thomas E. Bramlette, of Kentucky, addressed a letter to Captain Edward Cahill, recruiting colored troops, questioning his right to recruit in that State.—Colonel Watkins, commanding the Kentucky brigade, returned to Chattanooga, Tenn., from a cavalry reconnoissance as far as La Fayette. He captured a rebel signal station, and six officers and forty privates. The rest of the large force of rebels fled.
—As expedition sent out by General Wistar fromYorktown to Charles City Court-House, Va., under the command of Colonel R. M. West, returned to Williamsburgh, Va., having been successful in the accomplishment of its object.— (Doc. 26.)
Bridgeport, Monday, Dec. 14. Woke up last night to find myself “shaking” at double quick. Shook for nearly an hour and a half as hard and fast as ever, after which a burning fever came on and continued all night. Did not get up to roll call, but watered my horses; after which I was called on guard, the 2nd relief, guarding C ——. Cold and windy, rain cleared off. Many of the boys raising their tents, walling them with logs, building chimneys, etc. At night C —— was allowed to go to his tent, so I was relieved from guard. The evening seemed very long with nothing to do or read.
December 14th.—Drove out with Mrs. Davis. She had a watch in her hand which some poor dead soldier wanted to have sent to his family. First, we went to her mantua-maker, then we drove to the Fair Grounds where the band was playing. Suddenly, she missed the watch. She remembered having it when we came out of the mantua-maker’s. We drove back instantly, and there the watch was lying near the steps of the little porch in front of the house. No one had passed in, apparently; in any case, no one had seen it.
Preston Hampton went with me to see Conny Cary. The talk was frantically literary, which Preston thought hard on him. I had just brought the St. Denis number of Les Miserables.
Sunday, Christopher Hampton walked to church with me. Coming out, General Lee was seen slowly making his way down the aisle, bowing royally to right and left. I pointed him out to Christopher Hampton when General Lee happened to look our way. He bowed low, giving me a charming smile of recognition. I was ashamed of being so pleased. I blushed like a schoolgirl.
We went to the White House. They gave us tea. The President said he had been on the way to our house, coming with all the Davis family, to see me, but the children became so troublesome they turned back. Just then, little Joe rushed in and insisted on saying his prayers at his father’s knee, then and there. He was in his night-clothes.
December 14th. On picket, which comes every other day and night. All things seem to be very quiet. Bought a watch. The first one I ever owned. Paid one of the boys ten dollars. Wrote many letters to friends at home. When off duty visited the many points of interest around the town. Here old John Brown was tried and hung for treason against the state of Virginia. I visited the court house where he was tried, the jail where he was confined, and the ground just outside of town where he was hung. These places were pointed out to us by old residents of the town.
by John Beauchamp Jones
DECEMBER 14TH.—We have President Lincoln’s message today, and his proclamation of amnesty to all who take an oath of allegiance, etc., and advocate emancipation. There are some whom he exempts, of course. It is regarded here as an electioneering document, to procure a renomination for the Presidency in the radical Abolition Convention to assemble in a few months. But it will add 100,000 men to our armies; and next year will be the bloody year.
Congress spent much of the day in secret session.
A Baltimorean, last week, seeing a steamer there loading with goods of various kinds for the Federal prisoners here, bought a box of merchandise for $300, and put it on board, marked as if it contained stores for the prisoners. He ran the blockade so as to meet the steamer here; and obtained his box, worth, perhaps, $15,000. But all this is forbidden hereafter.
Monday, 14th—Start to-night for Sevier; ran into the Yanks at Maryville; my saddle turned; I lost my horse. The Boys abandoned theirs and we made our escape on foot. Worked our way out to McClaine’s on Little River just at daylight, but he would have nothing to do with us; could get no assistance from him. Came down the River and lay out in a little mot of timber.
