December 30, Wednesday. Not long since I was blamed for not building more of the turret vessels; just now the same persons and papers abuse me for building so many. There is like inconsistency in regard to ordnance. I am attacked for not having more vessels before Wilmington, Mobile, and other places and thus making the blockade completely effective, and accused of neglect and indifference for not sending off twenty ships to hunt up the Alabama. Webb has just completed a frigate for the Italians, and I am found fault with because so skillful a mechanic as Webb is not employed by the Government, when he is building a large and more powerful vessel, the Dunderberg, for us. I have reason to believe that Webb himself is implicated in this assault on the Department, in order to help himself. He is a skillful builder and quite as skillful an intriguer. I would not deprive him of any credit, but I cannot award him any superiority over Lenthall or Delano as a naval constructor.
Monday, December 30, 2013
December 30.—I have spent the whole day trying to get milk for the sick, and I think I have succeeded in securing a little. We have two cows, but the milk they give is but a mite, compared to what we need. Many of the convalescent soldiers go round to the citizens begging for milk, who think they can not make better use of it than giving it to them. I do not doubt but these soldiers are in want of it; still we have others to whom it is a necessity.
Lincoln has again refused to exchange prisoners. I do think this is the cruelest act of which he has been guilty, not only to us, but his own men. He is fully aware that we can scarcely get enough of the necessaries of life to feed our own men; and how can he expect us to feed his. Human lives are nothing to him; all the prisoners we have might die of starvation, and I do not expect they would cost him a thought, as all he has to do is to issue a call for so many more thousands to be offered up on his altars of sacrifice. How long will the people of the North submit to this Moloch. He knows that every one of our men is of value to us, for we have not the dregs of the earth to draw from; but our every man is a patriot, battling for all that is dear to him.
30th. Slept by a big fire last night—very comfortable. Regiments saddled ready for a fight. Sent Lewis back to S. Plains for rations. Had some beef driven up and killed. Boys would have suffered had they not been fortunate in getting from the country.
Wednesday, 30th—The veterans of the Eleventh Iowa were sworn into the United States service today. There were ten from Company E, as follows: Nathan Chase, George Cush, Leroy Douglas, Frank Johnson, James Martin, James Newcom, Henry Newans, James Rankin, Burtis Rumsey, and Orlando Stout.
December 30 — The whole company was engaged today in building and thatching brush sheds for our artillery horses.
Wednesday, 30th.—General Johnston to inspect us in camp. Been hard at work baking cakes since we bought our flour. Made them up with molasses and plenty of soda, with a little vinegar; they humped themselves, and baked very nice and brown; we made the cake-pans out of tin canteen sides, which we made notchy like pie pans, about four inches at the top and two at bottom; could set three in common-sized bake oven. We borrowed two other ovens, so we had three, and could bake nine cakes at one time, and we learned that they would bake in fifteen minutes; so we could bake thirty-six cakes in one hour, and we sold these as fast as we could bake them for $1.00 each. Molasses and vinegar cost us $10.00 per gallon, and soda, $1.00 per pound. But we more than doubled our money. Remember, this was Confederate money, and it was going down so rapidly, that to buy an article and then sell it for double, it was a question whether you made anything or not.
December 30, [1863]. — Eleven years ago married. Lucy and I talked of it and lived it over on this eleventh anniversary. A happy day.
[In the] evening, spoke to the men again about re-enlisting as veterans. I want three-fourths of the present. We have two hundred and fifty-five. Our present total five hundred; of these we deduct officers twenty-five, invalids fifteen, recruits having more than one year to serve seventy-five — total one hundred and fifteen, [leaving] three hundred and eighty-five. Three-fourths [would be] two hundred and eighty-eight.
December 30th. On our return regular duty was resumed. Fourteen new recruits came to the regiment from Connecticut. Nine assigned to our company, C. Recruits were known as fresh fish. That was the way they were greeted. Most of them had relations and friends in the regiment. The recruits were always welcome and used kindly. Some were very young boys.
Larkinsville, Wednesday, Dec. 30. Cold and cloudy day. I suffered much from neuralgia and toothache, from which I could get no rest. Dressed the two hogs brought yesterday, and salted them. The chickens hung up for New Year’s. We drew rations for the tent and cooked at the fireplace, a family of our own. Camp still busy improving. Women and boys in camp trading cornbread off for coffee and salt, etc. with the soldiers. Eight hundred rounds of powder ammunition received by Lieutenant Clark for new battery. Unloaded and stored down town.
by John Beauchamp Jones
DECEMBER 30TH.—A memorial from the army has been presented in both houses of Congress.
The speech of Mr. Foote, relative to a Dictator, has produced some sensation in the city, and may produce more.
A great many Jews and speculators are still endeavoring to get out of the country with their gains.
To-day Mr. Davies paid me $350 more, the whole amount of copyright on the 5000 copies of the first volume of new “Wild Western Scenes,” published by Malsby. He proposes to publish the second volume as soon as he can procure the necessary paper.
