February 25, Thursday. I called at the Treasury Department this morning relative to funds to pay the hands in the Navy Yard at Broooklyn (sic). Chase appeared very well and calm. We talked of many difficulties. He wants the bank circulation suppressed. I told him we could not have two currencies, for the baser would always expel the better. He said the banks and individuals were hoarding the government paper and there must be some legislation to prevent the banks from circulating their paper, arid it was desirable there should be a public sentiment in that direction. I do not think he has any sound, well-matured, comprehensive plan of finance, or correct ideas of money and currency, but he is quick of apprehension and has mental resources, and is fertile in expedients not always sound but which have been thus far made available.
February 2014
Painting by Conrad Wise Chapman.
“Shows Morris Island, and one of the batteries on James Island, which was opposite Sullivan’s Island. Men may be seen coming up with ammunition.” – Conrad Wise Chapman, 1898
by John Beauchamp Jones
FEBRUARY 25TH.—The President has certainly conferred on Bragg the position once (1862) occupied by Lee, as the following official announcement, in all the papers to-day, demonstrates:
“WAR DEPARTMENT,
” ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE,
” RICHMOND, February 24th, 1864.
“GENERAL ORDERS No. 23.
“Gen. Braxton Bragg is assigned to duty at the seat of government, and, under direction of the President, is charged with the conduct of military operations in the armies of the Confederacy.
“By order of the Secretary of War.
” S. COOPER,
“Adjutant and Inspector General.”
No doubt Bragg can give the President valuable counsel—nor can there be any doubt that he enjoys a secret satisfaction in triumphing thus over popular sentiment, which just at this time is much averse to Gen. Bragg. The President is naturally a little oppugnant.
He has just appointed a clerk, in the Department of War, a military judge, with rank and pay of colonel of cavalry—one whom he never saw; but the clerk once had a street fight with Mr. Pollard, who has published a pamphlet against the President. Mr. Pollard sees his enemy with three golden stars on each side of his collar.
The retreat of Sherman seems to be confirmed.
Gen. Beauregard sends the following dispatch:
“CHARLESTON, February 23d-2.15—P.M.
“TO GEN. S. COOPER.
” The latest reports from Gen. Finnegan give no particulars of the victory at Occum Pond, except that he has taken all of the enemy’s artillery, some 500 or 600 stand of small arms already collected, and that the roads for three miles are strewn with the enemy’s dead and wounded.
” (Signed) G. T. BEAUREGARD.”
The Examiner has the following remarks on the appointment of Bragg:
“The judicious and opportune appointment of Gen. Bragg to the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Confederate Armies, will be appreciated as an illustration of that strong common sense which forms the basis of the President’s character, that regard for the opinions and feelings of the country, that respect for the Senate, which are the keys to all that is mysterious in the conduct of our public affairs. The Confederate armies cannot fail to be well pleased. Every soldier’s heart feels that merit is the true title to promotion, and that glorious service should insure a splendid reward. From LookoutMountain, a step to the highest military honor and power is natural and inevitable. Johnston, Lee, and Beauregard learn with grateful emotions that the conqueror of Kentucky and Tennessee has been elevated to a position which his superiority deserves. Finally this happy announcement should enliven the fires of confidence and enthusiasm, reviving among the people like a bucket of water on a newly kindled grate.”
The day before his appointment, the Enquirer had a long editorial article denouncing in advance his assignment to any prominent position, and severely criticised his conduct in the West. Today it hails his appointment as Commander-in-Chief with joy and enthusiasm! This reminds one of the Moniteur when Napoleon was returning from Elba. The Enquirer’s notion is to prevent discord—and hence it is patriotic.
The weather is still bright, pleasant, but dusty. We have had only one rain since the 18th of December, and one light snow. My garden is too dry for planting.
We have not only the negroes arrayed against us, but it appears that recruiting for the Federal army from Ireland has been carried on to a large extent.
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Wednesday, 24th—The army left the Hillsborough bivouac over different roads. Our brigade went in advance of the Sixteenth Corps to assist the engineers in laying the pontoons across the Pearl river. This is a good section of the country for forage. We selected twelve men from our entire headquarters’ guard of twenty-eight to go out on forage, and they brought in six hundred pounds of bacon, twenty-five live chickens, one hundred pounds of honey and other articles. Several of us are up tonight cooking the chickens, which with the other things will fill our haversacks. We shall live well now. We are camping on a large plantation.
24th. Up and took cars at 7:30 for home. Thede back from Swift’s. Somewhat tired.
February 24th. Detailed for picket. Corporal in charge of one relief. Located about three miles from camp on the line of the railroad, all quiet.
February 24th, 1864.
Another of our boys has drawn a prize, and leaves for home tomorrow on twenty days’ furlough. A batch of names goes in tonight that will take all the wounded from my ward. There is great excitement here today. The enemy has disappeared from our front, our troops are again at Strawberry Plains. Where they have gone, even rumor saith not. All we know of him is, he has disappeared. Our Provost Marshal’s office is literally besieged by citizens who want passes to their homes.
Perhaps the Ninth Corps can be spared now. The general impression is they will start in two or three days. The Washington papers say we are to be at Newport News by the first of May; a little over two months, which will give us at least six weeks in Michigan, should we be so lucky as to get there. But time is precious. My mind is so fixed on going home —if only for a few days—I can think of little else.
Huntsville, Wednesday, Feb. 24. Weather once more very mild and pleasant. Laid in tent all day. Throat pains me severely. Tonsils much swollen. Did not go out to drill, equipments enough having been received, the standing gun drill instead of squad, much more profitable especially for the recruits. A skirmish is reported having occurred at Whitesburg with the 4th Minnesota Infantry and others, killing four, wounding fifteen. Two infantry regiments started to their support. Artillery ordered to be in readiness.
Diary And Memoranda, 1864
Feb. 24th. Had a horse back ride in the morning. In the evening, went to Grover’s theatre [Washington, D. C.]. Edwin Booth took the part of Ruy Blas. The house cheered him several times, it was the first time that I ever saw him. I liked him very much, he made a slave of me. I would speak of the female portion; but they had such large mouths there is not room here to put them in. No reliable news from Genl. Sherman; but he is still on the move. Longstreet is retreating from the front of Knoxville. Went to the theatre. The play was Brutus. I liked it much; it made some of the women cry. He makes me his captive.
Wednesday, 24th.—Still in same place. Some say Yanks have gone back; don’t know what to think. 2 P. M., some skirmishing in front. Played game of town ball. 5 P. M., cannonading began to the left of Tunnel Hill, and continued for one hour.
