January 10th. Sunday. A very pleasant day. Attended church in town morning and evening. Service conducted by Chaplain, 3d Pennsylvania Reserves. Attendance by the towns-people and soldiers good. Chaplains from the different regiments were invited to occupy the pulpits in the churches. Special service was held evenings during the week, when no extra duty was demanded.
January 2014
Sunday, 10th—We had company inspection this morning. A brigade from here was sent up the river on transports to Greenville, to rout the rebels who have set up a battery there, blockading the river and stopping navigation.
10th. Packed up and moved to regt. Boys got their things ready to turn over. Hines inspected property.
Fort Whipple, Va., Jan. 10, 1864.
Dear Friends:
Yours of last Sabbath duly rec’d found us well. We have been having very cold weather, but Jerry and I have got straw now and sleep very comfortably, and as that is one of the most essential duties of a soldier, and among them all the one he likes best, I guess that we shall, if divine providence favors us, this winter. Have been trying every opportunity to get over to Corbets but as yet have not succeeded; he lives the other side of the line of rifle pits, and in order to visit him I shall have to obtain a pass from Brigade Head Quarters. Will certainly seize the first opportunity. It is not very comfortable writing this, they are beating “tattoo” right under the window, and they are soul stirring strains; but then I don’t fancy them. I expect Jerry has written a long letter and as I get enough of that business just this time of the year, you will please excuse this abrupt leaving off. We only have an hour between “tattoo” and “taps.” Much love to all. Good-night. From
Lev.
Huntsville, Sunday, Jan. 10. Notwithstanding that all were very tired from the fatiguing march of the past three days through severe weather, the camp reverberated with the sound of axe, saw and lumber, erecting quarters for the third time this winter. Teams busy and in great demand hauling lumber and brick, of which there is plenty. Our tent is back with the boys on the R. R.; therefore E. W. E. got a load of lumber and built a hut in accordance with our means, and by night had it up and covered with shakes. Slept in it but it was quite cold.
1864—W1nter Quarters, Dalton, Ga.
Monday, 10th.—Debating society turned into “Court Martial” and tried R. H. Fox for encouraging R. L. Harris to desert. After some loud speaking on both sides, the decision was: “Mr. Fox is guilty of the charge; the Court do therefore sentence R. H. Fox to be shot—with a tow wad.” For the next several nights, debates were kept up.
January 10th. The officers of corps and division headquarters are determined to have a gay winter and are making great exertions to this end. Under the direction of Major Hancock, our division is branching out prodigiously. Within the lines was found an abandoned saw mill, much dilapidated, but still susceptible of repairs. The major conceived the brilliant idea of fitting it up, felling the forest trees, sawing them into boards and timber, and building a large hall for music, dancing, and other amusements. As officers are allowed to invite ladies to camp, and almost every commanding officer has some of them, this seems an excellent thing to do. In response to a circular sent to regimental commanders asking for men familiar with sawmills, several Maine regiments offered many more than were needed; so we ordered a saw from Washington, kegs of nails, etc., and put as many men to work as could do so to advantage. We planned and built a building 80×40, with two immense fireplaces on one side large enough to take in logs ten feet long. In the course of two weeks the whole thing was completed, decorated handsomely with evergreens, flags, guidons, various kinds, of small arms, drums, etc., and was ready for occupancy. This palace of Mars became the center of the social hospitality of the Second corps and lectures, concerts, dinners, and dances followed each other in rapid succession.
The ladies are in ecstasies, bewildered by the immense attention they received, and dazzled by the splendors of a military camp. Every officer is devoting himself, his horses, and his servants to their comfort and thus they are in a measure repaid for their long, anxious hours of expectancy during active operations.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JANUARY 10TH.—Letters from Governor Vance received to-day show that he has been making extensive arrangements to clothe and subsist North Carolina troops. His agents have purchased abroad some 40,000 blankets, as many shoes, bacon, etc., most of which is now at Bermuda and Nassau. He has also purchased an interest in several steamers; but, it appears, a recent regulation of the Confederate States Government forbids the import and export of goods except, almost exclusively, for the government itself. The governor desires to know if his State is to be put on the same footing with private speculators.
