Monday, 11th—The weather has been very warm for several days and there was a heavy thunderstorm last night. All is quiet in camp, but the men in the old regiments, having re-enlisted, are becoming restless and want to move, for remaining in camp will never bring the war to a close.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
11th. Several boys not inclined to go home. Assigned to 7th O. V. C. Thomas, Peck, Kearn, Beach, Montgomery, Bentley, Rutzel. Good boys, sorry. Relieved Hamlin. Went to Knoxville to fix papers. Slept with Avery on floor at Charley’s.
Diary And Memoranda, 1864
Jan. 11th. No news of importance. There was a grand dinner given at the Fort by Genl. Barnard to his friends. If I could judge by their faces, should say they had a good time. I issued clothing today, and got through it very well.
January 11th, 1864.
Our wounded continue to await with what patience they possess their departure to the land of promise—but their hearts grow sick and their spirits faint at the long delay. The cause assigned is “want of transportation, and cold weather.”
Since the 1st inst. the weather is very cold. The ground is frozen like a rock, and worn smooth as marble. Snow has not been over an inch deep—just enough to whiten the ground. The air is piercing; some mornings at 10 o’clock, when taking my morning walk, the sun shining brightly the while, I have had my beard covered with frost in walking forty rods.
Imagine the situation of the men of the Ninth Corps, in their little shelter tents, barefooted and naked, through weeks of such rugged weather. I saw Mr. Woodin today. He says they are still on quarter rations, with no prospect of an increase of supplies at present. They have been, at times, forced to issue corn in the ear. He says the men were never in better health or spirits. There is not a sick man in the regiment.
Parson Brownlow has returned to his home. He continues to breathe out threatenings and denunciations against his secession brethren. I have not seen him, but, judging by his writings, I do not like the man. There is too much savage ferocity in his writings for an enlightened Christian. He is a man of great influence here, and I thank God it is exerted on the side of the Union.
I accidentally met an old acquaintance from Blackman today. I was passing the convalescents’ room, when my attention was attracted by a countenance that had a familiar look. I halted, but did not feel quite sure. Presently our eyes met, and we recognized each other instantly. “My God, Mr. Lane, is that you?” “I believe it is,” said I, “and you are Austin Draper.” We had a lively chat for a few minutes. Oh, it is pleasant to meet one we have known at home! He belongs to the Ninth Michigan Cavalry.
Our Chaplain has resigned and gone home. He told me, before he left, he was confident the Ninth will cross the mountains soon. Nearly all who have re-enlisted have gone already—fourteen regiments in all. The fact that no provision has been made for us here is conclusive proof, to me. It is the opinion of those generally best informed that we will go to Newport News to reorganize.
Evidently there is to be another summer campaign. Our friends, the loyal people of the North, have made it necessary by defeating the draft, which, practically, they have done. Fifty thousand—of the three hundred thousand called for—is the pitiful number realized; and it took from the field, at the time they were most needed there, forty thousand of our best men to secure these doubtful ones. The loyal people of Michigan, by combining to pay the conscription fee, did more to defeat the draft than did Horatio Seymour and his copperhead allies by resistance; for their resistance was put down by force.
It seems Congress is about to repeal that precious clause, and make it what its name implies, a bill to raise men, not money. These are my individual thoughts and impressions, and may be all wrong, but I cannot help believing the course pursued will tend to prolong the war. In my eagerness to get home, to enjoy the dear companionship of my family, I have, at times, been led to set bounds—to limit the duration of the strife—forgetting, for the time, that the American people, through and by this struggle, are to be purified and brought up to their professions of liberty.
Our sky is again overcast. Doubt and uncertainty have taken the place of confidence and fancied security. All day yesterday and today reports from the front are most discouraging. Our forces are falling back. Longstreet is said to be advancing with an overwhelming force. Many begin to fear another siege. Cavalry have been passing through the city the last forty-eight hours, with the usual stampede of citizens. Something is in the wind. Is it a “strategic movement,” or is it a retreat? I cannot believe that we are forced to fly from Longstreet alone. Has Lee joined forces with him to sweep us from East Tennessee? There has been but little fighting, and that little is confined to cavalry. Still, everything has the appearance of a hasty retreat.
At midnight last night the sick were ordered by train to Knoxville. All supplies were sent across the river at Strawberry Plains, and the bridge, a new one, was coated with tar, that it might be destroyed at short notice. Wagons loaded with provisions were burned. The most significant feature of all is, the Ninth Corps is ordered to hold the bridge, and three Ohio regiments, on their way home, were halted at Loudon until further orders.
“Verily, these are troubulous times and changeful.”
Huntsville, Monday, Jan. 11. Worked quite hard all day building fireplace. Had to carry much of the brick on our shoulders twenty rods, but we had completed it by night, and had the satisfaction of sitting by the fire in the evening. Draws well.
