17th. Boys with no rations last night and none this morning. Started details this afternoon. Issued meal in evening. Brigade marched three miles, little northwest of cross roads. Hdqrs. at Sawyer’s, he away. Brigade ordered to the front. Cold night. Beef killed but not issued. Col. permitted me to remain. Expecting brigade back tomorrow night.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Thursday, 17th—It cleared off and has turned quite cold, consequently the boys not on duty keep pretty close to the fires in their tents. There are no “chuck luck” banks in operation now —it is too cold, and then the boys’ money is all gone.
December 17 — Rained all last night and to-day. A cold freezing wind blew from the north all night and froze the rain into a slippery sheet of ice nearly as fast as it fell. I got wet from top and bottom in bed, the torrents of rain that fell causing the water to run under me, which rendered my bed so uncomfortable and disagreeable that I had to leave it and seek the comforts of a camp-fire long before day. I was working in the rain all day, carrying rocks up a steep slippery hill for a chimney to our house, and by the holy Joshua, if we have to leave this house in a few days, like we did the first one we built, I build no more chimneys this’ winter.
December 17.—Miss W., Mrs. M., and myself went to Mr. Watson’s grave. We got there in time to see the coffin lowered, and the sod cover his remains. I trust his spirit has gone “where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest.” He was laid with the true and the brave. No one could wish “couch more magnificent.”
December 17th. A severe, cold storm, rain freezing on the ground and trees. The people in town say the Yankees brought the cold weather with them. Claim the weather is colder than it has been for years. Most of the houses here not built very warm. The people suffer from the cold, have only wood fires.
Bridgeport, Thursday, Dec. 17. Rained very heavy all night with wind which threatened to overthrow the elevated canvas overhead. Slept warm and dry, and after breakfast Schmidt and myself mudded the “shebang”, I acting as chief mason, he carrying the mud. Continued raining most all day and all hands stayed in doors most of the time. Cheerless, were we not used to it. Clothing issued. No mail.
by John Beauchamp Jones
DECEMBER 17TH.—Averill (Federal) made a raid a day or two since to Salem (Roanoke County, Va.), cutting the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, destroying the depot, bridges, court-house, etc.
Gen. J. E Johnston has been ordered to take command of Bragg’s army.
I saw a communication from Lieut.-Col. Ruffin (Commissary Bureau), suggesting the trade of cotton to the enemy in New Orleans for supplies, meat, etc., a Mr. Pollard, of St. Louis, having proposed to barter meat for cotton, which Col. Ruffin seems to discourage.
Gen. Halleck has proposed a plan of exchange of prisoners, so far as those we hold go. We have 15,000; they, 40,000.
A letter from Mr. Underwood, of Rome, Ga., says our people fly from our own cavalry, as they devastate the country as much as the enemy.
We have a cold rain to-day. The bill prohibiting the employment of substitutes has passed both Houses of Congress. When the Conscription act is enlarged, all substitutes now in the army will have to serve for themselves, and their employers will also be liable.
December 17.—From his headquarters at Memphis, Tenn., General Hurlbut issued the following general order: “The recent affair at Moscow, Tenn., has demonstrated the fact that colored troops, properly disciplined and commanded, can and will fight well, and the General commanding deems it to be due to the officers and men of the Second regiment West-Tennessee infantry of African descent, thus publicly to return his personal thanks for their gallant and successful defence of the important position to which they had been assigned, and for the manner in which they have vindicated the wisdom of the Government in elevating the rank and file of these regiments to the position of freemen and soldiers.”
—The Richmond Enquirer, in an article on the exchange of prisoners, held the following language: “The Yankees are not going to send their negro troops in the field: they know as well as we do that no reliance can be placed upon them; but as depot-guards, prison-guards, etc., they will relieve their white troops. This is the use that will be made of them. Should they be sent to the field, and be put in battle, none will be taken prisoners—our troops understand what to do in such cases.”
—President Lincoln sent a message to the Congress of the United States, communicating a letter addressed to him from a committee of gentlemen, representing the Frcedmen’s Aid Societies of Boston, New-York, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati, in relation to the freedmen under the proclamation of emancipation.—The United States bark Roebuck captured off the mouth of Indian River, Florida, the English schooner Ringdove, twenty-three tons burden, of and from Nassau, with a crew of five men. Her cargo consisted of one hundred and ninety bales of salt, three bags of coffee, two half chests of tea, and three barrels of whisky. When first discovered, she attempted to escape, but on being fired at, ran aground on the bar.
—For several days past the detectives at Richmond, Va., have been on the hunt for parties who are either suspected of stealing the clothing sent by the Yankee Government for the prisoners now in our hands, or receiving the same, knowing it to have been stolen. Several soldiers, wearing the confederate uniform, have lately been seen with blankets branded “U. S.,” and in some cases, shoes, with the Yankee mark on them, have been sold to citizens at uncommonly low figures by some of the guards of the prisons. Several individuals have been arrested on the above charge.—Richmond Examiner, December 19.
—Colonel Carter, of the First rebel Virginia cavalry, with six other persons, was captured at Upperville, Va., by a detachment of the Twenty-second Pennsylvania cavalry.—An entire company, belonging to the Third North-Carolina rebel cavalry, was captured near Washington, N. C, by a party of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania regiment, commanded by Captain Blakely. Yesterday, at sunset, the Nationals left Washington, and after a march of twenty-four miles, came upon the enemy’s camp. The night was dark and rainy, rendering it possible for the troops to come upon the rebels unheard, and a complete surprise was consequently effected, the enemy being taken in their tents asleep, without the firing of a gun. The number taken was thirty-four, with their horses, equipments, and arms. The surprising party was led by Mr. Henn, who acted as guide, and who previously had been of great use upon cavalry expeditions. On this occasion he entered the rebel camp alone in advance of the attack, and reconnoitred the enemy’s position.—The rebel partisan Standwaite, with a portion of his force, made an attack upon the outposts of Fort Gibson, Ark., but was repulsed, and compelled to retreat across the Arkansas River.—A body of Stuart’s cavalry made a descent at eight o’clock this night upon company I, of the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth New-York regiment, stationed at Sangster’s, three miles west of Fairfax Station, Va., slightly wounding one man, capturing four, and burning the tents belonging to the company. The attack was unexpected, but, nevertheless, the guard made a gallant defence. On being charged upon by the enemy, they withdrew behind their encampment, pouring in repeated volleys upon the rebels, and finally compelling them to retire.