He also demands some thousands of bales of cotton, loaned the government—and which the government cannot now replace at Wilmington—and his complaints against the government are bitter. Is it his intention to assume an independent attitude, and call the North Carolina troops to the rescue? A few weeks will develop his intentions.
Mr. Hunter is in the Secretary’s room every Sunday morning. Is there some grand political egg to be hatched?
If the government had excluded private speculators from the ports at an early date, we might have had clothes and meat for the army in abundance—as well as other stores. But a great duty was neglected!
Sunday as it is, trains of government wagons are going incessantly past my door laden with ice—for the hospitals next summer, if we keep Richmond.
January 10.—General J. C. Sullivan sent the following to headquarters:
“Major Cole’s camp at Loudon Heights, Va., was attacked this morning. He fought gallantly and drove the attacking party off. I send you his report:
“‘I have the honor to report that my camp was attacked this morning at about four o’clock, by Mosby and his command.
“‘After a brisk fight of about one hour, they were repulsed and driven from the camp. Our loss is two men killed and thirteen wounded. Among the latter is Captain Vernon, seriously, and Lieutenant Rivers, slightly.
“‘There are some missing, but it is impossible to give the exact number at present. The rebels left four dead in the camp—one captain, and one a lieutenant.
“‘They left three prisoners in our hands, two of them wounded, and one a lieutenant'”— (Doc. 46.)
—The United States bark Roebuck captured the rebel sloop Marie Louise while attempting to run out of Jupiter Inlet, Florida. She was of about eight tons register, and laden with three thousand pounds Sea Island cotton.—Eighteen shells were thrown into the city of Charleston, S. C, from the National defences around that city.
Scottsboro, Ala., January 9, 1864.
We have settled down into fully as monotonous a monotony, as I ever experienced. The powers pretend that the army is tired down and needs rest, so duty is very light, no drills ordered; no scouting and no nothing, but a first-class preparation to have a tremendous sick list in a very short time. You know how we have been moving for the last three months, and that we have hardly suffered a half dozen cases of sickness. Now see, if we lie here four weeks longer, if I don’t report you 60 on the sick list. Do you think that I am something of a grumbler? Either having too much travel, or too much lie still. Too much to eat (I guess not) or not enough, etc. I suppose that news here is about as scarce as ice cream on the African desert, and of nearly the same quality. We are camped in the edge of dense woods, about three quarters of a mile from the town, which consists of 20 or 40 rather neat houses, and presents, I think a better appearance than any other town of the size I have seen in the Confederacy. It hasn’t been squashmolished like most of its sisters. General Logan’s headquarters are here. Our corps is camped along the road from here to Decatur, our whole division being here. Our division commander, is, I expect, the most unpopular officer with his corps that there is in the West. I never knew his match for meanness. See if I can think of all I have been ordered by: Prentiss, Grant, Logan, McClernand, Wallace (W. H. L.), Oglesby, Paine, Pope, Granger, Palmer (_______) formerly colonel 11th Missouri., Rosecrans, Morgan, Buford, Sheridan, Hurlbut, Lanman, Hamilton 1st, Hamilton 2d; Sullivan, Lawler, Sooy Smith, Ewing, Corse, Halleck, Sherman, Davis, and at least two more whose names I can’t now recall. One of them commanded this division last March, and the other the 4th Division 16th Army Corps, last December, for a few days. I have lots of work on hand writing up my accounts, but this lying still begins to bore me awfully. I though a few weeks ago that ‘twould be very nice to have a tent again, and things somewhat comfortable, but the beauties of the thing don’t last long. I’m ready to move now. We have had several pretty cold days, but to-day I have been in my shirt sleeves, without vest, all day, and felt very comfortable, though it didn’t thaw very much, and I believe there was ice in our water bucket all day. Expect you are having a gay time this winter at home sleighing, dancing, etc., but I would rather take mine out in the army. If I didn’t have any happy Christmas myself, I had the pleasure of smashing the happiness out of a good many secesh Christmases. That’s not so. It was not pleasure, but I had to.