January 11, Monday. Mr. Seward sent to me at my house on Saturday evening a voluminous bundle of dispatches, which had been placed in his hands by Lord Lyons, relative to the case of the Chesapeake, and desired me after reading them to interchange views in regard to the course to be pursued.
The documents were, first, sundry papers from a Mrs. Henry of Halifax, complaining that her husband and a brother had gone on board the Chesapeake on the 15th of December, and she apprehended they were detained. The owner and captain of the schooner Intendant, which was in [Sambro Harbor] when the American gunboat Ella and Annie took possession of that vessel, says he saw them on board and did not see them leave. He further avers that when the Ella and Annie appeared off the harbor, the Chesapeake raised the American flag union down, and he with his vessel ran a few hundred yards further up the harbor; that the boats of the Ella and Annie after taking possession of the Chesapeake, boarded the Intendant, took some trunks that had been brought from the C. and a man, Wade, who had been secreted, etc., etc. The other papers related to the capture of the Chesapeake, her surrender to the Colonial authorities, etc., much as we have in the newspapers.
It is evident the first papers, relating to the Henrys and the schooner, were thrust into the foreground for a purpose, and are a matter which should have no connection with the act of piracy.
I called on the Secretary of State this morning and told him the case required no hasty action on his part. That it had gone into the Admiralty Court, which was all very well if the British authorities had anything to do in the premises. My advice is to wait, and not be drawn into any premature action.
Mr. Blair, the elder, and Governor Dennison of Ohio called on me last evening. The chief talk related to Presidential matters, current events, and proceedings in Congress. They were both at the President’s to-day, and it seems some conversation took place in regard to Senator Hale’s strange course towards the Navy Department, he being Chairman of the Committee. The President said it was to him unaccountable except in one way, and that did no credit to Hale’s integrity. It was unpleasant to think a Senator made use of his place to spite a Department because it would not permit him to use its patronage for his private benefit.
Both Mr. Blair and Governor Dennison were pretty full of the Presidency, and I apprehend they had a shadow of doubt in regard to my opinions and preferences, and yet I know not why they should have had. The subject is one on which I cared to exhibit no intense partisanship, and I may misjudge the tone of public sentiment, but my convictions are and have been that it is best to reelect the President, and if I mistake not this is the public opinion. On this question, while not forward to announce my views, I have had no concealment.
I am inclined to believe that there have been whispered misrepresentations from sly intriguers in regard to me that have given some anxiety to Blair and Dennison. The conduct of Dixon has been singular in some respects, and he has a willing tool in Brandegee (Augustus Brandegee, a Member of Congress from Connecticut). . . .
January 11.—The weather still bad. We had five of Scott’s cavalry dine with us to-day. They are friends of Dr. H. and Miss W., and are Louisianians. They are very hopeful of our cause, but we seldom meet a soldier down-hearted. It is only the home folks who grumble.
Miss W. is one of the most enthusiastic southerners I have met. She is from Louisiana, and, like Governor Brown about Georgia, thinks the other states all very well in their way, but they are not Louisiana.
These gentlemen informed her of a friend in Louisiana who had married a Federal general. They were all a good deal annoyed that this lady had lowered herself in such a manner. I told Miss W. that no Alabama girl would be guilty of such a disgraceful act. She replied, that the girl was so ugly that no Confederate would marry her.
Miss W. is the daughter of a wealthy planter, and, like many of the rest of our ladies, is determined to be independent of foreign manufacture. She has three pretty homespun dresses of different colors, which she manufactured herself, out of the raw cotton. She has also knit a number of pairs of socks for the soldiers.
January 11 —Left our camp at sun-up, got five miles and halted in the woods. We have been detailed to run two sawmills, and we are now putting up winter quarters there.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JANUARY 11TH.—The snow has nearly vanished—the weather bright and pleasant, for midwinter; but the basin is still frozen over.
Gen. E. S. Jones has captured several hundred of the enemy in Southwest Virginia, and Moseby’s men are picking them up by scores in Northern Virginia.
Congress recommitted the new Conscript bill on Saturday, intimidated by the menaces of the press, the editors being in danger of falling within reach of conscription.
A dwelling-house near us rented to-day for $6000.
January 11.—The United States bark Roebuck, off Jupiter Inlet, Florida, captured the English schooner Susan, while attempting to run the blockade. At the same time and place the United States steamer Honeysuckle captured the English schooner Fly, of Nassau.—The blockade-running steamers Ranger and Vesta were beached and burned near Lockwood’s, Folly Inlet, North-Carolina. Admiral Lee reported that the latter was the twenty-second blockade-runner destroyed within six months.—(Doc. 116.)
—Three shells were thrown into the city of Charleston, S. C., from the National defences under the command of General Gillmore.—The United States steamer Iron Age, attempting to tow off the blockade-runner Bendigo, which had been driven ashore near the batteries at the mouth of Cape Fear River, grounded, and owing to her proximity to the rebel forts, was destroyed by fire.—Official Reports.
