February 10th. Norwich, Connecticut. Left New York last night by boat. Arrived here all right. Came from New London to Norwich on the engine with my cousin Sidney Williams. Made my way to the home of my aunt, Mrs. Jane Tubbs. Gave the family a great surprise. Did not have time to let them know that I was coming.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Wednesday, 10th—We left Morton early this morning, and covering fifteen miles, reached the town of Hillsborough at about 3 o’clock. There was some skirmishing in front with a loss of three to the rebels. By the time the rear reached town it was all on fire, the citizens having fled. Our army moves rather slowly, on account of the bridges being burned, and the engineers must rebuild or throw out the pontoons. But things are marching along fine.
February 10th, 1864.
In walking up Gay Street today I discovered a new feature in this city of soldiers, an index of progress, of civilization. It was a news depot in full blast, established by an enterprising Yankee, of course. We at the hospital are well provided with reading matter by the Christian Commission. They have a soldiers’ reading room, supplied with piles of Northern papers, periodicals, and many religious works. There is also a table supplied with writing materials, all free. If we have no stamps, these friends of the soldiers stamp our letters. If we are sick—unable to write—they offer to write for us. Adjoining the rooms of the Christian Commission are those of the Sanitary Commission, another beneficent association for the benefit of sick and wounded soldiers. All delicacies our poor fellows receive come through their instrumentality. This is the great dispensary of all those countless gifts in the shape of clothing and eatables which the benevolent people of the North so freely bestow. The articles to be distributed are first turned over to the Surgeon in charge, he keeping enough for himself and assistants, then the cooks take out enough for themselves and friends. The balance, should there be a balance, goes to the soldiers. I know the above to be true, from personal observation.
The Christian Commission manage differently. Their agents give to the soldier such things as they may stand in need of.
Huntsville, Wednesday, Feb. 10. A pleasant warm day. Nothing of interest in camp to write about. Health and spirits of the boys very good. But the mind chafes under the fetters thrown around it by military discipline and style, which results in a goodly amount of cruelty by many, while the officers too often seek but to irritate such feelings the more. Twelve guards are detailed every day, six of whom are to watch the quarters after taps. No use, and intended only as punishment, which causes the just to suffer, bringing us on every five days instead of seven.
by John Beauchamp Jones
FEBRUARY 10TH.—Gen. Lee wrote to the Secretary of War, on the 22d of January, that his army was not fed well enough to fit them for the exertions of the spring campaign; and recommended the discontinuance of the rule of the Commissary-General allowing officers at Richmond, Petersburg, and many other towns, to purchase government meat, etc. etc. for the subsistence of their families, at schedule prices. He says the salaries of these officers ought to be sufficient compensation for their services; that such allowances deprived the officers and soldiers in the field of necessary subsistence, and encouraged able-bodied men to seek such easy positions; it offended the people who paid tithes, to see them consumed by these non-combating colonels, majors, etc., instead of going to feed the army; and it demoralized the officers and soldiers in the field.
This letter was referred to the Commissary-General, who, after the usual delay, returned it with a long argument to show that Gen. Lee was in “error,” and that the practice was necessary, etc.
To this the Secretary responded by a peremptory order, restricting the city officers in the item of meat,
Again the Commissary-General sends it back, recommending the suspension of the order until it be seen what Congress will do! Here are twenty days gone, and the Commissary-General has his own way still. He don’t hesitate to bully the Secretary and the highest generals in the field. Meantime the Commissary-General’s pet officers and clerks are living sumptuously while the soldiers are on hard fare. But, fortunately, Gen. Lee has captured 1200 beeves from the enemy since his letter was written.
And Gen. Cobb writes an encouraging letter from Georgia. He says there is more meat in that State than any one supposed; and men too. Many thousands of recruits can be sent forward, and meat enough to feed them.
The President has issued a stirring address to the army.
The weather is still clear, and the roads are not only good, but dusty—yet it is cold.
They say Gen. Butler, on the Peninsula, has given orders to his troops to respect private property—and not to molest noncombatants.
February 10.—The English steamers Fannie and Jennie, and the Emily, were destroyed near Masonboro Inlet, N. C, by the National gunboat Florida, commanded by Pierce Crosby. The Fannie and Jennie was the old prize Scotia, captured in 1862, and condemned, not being considered suitable for naval purposes. She was commanded by the celebrated blockade-runner Captain Coxetter, who was drowned while attempting to escape.—Commander Crosby’s Report.
—The Richmond Enquirer, of this date, contained an editorial, denouncing the Virginia Legislature, for attempting to interfere with the state and war matters of the rebel government, by the passage of an act, requesting Jeff Davis to remove the act of outlawry against General Butler, in order to facilitate the exchange of prisoners.
—Major-General Meade, in a speech at Philadelphia, in response to an address of welcome by Mayor Henry, stated, that it might “not be uninteresting to know that since March, 1861, when the army of the Potomac left its lines in front of Washington, not less than one hundred thousand men had been killed and wounded.”
