Tuesday, 2d—Our pickets were relieved last night about 10 o’clock preparatory to going on the expedition, but we did not get off this morning because the quartermaster failed to get the rations loaded yesterday, so we have to remain in camp for another day. I went on camp guard this morning. Our orders are to leave all equipage in camp, taking only our blankets and one hundred rounds of ammunition. The convalescents are to remain here to guard the camp.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Huntsville, Tuesday, Feb. 2. Monotony of camp was broken to-day by cheering down on our left at 12 M. and soon General Smith and staff rode through camp, who was joined by Captain Dillon, and immediately orders were given to march a gun detachment to the guns immediately and fire a salute in honor of the 59th and 48th Indiana, who were about to start for home as veterans. The three Batteries were soon ready, “cocked and primed”. Captain Dillon as usual in quite a flurry. Ordered Lieutenant Simpson to his quarters in a passion, then told us the salute was to be commenced on the right, each gun to fire in succession, at the raising of the flag for a signal, ”and boys, I want you to give three of the d——st cheers you ever gave between each gun”. After a little waiting the heroes marched along in the valley below, headed by the Brigade band. Up goes the flag and a volume of dense white smoke is emitted from the gun on the right, accompanied with the thunder, then another and another, and all have fired in rapid succession, fourteen in all. Our guns were fired for the first time, giving a crack which almost demolished my “tympanum”. Act No. 2, cheer after cheer arose from the homeward bound veterans, and by the Batteries hat waving, etc. “Well do they deserve the honor, and gladly was it given. Together we have struggled on every field of strife and won. They have the wishes and gratitude of the comrades they leave behind. May they have a happy time of it at home with relations and sweethearts. Retired to parade ground on double quick, and broke ranks full of sunlight. H. S. Keene, chief of artillery clerk, is going with them on furlough. A fortunate man. A shoulder strap for a friend.
[Diary] February 2.
Our little house looks really pretty — as such a barn of a place can. Rina brings out from her store one pretty thing after another to furnish the table and house. She will not sell these things, but lends them. To-night Hastings brought our rations. Such a to-do to get them put away. It is so pleasant to have the river just before us reflecting the stars, and to-night reflecting the lightning which is incessant, and to hear the bell, and the singing in church.
February 2, Tuesday. Senator Grimes made a very good speech to-day in the Senate on naval affairs, in which he introduced a letter from Donald McKay, the eminent shipbuilder of Boston, complimenting our naval vessels and doing justice to the Bureau of Construction and Engineering, which have been of late so much abused. Truth will vindicate itself, though slowly. The persistent assault on the Navy Department is not without a purpose. There is design in it. The contractors, the claim agents, the corrupt portion of newspaper correspondents, and unprincipled Members of Congress are all engaged in this business. I am not mistaken in the fact that there is villainy in the scheme, for villains are combining in it. There is a conviction in my mind, although I cannot cite a tangible or certain fact to establish it, that the War Department had secretly instigated these attacks. I am, however, impressed with an earnest belief that there is a mischievous design to divert attention from the acts and doings of the military branch of the service by starting off with a hue and cry against the Navy.
But little of importance was done at the Cabinet-meeting. Several subjects discussed. Seward was embarrassed about the Dominican question. To move either way threatened difficulty. On one side Spain, on the other side the negro. The President remarked that the dilemma reminded him of the interview between two negroes, one of whom was a preacher endeavoring to admonish and enlighten the other. ‘There are,” said Josh, the preacher, “two roads for you, Joe. Be careful which you take. One ob dem leads straight to hell, de odder go right to damnation.” Joe opened his eyes under the impressive eloquence and awful future and exclaimed, “Josh, take which road you please; I go troo de wood.” “I am not disposed to take any new trouble,” said the President, “just at this time, and shall neither go for Spain nor the negro in this matter, but shall take to the woods.”
February 2—While hard at work in the woods,, hauling stocks for the mill, my furlough came, for eighteen days. So I was relieved. On the 3d I left camp and got home on the morning of the 6th. It took me several days to get accustomed to living as a civilian, as I have been in camp for two years at a stretch. I had a very good time, and will always be grateful for the kindness shown me by every one while at home.
by John Beauchamp Jones
FEBRUARY 2D—So lax has become Gen. Winder’s rule, or deficient, or worse, the vigilance of his detectives,—the rogues and cut-throats,—one of them keeps a mistress in a house the rent of which is more than his salary, that five Jews, the other day, cleared out in a schooner laden with tobacco, professedly for Petersburg, but sailed directly to the enemy. They had with them some $10,000 in gold; and as they absconded to avoid military service in the Confederate States, no doubt they imparted all the information they could to the enemy.
Mr. Benjamin, Secretary of State, asked the Secretary of War to-day to make such arrangements as would supply the State Department with regular files of Northern papers. They sometimes have in them important diplomatic correspondence, and the perusal of this is about all the Secretary of State has to do.
It is rumored that the Hon. Robert Toombs has been arrested in Georgia for treason. I cannot believe it, but I know he is inimical to the President.
The British papers again seem to sympathise with us.
Senator Orr writes to the Secretary that a resolution of the Senate, asking for copies of Gen. Beauregard’s orders in 1862 for the fortification of Vicksburg (he was the first to plan the works which made such a glorious defense), and also a resolution calling for a copy of Gen. B.’s charges against Col.____, had not been responded to by the President. He asks that these matters may be brought to the President’s attention.
The weather is beautiful and spring-like again, and we may soon have some news both from Tennessee and North Carolina. From the latter I hope we shall get some of the meat endangered by the proximity of the enemy.
February 2.—The United States steamer Underwriter, lying at anchor in the Neuse, River, N. C, was surprised and destroyed by a party of rebels, who belonged to the forces on the expedition against Newbern.—Admiral Lee’s Report.
—One hundred and twenty-nine deserters from the rebel army under the command of General Johnston, who had effected their escape during his late movement, entered the provost-marshal’s office at Chattanooga, and took the oath of allegiance to the United States.—This morning eleven prisoners and ten horses, belonging principally to the Sixth Virginia cavalry, were captured near Blue Ridge, in the vicinity of Thornton’s Gap, Va.—The British steamer Presto, in attempting to run into Charleston Harbor, ran ashore off Sullivan’s Island, where she was destroyed by the National fleet.
