Wednesday, 23d.—Built our winter quarter house to-day. Comfortable.
December 2013
December 23d. All quiet through the night. This is known as a very loyal town. The Johnnies call it Little Massachusetts, so we were informed by the people, who were very kind to us. With daylight our duty ended. We remained until noontime, when we left for Charlestown. Have been sorry that I did not keep the names of the cavalry scouts. The detail from our company, C, Thomas A. Loomis, Lemuel A. Manning, Charles H. Lynch. Arrived at headquarters late this P. M. Tired. Pleased with the trip. Enjoyed scouting when everything went well.
We are all the time watching the mountain passes and the fords. The guerillas know every foot of this country and section of Virginia. They make many raids on the B. & O. R. R., and are generally successful, capturing and wrecking trains. All is quiet at this point. Some of the boys managed to find skates and are having a great time on a pond. Women and children watch the tricks on the ice performed by our boys and seem pleased.
Stevenson, Ala., Wednesday, Dec. 23. Broke camp at 8 P. M. and marched to Stevenson. Before we arrived at 11:30 A. M. Osterhaus’s train, going in cars, went to camp to the left of town and put up tents in a fine open field.
by John Beauchamp Jones
DECEMBER 23D—Nothing further from the West. But we have reliable information of the burning (accidentally, I suppose) of the enemy’s magazine at Yorktown, destroying all the houses, etc.
I learn to-day that the Secretary of War revoked the order confiscating blockade goods brought from the enemy’s country.
December 23.—A bill, prohibiting dealing in the currency of the United States, was passed in the rebel Congress: “Any person violating the provisions of the act was subject to indictment and prosecution in the confederate court holden for the district within which the offence was committed, and should, upon conviction, forfeit the amount so bought, sold, circulated, or used, or a sum equal thereto, and be moreover subject to a fine of not more than twenty thousand dollars, nor less than five hundred, and be imprisoned not less than three months, nor more than three years, at the discretion of the court; and it was declared the duty of the judges of the several confederate courts to give the act specially in charge to the grand-jury : Provided, that the purchase of postage-stamps should not be considered a violation of the act”
—The rebel forces, under General Longstreet, still remained in the neighborhood of Rutledge and Morristown, Tenn. “General Longstreet was unable to follow up his advantage in consequence of the large number of bare-footed men in his command. The weather was extremely cold, and the mountains covered with snow.”
—A party belonging to the rebel Colonel Harrison’s guerrilla band, headed by James Cavalier, entered Omega, La., and after capturing twelve or fourteen negroes, proceeded to murder them in cold blood, after which they hurried away upon mules captured in the town.—In discussing the conscription proposed by the rebel Congress, the Raleigh Progress says: “There is not another man to spare from the farms or other industrial pursuits of the country, and a further draft on this class will be fraught with the most disastrous consequences. If more men are wanted in the line, let the thousands of able-bodied men already in the pay of the government be placed there, and the drones and non-producers who insult honest toil by their constant swagger, and who have been shielded by the corruptions of office-holders since the war commenced, be gathered up and compelled to fight for that liberty for which they ever profess to be so ready to pour out their precious blood.
“Congress, we fear, is disposed to run into extremes, especially those members whose States are largely or entirely in the hands of the enemy. If this war is to be fought out to the last man and the last dollar, if we are really battling for independence, we must husband our resources. We must have men to fight, and we must have something to feed them on. Beware of destroying the seed-corn.”
—The Yankees made a raid on Luray, Va., and burned P. B. Borst’s large tannery, the old Baptist Church, and Mr. Booton’s workshop; broke open all the stores, and robbed them of all their goods, and what they could not take off, they distributed among the negroes. They also broke open the meat-houses, and stole, carried away, and destroyed nearly all the pork and bacon in the place, besides killing nearly all the chickens they could find. They also burnt the tannery of William R. Barbee, about six miles east of Luray.—Richmond Despatch.
—Lieutenant-general Leonidas Polk, assuming command of the rebel army in Mississipppi, issued an order at Meridian, in which he recognizes the defeats and discouragements the confederate cause has sustained of late, but seeks to stimulate his troops to fresh efforts, by assuring them that there is still, in the South, ample material for a continued and successful prosecution of the war. “The vigorous employment of our own resources,” he closed by saying, “with unity, harmony, and an unflinching determination to be true cannot, under God, but crown our efforts with triumphant success.”
December 22, Tuesday. Only Seward and myself were with the President at Cabinet-meeting. Seward is highly pleased with the course taken in regard to the captured letters. Wanted me to send him all of Trowbridge’s which had not been published. I did so. He gave me a long confidential conversation about Mexican affairs which had been communicated by Mr. Corwin (Thomas Corwin.), our Minister, under the strongest injunctions of secrecy. Before he got through, however, Seward let out that he had read the dispatch to Lord Lyons, and I think said he let Lord L. take it; assumed that Earl Russell, on learning the facts, would not feel more amiably disposed towards the French.
22nd. Sent out my letter early in the morning. Had some pork and soft bread to issue. Saw A. B. and talked about Thede. Concluded to have him start for home with Hillhouse and George also. Both talk of going to Knoxville tomorrow. Mark goes down to work for Chamberlain. Finished the first volume of “Scottish Chiefs.” Much pleased with it. Thede and I had a good visit.
Tuesday, 22d—Relieved from picket this morning. It was quite cold last night. I was on an outpost and our detail consisted of a sergeant, a corporal and twelve privates. We took turns standing on vedette, one hour at a time.
December 22— We renewed our march this morning, but made little progress, as it took us the entire day to march six miles. Our horses stalled at every hill on the road. At one place one of the drivers became so vexed and aggravated at his balking horses that he dismounted and drew out his pocket knife with the determination to cut their throats; however, before he proceeded with the deadly operation he asked me what I thought of his intention. I told him it was most too late in the campaign, and that we were near the end of our march for this year, for anything of that kind. He hesitated a moment, with his knife open and ready to cut. I saw that he was in earnest, so I advised him not to commit the rash deed, as it might prove to be a serious affair in the end, when the officers of the company heard of the murder. He then put his knife in his pocket and went to work on his horses with a hoop pole.
We forded the north fork of the Rivanna this morning, which took us just three hours, in consequence of the ford being very icy and the south bank on coming out place slippery and very steep. One of our artillery horses fell down in the middle of the river and was very near being drowned before we could extricate it from the harness. One of the cannoneers stripped off his clothes and plunged into the icy water and assisted the struggling horse to rise from its perilous submerged situation. Late this evening we crossed the south fork of the Rivanna at Rio bridge on the Earleysville road, five miles from Charlottesville. We are camped this evening in a woods on the Earleysville road, about four miles from Charlottesville, and at the place of our intended winter quarters.
Tuesday Decr 22nd 1863
I sent the Books to the Boys yesterday, one to Each costing about $2.50, and also a head dress for wife which was the handywork of Julia, all by Adams Express, .50cts to NY. I called and spent an hour with Mr Vanmaster at Mrs Wakeleys. Mr James Bashford is still there. Today I have been the same round of official duty. After three O’clock I visited the Stanton Hospital and saw my old friends there. All doing very well. I frequently visit other Hospitals. There is not much that one can do for them now. The Hospitals are so well managed that the soldiers get everything they want. I write letters sometimes for those who cannot write in consequence of their wounds, and sometimes I take their money and “express” it for them to their friends. Sometimes I read to them and always try to cheer them up and make them contented and they are always glad to see me. There is no war news of any importance today. Congress has not got fairly at work yet and will not until after the Holydays. There are crowds of people on the Avenue now afternoons, and at the Hotels all the time.
